Sticky Fuel Gauge

[myoldjalopy]

The indicator in my fuel gauge is sticking - when I turn ignition on, it stays at empty......until I give it a thump. If I turn ignition off, it stays where it was....until I give it a thump! I suspect all it needs is a little oil. I have removed the guage from the speedo itself and can see where a tiny drop of oil would go from the front, on the hairspring pinion. But does removing the two small nuts from the back allow you to seperate the casing and allow oiling access to the rear of the pinion which the indicator needle is attached to? Advice needed before I go further and break something! The gauge is from a gold faced 1955 splittie speedo....

[Sleeper]

Not wanting to drift the thread but ,removing the gold faced speedo from a '58, is it simply a matter of loosening the two side screws or do they have to be removed completely ?

Sorry/Thanks
John

[firedrake1942]

No just loosened but not too much, I think three turns was suggested elsewhere, otherwise the buggers drop out and are a pig to find esp if the glove compartment innards have not been removed. It will then be pulled forward with little resistance. Do not pull too hard or all the little bulb connectors will pop out of the speedo.

jm

[Sleeper]

Thank you...and now about lubricating the fuel gauge....

Thanks
John

[myoldjalopy]

Yes, please .....how about it somebody?

[myoldjalopy]

Well, as this seemd to be an area in which regular users of the forum have no knowledge, I will report back on my eventual actions.
Closer inspection showed that it would be hard to dismantle the fuel gaugue further and some research revealed that the two nuts on the back are for adjusting the function of the needle reading. Therefore I decided it would be best not to meddle further.
However, I did put a drop of oil on the pinion end that was accessible from the front and that seems to have been enough to free the fuel gauge needle up so it no longer sticks. And while the speedo was out I removed, cleaned and lightly oiled the inner speedo cable as the speedo reading was swinging wildly about during driving. It now gives a steady reading so two jobs done in one go!

[greendefender123]

Glad you've sorted it. I was lucky with mine. It went up when I shorted the wire out. Just hoping the sender will work when I come to fill it up.