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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Fuel Tank sender unit

I have no sender unit fitted to my car as the reprodution unit from Moss(Far East)failed very quickly. I was told by Bob West they were not worth fitting. There are a few on eBay at the moment advertised as far superior to the Moss item, it says "New reproduction fuel tank sending unit, complete with Nitrile impregnated cork mounting gasket. This unit incorporates the new and improved design of precisely wound resistor coil to give accurate and smooth readings at all fuel levels." Has anyone tried one of these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Austin-Healey-Sprite-MkI-Bugeye-Fuel-Tank-Sender-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ80739QQihZ004QQitemZ140037496551QQrdZ1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MGTC-MGTD-mgtf-Fuel-Tank-Sender-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ80739QQihZ004QQitemZ140039091880QQrdZ1

Regards
Dave
Dave

Haven't tried the new ones you are referring to Dave, but I notice the Sprite one has a black rubber 'gasket' under the removable plate. From my experience of the rubbish 'asian' senders, this rubber gasket will expand in the fuel and probably leak. The holes were too big on mine and leaked straight through the screws anyway. You will see the other unit has a cork one - that will be fine. I used gasket goo as well.

When you get one, make sure you test the resistance which should increase smoothly up to, I believe, 70 ohms at max (check Barney Gaylord's site)

I have given up with the recent units and repaired my old original with its nice fine coil and double wiper contacts which give steady readings.

Would be interested to know what's inside these new ones and how well they work. Remember to fit the unit with the terminal at the bottom, I discovered mine was upside and the previous two(!) owners never got it sorted, kept getting garages to replace the gauge!

Pete
Pete Tipping

Pete,
Looking at the Sprite one (look at the pic with the cover off)it has a single wiper, but the coils look much better than the one I had. Getting fed up using a dip stick.
Dave
Dave

Fit the mini van sender (Moss sell it as a cheaper alternative). The full scale is way off past the F on the dial, but the empty is about the same.
Dan Smithers

Dave
Sorry didn't notice that cover off pic before. Yes, it shows a single wiper. This is not going to be as good as two which will balance the load on the shaft too.
The coil looks rather coarse too compared with the original, which can mean that the wire is too thick and too short giving too low a resistance and the bigger gaps between the coils can break contact with the one wiper, giving that dreadful flickering gauge needle.
If you've got an hour I'll tell you all the problems I've had with these asian ones - including no coil at all, wrong resistance, leaks, mounting holes PCD wrong, etc!
So... has anyone out there tried one yet? If it works a lot of us want one!
Pete
Pete Tipping

I saw an ad for an Aussie firm with a range of senders. Not sure if they were asian or their own manufacture. I can't find it right now but it did show pics of the "naked" units so one of you electronically knowledgeable blokes may be able to give us an opinion on them.
Does anyone know of the site I am referring to?
In the meantime I'll see if I can hunt it down.

Rich
Rich McKIe

Found the site:

http://www.holden.co.uk/viewProducts.asp?supergroup=&analysiscode=0621&groupname=Gauges&group=070
Rich McKIe

beware the plastic floats. I had one once, and inside a few months the wire holding the float had worn through it so it wasn't a float any more but a sink!

I switched it with the metal float and arm from another sender, and all has since been fine.
dominic clancy

I was told by NOSLocators@aol.com (on eBay) that they do not sell a sender unit for an MGA, I thought that the early MGB would be the same as an A but according to NOS both the MGB early fuel gauge and the tank unit are different from the MGA.

"The MGA Fuel Gauge is Jaeger number FG2530/05 and fuel tank number FT5300/20.
The MGB Fuel Gauge is SMITHS number FG2530/70 and fuel tank number FT5301/19.

The 2 fuel gauges look similar but have different reading markings and the tank sender units have different length arms.

They will fit but will give incorrect readings." They told me that Scarborough Fair make a quality unit so I will try them.

Dave
Dave Swinburne

Interesting,
If I'm not mistaken, NOSlocators & Scarborough Faire are one and the same. I've had emails with Cecelia Bruce from both addresses.
FWIW,
Doug
D Sjostrom

Just checked Scarborough Fairs price list. They have the MGA unit listed a $49.95.

Derek Nicholson

Be sure to send info on this to Kelvin at Moss - so that we can hear what response they might have as to why yet another Moss part is not working.....
J Delk

I purchased a new fuel sending unit from LBC. It lasted less than a month.

Mark
M Gannon

Rich

I notice to site you indicated is Holden. Formally I have found them to be an excellent supplier, but am not convinced by just the picture of the MGA sender with its black rubber gaskets. Would like to know the rubber does't expand and go all floppy in petrol and would want to see inside and know it has the necessary, smooth zero to 70 ohm resistance.

Pete
Pete Tipping

As far as SF and NOS being the same, A Google search finds 2 different addresses and 2 telephone numbers. However, Maps.google.com places the virtually in the same location. It seems that Pawtucket Ave and Main St are one and the same streets. Funny how SF might have a part but NOS doesn't. NOS may be a surplus outlet for SF. Or perhaps NOS might be using different suppliers? It sounds sort of like J.C.Whitney vs. Warshawski of years past. It sat on a corner. One Co. had one street address and the other company had the other. Both had the same front door and service counter. The difference was just which catalog you looked at. Any return refunds came from a "W & Company" checking account.



N O S Locators
401-725-5000
587 Pawtucket Av
Pawtucket RI 02860


Scarborough Faire Inc
1151 Main Street
Pawtucket RI
Tel: 401-724-4200
Fax: 401-724-5392


Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

regarding the fuel senders, you can send them to Nisonger in NY for rebuild. They did a fine job on mine. Be careful not to break off the stud that the wire from yhe harness attaches to as I don't think they can replace that. John
J.H. Hall

This thread was discussed between 06/10/2006 and 13/10/2006

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