Good samaritan

[jagnut66]

Hi,
Just thought I'd let people know about a pleasant encounter I had the other day; I had just renewed my fuel tank sender, as it had gone intermittent on me and was tending to stick at zero, anyway I purchased and fitted a new one, and the gauge read full.....
even though later it wasn't..............
Yes, you guessed it I ran out of fuel, fortunately I'm in the AA, also I wasn't in the middle of no-where. Scratching my head I rang them and waited.
However I needn't have worried, as round the corner came an old HA van belonging to a local electrician, instead of going straight by, like all the 'modern's', they pulled over and offered assistance.
I explained the problem and even though I didn't know them from Adam, they offered me a gallon of fuel, they wouldn't even take any payment for it, despite the price of the stuff these days!
They (his wife was with him) were simply happy to help (Really nice couple). We did chat a little before we went our separate ways, turns out he has three other HA's! This one is his everyday 'works' van!

I rang him tonight to thank them again, by now I've found out my problem isn't the new sender, just that it isn't compatible with my 1963 car (I need the older version with a Rheostat in it, the only version that it seems is reproduced now is the later version without one but I wasn't aware of the incompatibility until now).
Conversely, when I filled up it read empty, so it now reads in reverse!! (For as long as it takes me to find a replacement............)
So anyway I thought I'd share this with you all and if anyone sees them at the side of the road, please return the goodwill , I know I shall.
(And if anyone wants an electrician I shall happily pass on his number.)

Finally, so this good samaritan is recognised, I've attached a picture of his van, you can't miss it really.........................
Best wishes,
Mike.

NB: The side reads: 'Jon Myrtle Electrician'[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Great story - and well done Jon Myrtle. The senders all work with a 'rheostat' If the gauge reads backwards - just swap the connections on the gauge....

[jagnut66]

Hi,
Already tried that, before I used the 'phone a friend' option, who told me about the incompatibility of one with the other (something he's experienced before), it just stuck at zero again (this was after I'd refilled the tank and the gauge had then gone from full to zero, hence my comment about it working in reverse).
Oh, well, it's all part of the fun....................
Mike.

[IaininTenbury]

Nice story and nice HA!
I've had the same problem myself with the '64 van after I fitted a later tank and sender unit. Presumably the difference is that full 12v ie no resistance on the sender unit = full on the gauge or empty, depending which way round it works. After a year or two watching the gauge creep up to full as I drove I eventually fitted a s/h 'proper' sender unit.
Earlier ones have a rectangular box on top of the unit with a screwed on lid and a screw terminal and seem to match the gold faced speedo, whilst llater sender units have a flat top with the reostat part in the tank.
There may be change over date and type issues there but guessing its around '64 onwards for the later one ie late Minor 1000 facelift.

[jagnut66]

Hi,
Yes, mines a crossover model too, still retains the clap hands wipers, pull starter and had a duo-tone interior until I changed it - it was getting very tatty / torn / too brittle to mend - plain blue now.
Mike.

[bmcecosse]

Presumably it's possible to fine tune the meter reading by fitting resistors in series (and/or parallel) with the tank unit? At least set the wires so it reads FULL when it is FULL! Then use up ~ half the petrol (drive 90 miles) - and then start adding resistors till it reads ~ half full.

[IaininTenbury]

Easier to fit the proper sender unit! Or easier still to get used to it and clock the mileage....

[jagnut66]

Hi,
I've now taken apart and fettled my old unit to see if I can squeeze a bit more life out of it.
Meanwhile I also bought a tested second hand unit off Ian Allen of Minor Services, (Witchford, near Ely, Cambs - very nice chap), which I'll fit when it arrives.
Apart from this I note on eBay that the Austin Healey unit is the same, apart from a different arm and plastic float, the point being that these are advertised as 'new' for £45 (ish) plus postage. So this could be another route, as having had mine apart, I believe the arm / float could be swapped over...........
Best wishes,
Mike.