Gas gauge problem located:

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Tank level gauge has never worked on my GB-318 so decided to investigate why yesterday. After running the machine out of fuel and looking down the filler neck, I could see the linkage and gauge backside but there is no float. Using a tig rod bent into an "L" shape, I reached down under the linkage rod and upon lifting it the gauge works correctly. There is a false bottom in the tank which hides the bottom so I figure the missing float is caught under the panel. After removing the mechanical gauge assembly from the side of the tank and ascertaining the gears and rods were good, I went looking for the missing float. Lowering the front the welder to the bottom travel of the nose jack I dumped five gallons of fresh fuel into the tank and upon looking the float was there "floating". To my surprise it was cork. Once again I reached into the tank with my tig rod and extracted the float and it is barely lighter than the gasoline it was setting in. To ascertain if it was bad, I reattached it to the arm and slide the gauge assembly back into place. No joy at all as the float and arm remained on the bottom of the tank. Removing the assembly again and trying to remove the float from the arm, it promptly crumbled in my hands.Cork used to be very common as a float for gauges in gasoline. They would form it then seal it with shellac. This worked great until they started with alcohol in the gasolines because alcohol is a solvent to shellac. Once this sealer was gone, the cork deteriorates and absorbs gasoline till it's no longer a "float" in this instance. Modern neoprene and it's derivatives have replaced this unless brass or plastic is used. I'll get a chunk of 1.75" neoprene round tube from Mcmaster and fix this thing next week.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:You ain't spoda fix that sh!y.You spoda post asking if anybody knows the part number for a complete replacement gauge assembly and who sells it for the best price!
Reply:

Originally Posted by Virgil5

You ain't spoda fix that sh!y.You spoda post asking if anybody knows the part number for a complete replacement gauge assembly and who sells it for the best price!
Reply:I went thru the same with the float in an old outboard remote tank. Got a foam float from a newer pickup gas tank, attached it to the arm and has worked well for several yrs.MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:

Originally Posted by mla2ofus

I went thru the same with the float in an old outboard remote tank. Got a foam float from a newer pickup gas tank, attached it to the arm and has worked well for several yrs.Mike
Reply:

Originally Posted by Virgil5

THAT right there is how a real mechanic, not to be confused with a technician, does the job.Actually I'm a little concerned about Slob.  He seems to be under stress from all the attention he gets from Home Office lately.Then again, he got my ground clamps confiscated.
Reply:Good to hear another 'greenie' induced problem has been solved Slob   

I wonder if there is a way to file a class action suit against the greenies for causing all the problems and waste of resources including energy by their mandate of 'green' fuel additives???
Reply:The greenies don't give a damn about any problems resulting from their agenda!!MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Found and deployed my spare Tweco "Senior" ground clamp today. The world is once again a pleasant place to exist within. Gone, (or sidelined) is the misery of knowing Peeair's nads are dangling as a wall display from my former clamp within a sadistic CEO's office. Here is the float from my GB-318 gasoline tank:


When out at the shop a bit ago practicing some vertical up with flux core as per CEP's suggestion, (working well) I placed this float into my shirt pocket and forgot about it. Sitting at the computer and my wife awakens to the smell of gasoline in the house, (I'm in the next room) and proceeds to instruct me to take a shower as I smell like gas. Still not remembering I'd stuck that float in my shirt, and knowing I didn't handle gasoline today, I start sniffing my sleeves and such to find the offense. Get down to my shirt pocket and suddenly it becomes crystal clear I must have some type of dementia coming on.....SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Not dementia, it's the after effect of sniffing the alcohol in the gasoline.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Virgil5

You ain't spoda fix that sh!y.You spoda post asking if anybody knows the part number for a complete  replacement gauge assembly and who sells it for the best price!
Reply:Recently had a similar situation with cork on a US Marine surplus generator package only diesel.  Wasn't a "swing arm" design though but a vertical "rotating" on a twisted flat bar type.  Managed to save the cork though - this time.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110

Save Second Base!
Reply:Found the training video guys
Reply:WEll Slob, since you insist on spending your time resuscitating these museum pieces.  A bit of redneck engineering for you.  Find an old side hung float from a Holly carburetor and solder it to the arm on your sending unit.  Use low temp solder and an iron or soldering copper, because the floats are soldered and a bit to hot with a torch and they leak DAMHIKT.Or if you insist on keeping with the historical theme and must use cork. Try a cork stopper from a wine bottle.  You could seal it using a fuel proof epoxy such as Devcon.RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPY

Salesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:ROG you dam well know Slob is a purist on these machines.He's gonna have to go to Portugal and debark a tree to make a 100% proper cork so he don't loose points at the Welder Show.Hell, he might go as far as hunting up a swarm of Lac bugs to crush and make his own shelac.Slob already refused my offer to scavenge a float out of a basement oil tank for his machine.
Reply:I was out putzing in the shop this morning and ran across an aluminum bulb float from a former "Rochester" swing arm gear drive mechanical float which was worn out. Best part it's originally from another Hobart welder in which I installed a remote electric fuel level gauge into and kept this part. It is therefore, a "happy day". I cut the rod off and mounted it, (soldered) to the existing arm of the fuel gauge and it works well. If I take the unit back apart I'll snap a photo of the repaired unit.

So happy to have a proper ground clamp back too I'll attach a photo here:


Now, PeeAir's "nads" are hanging on their own.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Now all you need to do is toddle off to the grocery store and stock up on the limited edition banana Twinkies.RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPY

Salesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:

Originally Posted by Virgil5

Hell, he might go as far as hunting up a swarm of Lac bugs to crush and make his own shelac.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Virgil5

Found the training video guys
Reply:Slob getting his damn ground clamp back really hurts!I'm scrambling trying to get work out with a busted jaw ground clamp and a hunk of bus bar with an inch of brass pipe brazed on for a ground and Slob, who caused the whole damn ground clamp issue gets his clamp back.I got half a hunch Slob was involved in the kid getting his tongue froze to that fence post too.  Probably talked the kid into it so he could swipe the kid's Twinkies.  Only reason Slob ain't been canned yet is Irma has an evil plan in the incubator to make slob wish his parents never met.
Reply:Yep, I wouldn't doubt it.... Wimmen can be extremely devious planners.
Reply:I didn't have nuthin to do with nobody sticking their tongue to a fence post. You know how these kids are all trying to "outdo" or "up" the ante on each other for bragging rights. That's probably what happened. Wouldn't surprise me if it were the lad whom I teased at the ice skating rink his tongue wouldn't stick to a fudge bar removed from the cryogenic freezer in my welding wagon cause it was so cold. I didn't get the impression he was too smart when he started yanking the frozen confection from his lapper literally ripping the taste buds and nerves from their respective mountings. Definitely more brawn than brains with that one..... It's well known my parents never meant to have me. I never met them.Can't express how relieved I am to have a functioning ground clamp which will carry the load again. Now I got some learning to do.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....