Several years ago there was a guy making a gas tank cap that had a bell on it, as the gas got low the bell would ring and ding.
I can not find it anywhere.
Does anyone know if this is still made or have one for sale that will fit a 1926 Roadster?
Travis E. Towle
Topeka, Kansas
785-408-3409
Cool idea. I would like to know also !
If there was ever a period accessory like that, I'll bet that Jay has one, maybe he'll post a pic or a link to an earlier "accessory of the day" thread featuring it. Jay?
Seems like any bell hung from the gas cap by a small chain could be heard ringing if the gas gets low enough so the bell is no longer submerged.
Great idea.
The MG TD never had a real gas gage, just a small light that comes on when the gas gets low that can't really be noticed on a sunny day.
Should also work on tractors too.
I would think you'd have to hit a good bump to make it ring.
Here's the old accessory you're after, Travis:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/115086.html?1258992495
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/192695.html?1299287915
Jay's photo link showed (before it went private) how complicated this piece of engineering is, so a modern repro would likely be quite expensive?
And still you won't know how much gas you have until it alarms.. once, maybe by accident when you're not there. And it wasn't made for the 26/27 cowl tanks as far as I know(?)
I have an alarm on my 26 coupe for low fuel situations. In fact it went off just yesterday, so I know it's working perfectly. As I'm driving along without a care in the world, when the gas get's near empty, the car starts to make this chugging sound. I know to pull over immediately before it stops completely. I need to improve on the time I have before it stops. Right now it's just 2-3 chugs and it stops.
Someone here did repop this unit, Ill let that person speak to it if they would care to.
Here's a link to another gas alarm from our collection I posted a while ago.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/133830.html
My dear old Dad always said; "If you keep the top half of the tank full, the bottom half will look after itself.
Always works for me.
YMMV
The Ford model 8N and 9N tractors (and possibly many others) used a neat fuel filter/bowl/shutoff, that will screw into the 1/2" pipe threads on a T's tank. It has a tube about an inch long that sticks up into the tank. Opening the shutoff one turn takes the fuel from the top of that tube. When you run out, you turn the shutoff a few more turns and it takes from the bottom. The idea is to get the farmer home from a distant field. It works well on a T. It has a glass bowl, so you can see the water and crud that falls from the tank. It's not T correct, but it is period correct. They are available from Tractor Supply and many others, as they are still being made. Not expensive, either.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/ford-sediment-bulb-assembly
That's how the old motorcycle reserve used to work. Don't know about the "newer" after 1981 versions. They probably have fuel gauges now. My Goldwing had a lever on the valve. One way was ON and the other was RES. Worked great as long as you remembered to turn it back to ON when filling the tank. If you left it on Reserve and ran out of gas, you were SOL.
Which reminds me, I need to fix the fuel gauge on the tractor. It's a PITA when you run a diesel out of fuel.
I have an original sight gas gauge on my 27 Tudor. Do not know the mfg, no marks on it. Was on the car when I bought it 30 years ago. Works very well.
Has a Tee fitting at the filter bulb.
I have one that looks like the one on the picture in the 2010 Forum. If anyone is interested I can take a picture. I would sell it for $100.