18" grease gun hose, vibration, sending unit GONE!

[3dracer]

My sending unit on my autometer gauge went south. It always had a lot of vibration to it. I said I would fix it soon but you know how that goes. I have the 18" hose but it still had a lot of vibration. What can I do for the next step? Also anyone that sent there sending units back to AM, what did they do with you? I realize I will be buying a new one, but I thought there might be a chance of them honoring it... .

 

[illflem]

Three failed senders over two years for me before I got smart and went to a mechanical gauge that has performed flawlessly for four years. A gauge snubber will make your sender last longer, but IMO they will all eventually fail.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Illflem,



I have mechanical fuel pressure gauges, mine are real noisy, are yours? Mine are ran right from the fuel filter, to the gauge, no isolator. Does that make a differance?



Tanks, Rob

 

[illflem]

Rob, since I have 12 valves I have to have a snubber due to the lift pump pulsations. I'm using a 1/8" needle valve from Grainger (p/n 6MN31 - $3. 29) for my snubber. If I turn the valve open just a half turn more than it's usual setting the gauge buzzes, open it all the way and the whole dash shakes. Your 24v won't be so radical but having the needle valve in there will help, plus it's extra insurance if you should ever have a leak, just shut the valve. To adjust the valve to the right opening just start out with it closed with the engine running, slowly open it while someone watches your gauge, as soon as the gauge registers stop. I recommend using a snubber even with an electric gauge to extend it's life, $3. 29 is cheap insurance.

 

[Briar Hopper]

3dracer, my failed sending units were sent back to Summit Racing, the second one of which they gave me a terrible time about. Told us a big fib about how AutoMeter wouldn't honor the replacement. We called AutoMeter, they straightened out the guys at Summit in a hurry. Now I buy all my speed parts at Jeg's.

The last unit was bought at www.carparts.com It is still in service, a much sturdier, well-built brass casing, that has already lasted longer than the other two. Of course, though, I'm using a snubber of the type that illflem describes.

 

[JHansen]

Rob-I have a mechanical fuel pressure gauge in my truck-experienced the buzzing you are describing. I had a cheapy brass needle valve installed-but I couldn't dampen the noise with it-either shut the flow off altogether or still had the noise. I finally got around to splicing an 18" grease gun hose in between the needle valve and the braided stainless line I use-end of the problem! If you used a real needle valve for a snubber (not the garbage I did ) maybe that would cure it as well. But for me the grease gun hose worked wonders... .



Jason

 

[Rob Thomas]

Thanks, illflem and Jason, I'll try those ideas.



Later, Rob

 

[Shovelhead]

My '99 has a mechanical F. P. gauge mounted on the dash, plumbed fron the fuel filter housing with S. S. braided line all the way, and I haven't had the buzzing. (yet).

 

[AlFischer]

FP GAUGE

Briar, which gauge did you get from Carparts.com?