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It appears I'm missing something...


I'm just wondering what kind of materials gasoline will dissolve over time. Seems like cork wood might dissolve. Just wondering. The last thing you need is cork wood clogging up your fuel filter. That and the float won't be working again.
 
I was thinking the same thing...cork might work for a while...but I think floats are made of plastic or something that doesn't break down easily...don't know about a rubber ducky...they might cause your engine to....quackfire...
 
Well, I ran out to the craft store, and picked up a pack of corks for $2. It's working for now, so at least it gives me time to come up with a more permanent solution! And it only took me about 30 minutes to get the bed off, so it should be even easier next time.

And doing a little internet searching, it looks like they used to use cork that was covered in shellac, to keep it from soaking up gasoline. So the plain cork should be ok for at least a month or so. I like $2 fixes, even if they are temporary.
 
im pretty sure you can buy em at the dealer but i think those are the brass canister style ones. it looks like your sender is after market, uses one of those black foam things

If that is the case, any idea where I would get a replacement?
 
I was thinking the same thing...cork might work for a while...but I think floats are made of plastic or something that doesn't break down easily...don't know about a rubber ducky...they might cause your engine to....quackfire...

Some petroleum products will eat SOME plastic products, over time. Much-o chemistry involved. See what the parts guys at the jobber stores say.
 
You can go to any Ford dealer & get the brass floats for $11.00 They come two to a package & they fit many different sending units. Corks work just fine too for a while until they soak up the gas & then they start reading incorrectly.
 
and whatever you do don't use a ping-pong ball, i might be wrong but i have heard through the rumor mill that it is in the anarchist cook book on ways to deliver liquid drano into the gas tank. i think if memory serves [it's been 20 years since i heard it] the ball disolves letting the liquid contact the gas producing explosive vapor making for a real nice boom. someone feel free to correct because it might be the plug in ball that disolves
 
and whatever you do don't use a ping-pong ball, i might be wrong but i have heard through the rumor mill that it is in the anarchist cook book on ways to deliver liquid drano into the gas tank. i think if memory serves [it's been 20 years since i heard it] the ball disolves letting the liquid contact the gas producing explosive vapor making for a real nice boom. someone feel free to correct because it might be the plug in ball that disolves

I'm gonna have to remember that now.
:thefinger:
 
Apprantly, not an uncommon problem. Mine fell off a few years ago, and I couldn't bring myself to spend $150 on a new fuel pump to make the guage work correctly (for the 4.0L supercab, the pump is more expensive then just about any other Ranger pump, and it's the only way to get the correct float).

Funny thing was, when I took the bed off to see what the problem was, I couldn't find the old float. I fished for it for quite a long time before giving it up as M.I.A. I fixed a brass one up to the sender with steel wire, and either I did a shoddy job, or the steel I used corroded in gasoline, because it wasn't one week before it was off again. Now, if the brass float ends up M.I.A also, then I KNOW there's a gremlin in the fuel tank ;)
 
Here's an update for everyone...

I was at the junkyard a few days ago for a part for my Subaru. I picked up a fuel level sending unit, and the mounting ring for it. I managed to bust off all the studs on my current ring, and the gauge acts funny sometimes, so I figured what the hell, I'll get em both. Turned out it was only $12 for it anyways.

So then I had the bright idea to take the float off one of those units, and put it on this Ranger unit. And it works! It's the same size rod, though the float is shorter than the one that was on the Ranger's. Not a big deal, I just pushed it all the way on, then pushed the steel retainer up against it. So now I have a permanent fix on the Ranger. The cork was starting to break down, as the gauge wouldn't go all the way up anymore as of the last 2 weeks.

I'll get a pic of the Subaru part I'm talking about tomorrow. I was a bit covered in gas to take any pics today. Apparently, when you disconnect the fuel pump wires, and run the truck until it dies(and try to restart it), that's not enough to depressurize the system. I almost got a face full of gas, as it hit the back of the cab, and went any direction it wanted.
 
I was thinking the same thing...cork might work for a while...but I think floats are made of plastic or something that doesn't break down easily...don't know about a rubber ducky...they might cause your engine to....quackfire...

ROTFPMSL
 

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