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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - run out of petrol

Hi folks,

Well took the midget out today as planned, after passing MOT on Wednesday.

Lovely run around the New Forest stopped at the Cuckoo pub at Hamptworth, lovely pint of old school ale, (sorry lads are you all getting thirsty Ha!)

Anyway on the way back with a bit of luck just got to the bottom of my road then ran out of juice with the gauge reading between 1/2 and 1/4, looks like dodgy gauge, I think I have another one from my old Frogeye which is good, is there anything I can do ie: testing wise on the Midget one before I take it out?

Or should I just bite the bullit and change it?

cheers Jack.
Jack New Forest

Midget fuel gauges and senders are notoriously dodgy

By all means test the system and try to improve it but the sender needs the tank dropped to gain access so may dont bother.

I know I can safely use 4 to 5 gallons with my tank so I always reset my trip when filling up. Then I do about 140 miles and fill up. be careful with this technique because on major roads (especially in Europe) fuel stations can be 30 miles apart.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Hi Jack,
The lack of a voltage stabiliser can give you these readings. Is there one fitted to your car? If so, is it connected up?
Neil K

I have the same problem with my frogeye and use Bob's technique of taking more notice of the odometer rather than the fuel guage.
Dont ask me why I started doing it, but I also now normally keep half a gallon in a plastic can in the boot, so feel quite smug!
Graham M V

I used to do a daily high mileage commute in the Midget - always carried a full gallon can in the boot
David Smith

I don't think the Frogeye one will work in the later Midget...

Mark.
M T Boldry

Jack, it's not all bad you got your ale and just about home

I've had this happen a few times, once when I'd just bought a car and was just about to pull off the main road to go to a service road petrol station, luckily I managed to coast across the road and just short of the station so the wife didn't have to push the car far

I was going to put I don't think (not sure) the Frogeye gauge will would unless you can modify it(?)
-/+ and different sender unit

changing the voltage stabilizer I don't think will help but if you're fitting one go modern with - http://classicstabilizers.webs.com/

or - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SOLID-STATE-VOLTAGE-STABILIZER-MG-Midget-MGB-MGA-/130512872003?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e632c6243

I always carry a gallon of petrol in the boot my wife insists (she once helped push the previous Spridget about half a mile it was slightly downhill though)

Doing the mileage check is fine if your trip works but best to use one of those old magnetic plastic wheeled mpg things if not (remember those)

Or you can do what was on my present Midget when I got it put a bit of tape marker on the gauge where the petrol runs

I replaced just my guage (not cheap) and was lucky enough to find it then accurate (had replaced with solid state voltage stabiliser first)
Nigel Atkins

Got neither a fuel gauge or a speedo in my Sprite......... and at 20mpg, it's unnerving sometimes!
D le Versha

you just listen to the pump then
Nigel Atkins

Yes Nigel, that's how I noticed it, I could hear the pump searching!

But it's too late then.
Jack New Forest

no I meant d le listening to the pump - you can get a bit of advanced notice but not a lot I know as I often run low
Nigel Atkins

I successfully adjusted mine (fuel gauge) by playing around with the zero point and the full scale deflection values by moving the 2 slotted adjustments on the rear of the gauge slightly.

See http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/fuel.htm for details and pictures.

I found it easier to adjust by slackening off the 2 terminal post nuts until only just nipping the inside mechanism to the gauge body. Too loose - the inner gubbins (mechanism) floats around, too tight - no adjustment.....try it you'll see what I mean. Also when adjusting the zero point it does also affect the 'full point' so you need to then adjust the other slot too, takes a few goes to get it spot on.

NB this also works to calibrate Smiths electric type temperature gauges.

Worth a go rather than buying new gauge.

Cheers
s.lowiss
s lowiss

useful info s but Jack'll need quite a bit of ajustment to get between half and a quarter to E on his present gauge

it'll be interesting to know the outcome but I think from my experience at least that it'll be a replacement gauge
Nigel Atkins

Nigel you may very well be right.
But if you look at the 5th and 6th pictures down in the link page there is a very significant amount of adjustment available. ie more than half of the working range of movement of the needle, when altering its zero position, so I think its well worth a go on many gauges that don't appear to be reading properly.
Steve L.
s lowiss

Steve,
sorry I didn't mean it wasn't worth a go

I either put too little detail into my posts or too much rarely the right amount

one day I might get the hang of this written communication lark

Jack,
I also meant to say that I can appreciate your enjoyment of your real ale at the Cuckoo as I've been there and was even down that way when Ringwoood first started brewing (now sadly sold on)
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 24/04/2011 and 26/04/2011

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