Series fuel gauge unit Cork float.

[fay66]

Fuel tank gauge unit.
'Fay' has a Cork float on the tank gauge that originally seems to have had a coating of something on the Cork float to stop it absorbing petrol, something it now seems to do, as all the coating has disappeared from all but the top of the float that has stayed out of the petrol.
My fuel gauge is wildly inaccurate which I believe is because the Cork float is absorbing petrol and making it heavier.
So does anyone know what that original coating would have been?
Any help gratefully appreciated.

[Crag]

Hello Brian, as you know I’ve only just recently bought my Fulvia as I’m a convert from vintage cars and there used to be some advice on the Vintage Sports Car Club website. I’m no longer a member but I did find this which could be interesting:

[fay66]

Many thanks for that.
Por 15 is available from Frosts, and I think it is used as a petrol tank sealant so it would make sense.
I'll look into it.
Brian
8227 

[Crag]

If you do go this route Brian I should weigh the float first. And then weigh it again after you’ve treated it to make sure it’s the same weight; it’s possible that the extra weight of the POR15 could affect the fuel level. At some stage in the late 1920s Solex, who fitted a simple updraft carb (30 MOV) to the Alvis, produced different weight floats - 42gm and 47gm - to compensate for changes in specific gravity of the newer fuels.

[Mikenoangelo]

I suspect that for a fuel gauge float the weight does not matter much as long as it floats enough to work the gauge. I used a wine bottle cork (real cork) to replace the absent float on the fuel gauge of a Twenty HP RR, coating it with epoxy, although the supplier could not be sure that it would tolerate ethanol in current fuel. It evidently worked as the gauge was still reading correctly when I sold the car nine years later. The original coating of cork floats was shellac which, being applied in the first place dissolved in alcohol, would no doubt be unhappy in modern fuel. Incidentally the sump level gauge cork float of the RR was beginning to break up after 90 years and was replaced with a new cork float which could still be bought.

Mike

[lancialulu]

If you do go this route Brian I should weigh the float first. And then weigh it again after you’ve treated it to make sure it’s the same weight; it’s possible that the extra weight of the POR15 could affect the fuel level. At some stage in the late 1920s Solex, who fitted a simple updraft carb (30 MOV) to the Alvis, produced different weight floats - 42gm and 47gm - to compensate for changes in specific gravity of the newer fuels.

Dellorto produce different Weight carb floats and you have to adjust the float chamber fuel level accordingly. Like Mike says, so long as it floats a fuel tank gauge will give you a stable indication. I suspect there may be more to Brian’s issue than a soggy cork though and would not be surprised if the mech part of the sender/ the rheostat winding is the cause.

[chriswgawne]

Cavalitto sell replacement Fulvia fuel senders at a reasonable price.
I had to fit new ones to our 1969 GTE and 1968 GT in the end last year - maybe ots an age related thing with the corks?
Chris

[fay66]

Cavalitto sell replacement Fulvia fuel senders at a reasonable price.
I had to fit new ones to our 1969 GTE and 1968 GT in the end last year - maybe ots an age related thing with the corks?
Chris

Thank you Chris,
I'll give it a try but I'm still waiting a reply to an email I sent a week ago regding column gear change parts.
I've been to Cavalitto a number of times when in Turin for parts, but don't seem to have much luck with emails to them.
What sort of cost are we talking about please?
Brian
8227 

[chriswgawne]

Brian,
I have an OE Fulvia Sedan fuel level sender which has 'sticky' operation (from the Portuguese car) which I couldn't sort out -  so I fitted a new one -  but I believe the float is fine.
I can send it to you in a couple of weeks if you want.
Chris

[chriswgawne]

Brian,
Do you need me to send you a photo of what I have put by for you?
Chris

[chriswgawne]

Having dug out and put the 'sticky linkage' Fulvia GT petrol tank float sender aside for Brian, I though I should maybe say that it has a plastic float, not cork.
Chris

[fay66]

Having dug out and put the 'sticky linkage' Fulvia GT petrol tank float sender aside for Brian, I though I should maybe say that it has a plastic float, not cork.
Chris

Thank Chris,
My apologies as somehow I missed these.
However I have replied to you message earlier today.
Many thanks
Brian