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Car Forum / Antique and Collectibles / Studebaker / August 2005Lark gas tank problem
Henry warned me the gage in my Lark was a bit flaky, well I'm not so sure it's the gage, I think something else is going on. Tonight the gage showed just under a 1/4 tank and the car ran out of gas. The other day it was showing a 1/4 tank when I filled it and it took about 12 gallons, which seems about right if it's an 18 gallon tank (it is isn't it?) OK, so it seems like it is running out of gas with about 5 gallons left, so something funny must be going on with the pickup. The manual just doesn't' show anything, is the pickup like on a truck, could it be twisted or bent somehow? Do I have to take the tank out to do anything about this? Any other ideas? Thanks! Jeff DeWitt The fuel feeds from a fitting on the front passenger side of the tank. Six years ago , SASCO had new ones for sale. But you may have a leak somewhere, or maybe somethings floating around in there that blocks the fuel intake like a tennis ball , or leaves or a dead sparrow. > Henry warned me the gage in my Lark was a bit flaky, well I'm not so > sure it's the gage, I think something else is going on. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Jeff DeWitt A lot of Stude's came from the factory that way <lol>...Really <g>. Jeff "Jeff DeWitt" wrote.. > Henry warned me the gage in my Lark was a bit flaky, well I'm not so sure > it's the gage, I think something else is going on. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Jeff DeWitt Out of my three Studes,I only have one that is accurate through the whole sweep of the gauge,my Transtar. The Hawk drops from full right away but stays in the centre for a long time before going lower(time to get gas) The Lark has a new gage and sending unit,seems to work fine,but will hang up in the middel some times.Caused my Father to run out of gas once this summer. >A lot of Stude's came from the factory that way <lol>...Really <g>. > Jeff [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >> >> Jeff DeWitt My 64' was always doing exactly what your's is doing. The Fix: Switched the wires on the "dash" terminals. I had installed them backwards....Guage reads fine now. As near as I can tell the gas gage is actually working properly. The gage will show about a 1/4 tank, and it will take about 12-13 gallons to fill it. That sounds about right. However if I keep driving the car will run out of gas with the gage showing just under 1/4 tank, and will still take around 13 gallons to fill it, so it really sounds like the gage is right, but that the tank is still partly full when the pickup starts sucking air and the car knocks off. Is the pickup on a Lark a simple tube that's easy to remove like on a Champ? The parts book doesn't really say. Jeff DeWitt > My 64' was always doing exactly what your's is doing. The Fix: > Switched the wires on the "dash" terminals. I had installed them > backwards....Guage reads fine now. On my old '63, the tube simply runs along the bottom of the tank from the fitting on the rh front to the center so all of it is located on the bottom. I would remove the sender and take a look. Also, the guage itself can become quirky and unstable after time. JT > As near as I can tell the gas gage is actually working properly. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Switched the wires on the "dash" terminals. I had installed them > > backwards....Guage reads fine now. Its soldered into the right front corner of the tank Jeff. Its nothing like a Champ pickup pickup. > As near as I can tell the gas gage is actually working properly. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> Switched the wires on the "dash" terminals. I had installed them >> backwards....Guage reads fine now. Jeff: When you fill up the tank (Top it off) does the gage register "full" or 1/4 full ? Mine would sometimes go about 1/2 way, maybe more, but would always run out just like yours is. Hey, it's an easy try without a downside. Hey it's a quickie test....Swap the terminal ends, turn on key, check gage: see if you get 2 different readings (tank is full) When I fill the tank the gage goes right to the top just like it should. I just filled it up (12 gallons at $2.38 a gallon at BJ's), and the pointer is past the full mark, just like it should be. Before getting gas the gage was just about down to the 1/4 tank mark, and with it taking 12 gallons to fill it that sounds about right. Jeff DeWitt > Jeff: When you fill up the tank (Top it off) does the gage register > "full" or 1/4 full ? Mine would sometimes go about 1/2 way, maybe > more, but would always run out just like yours is. Hey, it's an easy > try without a downside. Hey it's a quickie test....Swap the terminal > ends, turn on key, check gage: see if you get 2 different readings > (tank is full) Jeff, the pickup should have been soldered to the tank floor when it was assembled, it actually extends about 8" into the tank. It's possible it separated at some point with the tube bent upwards now, which would explain it sucking air before the tank is empty. The only easy fix would be a new tank. > When I fill the tank the gage goes right to the top just like it should. > I just filled it up (12 gallons at $2.38 a gallon at BJ's), and the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> ends, turn on key, check gage: see if you get 2 different readings >> (tank is full) That's NOT what I wanted to hear! I see SASCO has NOS tanks, about $127. Wonder what shipping would be. Jeff DeWitt > Jeff, the pickup should have been soldered to the tank floor when it was > assembled, it actually extends about 8" into the tank. It's possible it [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >>> ends, turn on key, check gage: see if you get 2 different readings >>> (tank is full) By taking the sender out, you should be able to inspect the feed tube for position. Dropping a tank ain't all that involved... Just make sure it's nearly empty. Once out, get rid of any remaining gas then add a couple of cans of "dry gas" and fill it with water and let it stand a few hours then flush with water for about an hour. If, upon inspection, something is amiss with the innards, you can cut a big enough access hole and clean/repair as necessary then resolder the cutout into place. BTW, I believe that the only NOS gas tanks SASCO has left are for station wagons with a side filler. JT > That's NOT what I wanted to hear! > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > >>> ends, turn on key, check gage: see if you get 2 different readings > >>> (tank is full) |
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