Fuel tank sending unit - Bristol 408 MKII

[408VIKING]

Hi. Easy jobb. Follow instructionss given given by others.

Regards
Per

[LarryW]

My 409 is missing the fuel tank cover plate shown in 408Viking's post. Does anyone know if that should be there on the 409?

[Geoff Kingston]

Yes the 409 should have the cover plate, I might have a spare one around somewhere which we took off a scrap 603 when I removed the petrol tank, if I can find it I will let you know.
Geoff.

[LarryW]

Geoff.

Thank you. I see the six holes to mount it now.

If the 603 is same as the 409, I certainly could use it. Let me know what you would need for it.

You can contact me at robinlarry(at)aol.com

[PEU186F]

The guage will show full, ie very extremely full if the sender or its wiring is open circuit and, presumably, empty if is shorted to chassis. I found it impossible to obtain a new sender to the same pattern but, although I cannot now find the invoice, I'm pretty sure that the one I used as a replacement on the 410 came from

https://www.smiths-instruments.co.uk/tank-senders

As you will see there is one hell of a lot of variety, also the resistance patterns vary so I'd suggest getting the Lucas part no off the original or a spares list and asking them to tell you which you need. The in tank bit wil look completely different and you need (I think -I wasnt involved at this stage) to be careful not to get the wires in the tank trapped

While you are at it I'd recommend changing the gasket, obviously, also the breather pipes, the latter regardless of whether they look ok or not.

Good luck, that seat back is a heavy old lump is it not?

[Geoff Kingston]

The petrol tanks on the 408/410/411 and 603 all look the same so I assume what ever is available would fit all of them. Rogers link reminded me that sitting with a number of other items not opened or used yet was a replacement sender unit I purchased from Bristol Cars before Christmas.
Just opened the box and it turns out they had sourced it from Smiths themselves, Its of their own manufacture 'Caerbont Automotive Instruments' and the reference number is TB9006/KIT, Bristol Cars Label says B.334055 Tank Float Unit 03A03A.
The Carebont label describes the kit as a variable length type, the TB9006/KIT is described as Top mounted, warning light "Bimetal " characteristic and it includes the gasket.

[PEU186F]

Well done, Geoff, for discerning and establishing order amongst all the chaos; a hallmark of the civil service!

Roger