Author Topic: whacky fuel gauge or installer?  (Read 6041 times)

Clayton

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whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« on: April 17, 2013, 14:36:26 »
My center cluster bracket has gone missing. So, I made a "W" shaped one out of plumbers tape. When I screw down the thumb nut, half way the fuel gauge goes dead and the adjuster knob in front spins freely. What the?. I saw a pic of an original that was "U" shaped with holes. Am I shorting out or creating pressure somewhere?

Jonny B

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2013, 18:53:42 »
What are you referring to "knob in front spins freely."? The knob for the lighting rheostat?

The bracket is available from els
http://www.sls-hh-shop.de/en/230-280SL-W113/54-Elektrical-Equipment-at-Body/54-a-Instruments/
(item 26)

When screwing down the thumb nut, this is the one on the back, correct? You are just trying to get it into place, or is it attaching the ground wire?

I think if you were shorting out you would see a spark and a blown fuse.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

Clayton

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2013, 16:57:30 »
Yes, the knob for the lighting. And yes, the thumb nut on the back of the center cluster. Does this also need the ground wire like the speedo and tach? Because I was not attaching one. I can see that affecting the gas gauge but the light dimmer? One is mechanical and the other electrical. The other gauges ( temp, oil and signal lights ) work. Ps. I included a photo of my back seat area.

Jonny B

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2013, 15:17:19 »
The rheostat is a known and separate problem area. You should be able to use the search function to find out the information about this and about using a bypass (there is a short article about this in Pagoda Notes, Volume 4 No. 3). I thought each instrument (tach, center and speedo) had the brown wire for ground, so that would affect the gas gauge.

Temp and oil gauges are completely mechanical and have no electrical connections (just using the lights for illumination).
« Last Edit: April 19, 2013, 15:29:43 by Jonny B »
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

jameshoward

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2013, 20:17:35 »
Ps. I included a photo of my back seat area.

Well if no one else is going to say anything...

Why would you want to drink warm champagne, and assuming you did like warm champagne, wouldn't you lose half the bottle on opening it, given the shaken state?

I like the whiskey idea (if not Johnny Walker, unless it's Gold Label, which is worth buying) but what about glasses?

If I were to do this mod, I think I'd opt for something to store that one could drink in the Summer. So, maybe a light red? Or maybe a martini shaker with some space given up for miniatures, but with an ice bucket. Perhaps dry ice to keep things cool. At the selected time, one could mix the drink, wave it at wherever vermouth comes from, and enjoy.  Of course, you'd have to take a taxi home, so perhaps the space would be better given up to some shortbread, but again excessive calories might mean you'd be better off running home.

Verve gives me a shocking headache. I can't drink more than two bottles of the stuff. Try Pol Roger. Churchill loved it.

Nice speaker, by the way. I suppose you could ditch the drinks and go for stereo versus mono?

How does the rest of the car look? Would love to see some pics.

Looks like a beautifully upholstered job.

Back to some proper whiskey, now. (Try Bruichladdich Port Charlotte, or The Organic).

JH
James Howard
1966 LHD 230SL

Clayton

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2013, 20:10:31 »
Hello JH, I was laughing so hard about your comments, I now have tissue on back order. You are right, the whole concept is a bit of a gimmick. The thought was more pointed at the dry bar concept ( like in the old Jags or Rolls Royces ). As for the speaker, that is a sub woofer. The other four speakers rest in the kick panels. They provide the L & R stereo ( rattle) and the sub provides the shake. Two amps are secured by velcro under each seat. And, the Bud's Benz console box houses all my 1969 CDs ( year of the car). All of this was done without modifying the car. So, it all pops right out and can be flipped back to original. In the mean time, I will enjoy a "go to dinner" car with my Led Zeppelin, Moody Blues or Abbey Road at volume 11.

Happy motoring,
Clayton

JamesL

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2013, 20:57:07 »
James ....And there was me thinking that the Irish stuff had the E in it but the Scots left the E out of their Whisky... Good choice on the Islay though... About all I can tolerate

Try Billecart Salmon for a change. Very good stuff especially the pink and I know how much you like pink...

Clayton does need to show us more of his car though !
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

Paul & Dolly

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2013, 21:14:29 »

Good choice of music though, add in The Who, and it could be perfect..

Paul
Paul (located in Cardiff - Wales - UK)
1967 Early 250 SL (Auto) White
Mitsubishi i Car
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1936 Alvis Firebird (Gone............)

jameshoward

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2013, 23:02:09 »
James, you're right. I need to get out more. Just had a great dinner which concluded with a tour of Bushmills and Dalwhinnie. Nothing glamorous, I admit, but we're warming up for your visit ( with T???) in Aug. Not a huge Islay fan, to be honest. They do some non-peaty stuff, like the Organic...

hic...

Clayton, you had me at Led Zep.  Winner. So long as you play great tunes through that set-up, I dont care what you drink!! (except the warm champagne thing. That's just wrong). More car pics, please.

Happy days, all.

James Howard
1966 LHD 230SL

Clayton

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2013, 01:09:07 »
Thanks for the input; to my new found UK brothers. And yes, The Who needs to be in the mix. What was their 1969 release? I will post more photos......currently my dash is in a million pieces....maybe, a million six. Let me advance my workings and I will be happy to share some photos. Plus, I have a few more surprises up my sleeve. In the mean time, I just found a courtesy light wire fried and I don't know where it ends. Good thing they invented whiskey. Cheers mate!

waqas

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Re: whacky fuel gauge or installer?
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2013, 05:35:01 »
Great idea. This addition would make my kinder seat very popular! (especially with the woofer underneath)

I believe the Who released Tommy in 1969, although I'm more partial to Quadrophenia and Who's Next.
Waqas (Wa-kaas) in Austin, Texas