Power Car M51937 Fuel Gauge Overhaul

Our Class 108 DMU power car (M51937) has two fuel tanks and on each tank, there are two fuel gauges.

For a while we have been baffled why two gauges on the same tank displayed completely different readings.

Extracted gauge and float with needle stuck at 45 gallons, 2026

One gauge was showing the tank as two thirds full and the other nearly empty. Also, neither needle moved when additional fuel was inserted.

The same issue was present on the other tank.

Investigation

We removed all four fuel gauges from the two tanks and once on the workbench the answer was clear.

Refurbished gauge back on the tank, 2026

Each tank had one gauge complete with a float mechanism, but with a non-working needle and the second gauge was essentially a dummy with no float mechanism attached so incapable of giving a reading.

Overhaul

Fortunately, we have some very skilled members who have overhauled the gauges.

They have removed all the dirt and grease, cleaned up the dial and freed up the sticking needles.

New gaskets have been made, the gauge covers painted, and the gauges put back in position.

Refurbished gauge back on the tank nicely picked out in red, 2026

Accurate Readings

The result is we now have working gauges on each tank displaying accurate readings.

The dummy gauges have also been cleaned up in a similar manner but have been left inoperable, for the time being.

Now we can recommence running the engines with more confidence, to carry out testing, without the worry that the tanks are nearly empty and will run dry.

The photographs show the two refurbished gauges back on the tanks nicely picked out in red.

We can now see immediately how much fuel is in the tanks.

Nigel Kirkpatrick