[78machowgn4me]

i have a 78 macho power wagon with a single 20 gallon fuel tank. recently the gauge stopped reading passed the 3/4 full mark, but the tank is definitly full (when i didn't believe the gauge, i kept filling the tank until the gas ran on the ground). does anyone have any ideas? if it requires dropping the tank, how long could that take, and how complicated is it?

 

[TheRamChargerMan]

do a search for this...it's been covered many times. It could be a bad gage, a bad sending unit (most likely) or a wiring problem.

Dropping the tank isn't hard...but draining it is.

 

[EZRider]

You need to get to the float. Adjust it and you should be fine. Dropping the tank isn't hard. Just make sure and drain it all first! On the R/C, I used a couple of 3/8 allthread couplings and about 6 inches of allthread to loosen the straps and lower the tank so I could see what all I may have to disconnect. Then just dropped it down and did the adjustment. Putting it back up in place was the biggest bitch! To adjust the float I just guessed and set it where it was about 1 1/2 - 2 inches off the bottom. Came out pretty close for me.....



EZ

 

[Squid]

Or you could take the super-cheap-easy route and figure your fuel level by milage traveled. Keep a 5-gallon gas can with you and run 'er out. You'll know fer sure how many miles that 20gallon tank will take you.

 

[longram413]

if it was working acurately and suddenly started reading inacurate then its probably the sending unit it has a wound wire which looks like a spring the coils gradually get closer from one end to the other and a copper strip contacts it as the strip moves to the end with closer coils it gives more ground to the gauge in time the strip wears thin and starts to snag the coils or the float could be bad to check the float just shake it if you hear gas inside its bad to calibrate hook up the sending unit before installing it ground it turn on your ignition watch the gauge as you move the float