Out of Gas! Fuel Gauge and Sender needed for 67 Elan S3

[mjbeanie]

Hello all,

Hope everyone's Elan is running well!

Anyone have the Smiths Fuel Gauge and perhaps a sender in good working order they would be willing to sell?
Please let me know. The fuel gauge is Smiths FG 2530 / 71. I will research the sender p.n.
Thanks you guys,
Mike

[skelteanema]

Hi Mike,

SJSportscars carry the sender units for the S3

https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and- ... M6106Z.htm

They also have the fuel gauge for thr S3, but probably a remanufactured part, and it looks to have a black bezel, although the bezel can easilly be replaced:

https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and- ... M6105Z.htm

[mjbeanie]

I went to Caerbont (aka Smiths) directly and got both the gauge and matching sender. I am listing the part number data for anyone else that may be interested. (for Elan S1-S3 inclusive)
FG2530-71C Fuel Gauge with Chrome Bezel
TB5532-104 Matching sender unit Bimetallic

[Andy8421]

I went to Caerbont (aka Smiths) directly and got both the gauge and matching sender. I am listing the part number data for anyone else that may be interested. (for Elan S1-S3 inclusive)
FG2530-71C Fuel Gauge with Chrome Bezel
TB5532-104 Matching sender unit Bimetallic

Series 1,2 and early 3 didn't use bimetallic instruments. S4 and Sprint used a voltage stabiliser and bimetallic displays. Caerbont should know, but there seems to be some confusion here.

[Craven]

Known in the simplest of terms, early cars up to mid S3’s used a FAST gauge, later cars a SLOW gauge each used its own specific sender unit.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52275

[mjbeanie]

Caerbont website provides the following narrative for Elan S1-S3:


Elan Fuel Gauge 1962 – 1968

"Lotus Elan Mk 1 Fuel gauge (62-68). Black Dial with white print and pointer blade. Bi-metal movement, black half vee bezel. Matching tank sender unit available; part number TB5532-104"


and for S4 (1968):


"Elan Fuel Gauge 1968

Original 1968 Lotus Elan Fuel gauge 52mm bi-metal resistance type fuel indicator. Internal illumination. Half vee chrome bezel. Anti-clockwise movement."

So fingers crossed, hopefully it all works out as it is supposed to.
Cheers
MIke

[Andy8421]

Mike,

Hopefully it all works.

I think the problem is that Caerbont are using 'bi metal' in their description of the early gauge. There is no 'bi-metal' (in the form of a bimetallic strip) in the early gauge - which is a moving iron resistance meter.

Early 'fast' gauge with no bi-metal

The later gauges have a bimetallic strip with a heating element wrapped around it (just visible under the needle). The method of operation is completely different between the two gauges.

Late 'slow' gauge with bimetallic strip

[mjbeanie]

Thanks very much. This was very informative. I didn't know the technical differences between the types of gauges.
It does appear the term bimetal is being used quite loosely. I am very curious to understand what will be delivered by Caerbont! ..I would assume there has been some technological updates incorporated through the decades.