BulldogTom Posted September 22, 2012 Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 Need a sending unit for my gas tank. See them at Roberts for $89. Is that the only source? Is that the right price? Thanks for any assistance. Tom Hollister, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggdad1951 Posted September 22, 2012 Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 Just got mine from Roberts and am happy with it. Was $100 with shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B1B Keven Posted September 22, 2012 Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 Got mine from Roberts about a year ago. No problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanksB3B Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Tom, Installation is still (way overdue) on my to do list. Not sure if it was Merle that successfully installed this unit... It comes with good instructions. Also see the attached .pdf Hope I helped and didn't just add to the confusion, Hank Retrofit_Fuel_Sending_Unit.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferdball Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 HanksB3B, I'd like to know how your JC Whitney Ford sending unit went in and is performing in your pilothouse?!! $30 sounds better to me than $100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TodFitch Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 What year truck? Do you have a two wire sender/gauge or a single wire sender/gauge? The JC Whitney one is for the one wire setup and will not work on the two wire setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alshere59 Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 Not up to speed on trucks but I think your 52 is single wire, it is easy to check to make sure though. Since I just bought single wire sender I thought I would update the info since the JC Whitney model is no longer available. While I didn't have to change out the mounting flange the sender I found does work for the conversion. So after searching I found the universal sender at Tanks Inc can be used for this conversion but cost $35 plus shipping. On a side note I liked this sender the stop tabs for the float arm let me adjust it enough to match my gauge exactly. Full is full and empty is at at about an inch from the bottom so I have some reserve. The float could be set to anywhere I just liked the idea of a reserve. The unit is advertised as 73 ohms not 78 but bending the tab down got me to where it read correctly. (It was just shy of empty before I adjusted it.) You can see the tabs in the picture and the bolt that holds it together same as the old JC unit. Hope this helps. It has a ground connection also but it is a single wire unit. Just thought I would mention it as the pic could be misleading. Al http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=276/category_id=62/home_id=62/mode=prod/prd276.htm They have the model number of TAN-ORG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBNeal Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 The Roberts unit is a zinc plated version of the original design, and therein lies the problem as the variable resistor is prone to corrosion failure. I have one in my '49, and it reads E until the tank is over 1/2 full, then jumps up to the correct reading, so at the halfway point in the tank, the gauge needle jumps all over the place. I've been trying to get an equivalent JC Whitney unit since December, but they appear to have stopped carrying the 78-10 ohm versions they had available a few years ago. The original Datcon unit JCW carried and the Tanks, Inc. unit look very similar, so maybe they are one in the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 if you need a source for single wire and also 5 bolt hole mount flange..do not over look the marine industry as a source...check with your local boating supply or online Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alshere59 Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 The Datcon part number is 100437 for those interested. It is different in the actual sender portion as it lacks the tabs I mentioned before and the best price I found was about $65. Prices change and other may find a better price in their searches so thought it was worth mentioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 I've had a sender from Roberts in my truck for around 6 years now and it works just fine for me. As I recall I spent around $80 for it. Merle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBNeal Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) The Roberts units work great, but my experience is that they are not perfect because the design is based on the original design, with the only improvement being the zinc plating on the flange & resistor cover. The 1st one I purchased for the '48 back in '96 was $65, and it lasted 3 years before the resistor snapped off from the wiring terminal. I replaced it with another Roberts unit, and it immediately broke in the same area. When speaking to Roberts about this, they assumed I had used an air ratchet of some sort to install the terminal screw and were balking at replacing it; they later replaced the unit at no charge (and let me keep the old one) after I told them that I used a 1/8" screwdriver with the tank installed in the truck. That one has lasted 12 years with the only modification being a ground stud installed. The unit I have in the '49 is also a Roberts unit and is 9 yrs old but malfunctioning. Since I've got the bad Roberts units sitting in a box (somewhere), I've wanted to try the adjustable float conversion as these units use a different style resistor that is less prone to corrosion. With the Roberts zinc plated flange and the newer style resistor, I'd be curious how long that combination would last Edited August 13, 2016 by JBNeal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogTom Posted May 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 Actually, for all the talk about how great Roberts is, I find them overpriced and inaccurate. Maybe it is just because I am on the west coast and when I have called, I always seem to get someone who is covering for someone else or the person I need to talk to is out. But the sending unit they sent me was for a 12 volt system. My mechanic was able to get the old one working and I have left it at that. But I consider Roberts a waste of money. They have not given me great customer service and I won't go back to them. Two bad experiences, no good ones. I won't go back a third time. Tom Hollister, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 What made that sender a 12 volt unit? Fuel level senders are mearly a variable resistor. They are not voltage sensative. Merle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billschwindt Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 (edited) I have had a Roberts in mine now for at least 4 years it has worked flawlessly. I don't have a problem with any of his parts. I must say if you are in this hobby & are shopping price, you need a new hobby.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Edited May 8, 2013 by billschwindt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas275 Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 I bought one of these took it apart and put it on the top of my old one. I added a ground wire. Works fine fo 35.00. http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=276/mode=prod/prd276.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 I have had a Roberts in mine now for at least 4 years it has worked flawlessly. I don't have a problem with any of his parts. I must say if you are in this hobby & are shopping price, you need a new hobby.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have ta not care about money to be in this hobby? huh...didn't know that. lol Definately want to have an open mind about the"budget"...that's for sure. I think the issue here is finding what's right for the project, and paying to much for the wrong part adds insult to injury. 48D 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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