The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts fuel gauge

My '57 5700 all stock 12 volt system just received a new gas tank and sending unit. I put 8 gallons in to check the gauge, pulled the sending unit twice to adjust the float to read 1/2 tank on the gauge. I'm happy with the results other than the gauge bounces a lot on the test drive, it stays around 1/2 gauge but bouncing. Do others find this normal?

a bouncing gauge is not normal, might be a poor connection that's reacting to vibration - did you put a ground wire from a sender screw to the cab or frame? sure all connections tight and clean of any paint?

Bill

What do you describe s "bouncing"?
A slight, low speed oscillation is quite normal with an half full tank slushing around.
A quick bouncing around needle, NOT normal.

The ground wire is intact but suspect, it is original from the sending unit screw to the cab, I'll replace that. The gauge bounces rapidly, not a slow rhythmic oscillation as one would expect. Thank you for your input as I have no prior experience with this vintage to judge it. I replaced the entire wire from the sender to the gauge and the post on the gauge is clean brass, I'll run a new ground wire to the battery and see if it improves.

I ran a new ground wire from the sending unit to the battery, gauge is still jittery but a little improvement. On another note I got the speedometer working today, first time I've seen it move in the two years of ownership, now I have all of the instruments and lights working other than the dimmer for the headlights.