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MG MGA - DOA

I was installing my tank sender (bought from Moss several years ago)- smeared the gasket both sides with gasket sealer per instructions, screwed it in place then set about connecting the wire. As I was doing this noticed the terminal was loose, and as the instructions say to not rotate the terminal under any circumstances, I decided to take the outer plate off and inspect. I found the coil wire was broken! Not my doing as I had merely undone the terminal nut.
I've made a complaint but hold no hope of a refund based on past experience.
I think I can fix it - just one more unexpected task!
Good job the gasket had not set up.

Art Pearse

Since you have (or had) the cover off, does this unit have single or double wiper arms in contact with the coil? About two years ago Moss revamped their fuel sender unit with better physical and electrical construction and dual wipers (but a bit of a miss on resistance and travel range). If your "new" sender unit is several years old it must be earlier issue.

Once you get the coil wire reconnected, could you measure the resistance range, and maybe have a look at the mechanical travel range? For reference see here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/fg115.htm
Barney Gaylord

Barney, it's a single wiper, bought in 2009. I will check res. and report back soon.
Art Pearse

Barney, the unit is useless! I managed to resolder the wire. I can only get a reading of about 2-3 ohms, float at rest (not consistent) but when I move it, it is all over the map. I will not even hold steady but fluctuates as I hold the float in any position. The slider seems to have pressure on the coil, and it makes a nice sound as you move it. It is hard to put the probes on the coil wire without causing damage.
Motion:Total vertical travel of float is 4-7/8" At rest, the bottom of the float is 4" below the top of the hole in the tank, which is 1.9" dia.
Another peeve is I had to file the casting slightly to get it to clear inside this diameter for a flush mount.
Are there any other suppliers than Moss for this unit?
Art Pearse

Having read similar complaints on the archives about this item, I can only conclude it is probably made by the Heisenberg Electric Co.
Art Pearse

You have the older Moss unit, needing to filed to fit the hole. Possibly a couple of the screw holes may also not line up, needing to be filed out oval. The single wiper may be marginal at making consistent contact as it moves. The shaft may have intermittent contact with ground on the housing (which could be fixed by adding a flexible wire between the arm and housing).

The new Moss unit may have fixed all of those problems. But the last time I looked at one it had the wrong range of motion for the float arm, and incorrect resistance range as well. I don't know if they got that stuff fixed yet.

I have no idea who might sell a good fuel sender unit new. They have been generally bad for many years. If you can find the correct resistance wire it is easy enough to rewind the bobbin on the old unit.
Barney Gaylord

Art,
I have an old stock unit that the main base plate has corroded. It therefore leaks at the outer edge. BUT, the rest of the unit is functional. If you think you could canabalise, the inner parts and put them into your unit, you can have it for the cost of postage. I am in Montreal.
Gordon Harrison

Thanks Gordon, just sent you an email.
Art Pearse

Art,
Did you mean "Hindenburg" Electric? Hope it does not bring the same result!!
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Peter, no, Heisenberg, the famous author of the Uncertainty Principle!
Art Pearse

You should be getting your sender sometime today or tomorrow. I mailed it EXPEDITED MAIL. Email me for the PayPal charge"
Gordon Harrison

My fuel sender was "frozen" when I first got the car up and running. Permanent reading at 1/4 full. I went ahead and ran it as is putting approximately 10 tanks of fuel through it (using the odometer to determine when to refill). Suddenly, it began to work again. Pretty accurate too. Apparently, bathing it in new fuel removed old buildup and freed it up.
JM Morris

JM, was that a new one?
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 27/04/2013 and 09/05/2013

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