| JONE | -- 07-26-2015 @ 10:54 AM |
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The former owner of my early 47 Mercury converted the car to 12 volts. I'll have to say that he did a half hearted job of it. He did not install voltage reducing resisters nor switch polarity on the gauges. I did that when I rewired the entire car, but the gauges do not operate, I suppose they are fried. I have seen used gauge sets on ebay, but they are untested and unknown if they operate. Is there a way to bench test the gauges if I should decide to take the chance and buy them? Better yet, is there a place where I can buy good gauges?
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| TomO | -- 07-27-2015 @ 6:23 AM |
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You can use a 6 volt lantern battery to bench test all of the gauges except the ammeter. Just connect the battery across the meter for a short period to see if the needle moves. Once the needle starts moving disconnect the battery. Baxter Ford Parts reconditions and sells gauges, but Mercury gauges may be hard to find. He may be able to use the faces of your gauges on Ford gauges. BAXTER FORD PARTS 131 ARKANSAS ST LAWRENCE, KS 66044-1380 (785) 842-9256 Tom
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| cliftford | -- 07-27-2015 @ 6:04 PM |
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TomO explained how to test 3 of the guages. The ammeter is an induction type guage that is, it doesn't have a direct electrical connection. To test it, place the loop on the back side on a wire that is conducting current, and the needle should deflect.
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| JONE | -- 07-27-2015 @ 6:40 PM |
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Thanks guys, I'll keep these tips in mind.
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| Jone | -- 09-15-2015 @ 7:44 PM |
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I'm looking at a set of gauges, tried the dry cell test and the fuel & oil gauges seem to work, but the temp gauge does not move. The needle is all the way to the hot side, same as the fried gauge in my car. Should the needle move away from hot with the dry cell test? I don't want to spend the money for these gauges if they don't all work. Would I have to switch the polarity if I install the gauges? My car has 12V neg ground with a voltage reducing resister.
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| TomO | -- 09-17-2015 @ 6:21 AM |
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Try Baxter Ford Parts for replacement gauges. I don't believe that the gauges are polarity sensitive, but I have not done a 12 volt conversion. I find that the cars run better and problems are easier to diagnose, when they are restored to factory specifications. BAXTER FORD PARTS 131 ARKANSAS ST LAWRENCE, KS 66044-1380 (785) 842-9256 Tom
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| Jone | -- 09-17-2015 @ 11:46 AM |
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Thanks Tom, I'll try Baxter. I had the Merc out for a drive today and noticed that the Oil gage, which is pegged all the way to the left(or zero) with the ignition switched off swung all the way to the right when I started the car, and the Temp gage which is pegged all the way to the right when off, swung all the way to the left when on. The Amp gage seems to work just fine and the Fuel gage does not move. I, also, would prefer the car to be 6 volts, but the former owner had converted it to 12 volts.
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| TomO | -- 09-18-2015 @ 6:20 AM |
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I believe that you are supplying too much voltage to the gauges. Tom
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| Jone | -- 09-19-2015 @ 9:48 AM |
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You may be right Tom, I talked to Bob Baxter the other day and he said I should be using runtz voltage reducers, not the 5 amp resister that I'm using, at the direction of the guy at a local auto electric store. Bob also suggested some tests to determine if the senders are working properly. I'll check them after I finish my honeydo projects.
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