Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

Well had a little set back. Made another one of these for my 20 gallon tank and slowly added five gallons at a time and never got a good enough reading while filling it up. After putting 20 gallons in the gauge read under 3/4 full and also my needle kept bouncing around.
Tried grounding the sender wire at the tank, also couldn't get a full reading and needle kept jumping. This made me think that maybe the gauge is bad, but knowing this is a six volt system and I hadn't checked my battery. So I found the battery low (Forgot how low but under 6 volts.)
Put it on the charger and left it for the night to think about it.
Next day battery fully charged (Optima 6 volt red top battery) checked by grounding the gauge top post and meter showed full scale and no jumping. Next went back to the tank grounded the wire to the sender and checked gauge and it shows full, no jumping. Remove the Ground and needle goes back to a little over 3/4 and no jumping.
Remove wires and ohm out the sender and find it's reading about 15 ohms.
Next step after I drive it around and burn off some gas I'll pull it out and see what happen to my sender and why it's reading about 15 ohms.
Wes

I don't know if you will find anything off the shelf in a modern aftermarket type sender. As you might remember, I didn't have much luck in getting close to the old S-W resistance values so went in my own direction. You might contact K M Lifestyles and see what they can do because after I did my thing there was another poster with a 47 who needed a sender and they were able to help.

To get the story first hand and the final resolution, you might contact Rscott77x, the poster in this threadhttps://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=203365#forumpost203365 and find out what finally transpired. The first sender they sent was incorrect as to mounting but I believe that problem was resolved and he is currently using one of their senders. Don't recall any more posts to know for sure.

If you do get good information you might post some details. If they make them to order would consider buying one for my car to have on hand for when or if the car ever gets on the road and my home made unit also proves unsatisfactory.

Yes, there are two senders in their catalog for the 47. Tell them the number of holes in the mounting flange and you will get the right one.
The produced an EXACT replica of the original from the Atwater Kent catalog.. It had a lacquer coated float as per original. The lacquer dissolved very quickly in the ethanol fuel we have, so I had to pull the tank again. I did some research and found that gas tank sealer would work to coat the cork. I let them know my findings so if you order one, ask if they are using gas tank sealant now. I did not want to buy a gallon of gas tank sealer for such a small bit of use. Instead, I went to Summit Racing and bought a plastic fuel sender float. In installed it and no problems YTD!

Hours of Operation Monday - Friday 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
14 Clarendon Rd. Auburn,MA 01501
Phone (508) 792 - 9500
kmlifestyle@hotmail.com

Well for the time being, I'm working on this project.
So I rebent the arm and now it's reading full with a full tank.
Next step see what it looks like empty.
Wes