Good video, Mike, I've just done the cluster on my XB GS the same way. I'm glad to have found this, because I wasn't aware of the potential problem. Cheers, Steve.
Very good. The regulator is a big fire risk and will definitely damage your gauges if it fails I will be getting back into my XB very shortly, 2023 will be a big XB year.
My old man bought his xa sedan new on his birthday in 1973, he fully restored it 100% himself minus the interior seat retrim a few years back at the age of 71..she's a head turner on the street..
Only new to the Ford scene and in the middle of converting my XA Falcon 500 to a GS/GT dash, which this video has helped me with. I do have a question regarding the earth wire on the regulator. My wiring harness doesn't have an earth wire for either the fuel or temp gauge? So by fitting the black ground wire from the regulator to that centre pin on the fuel gauge, where does it get the earth from? Is there supposed to be an earth wire on that flat plug and perhaps the guy who re-wired my harness has left it off? Thanks in advance.
Hi Mike thanks for the video! Can i ask what the black wire is that goes from the terminal above the input from the regulator( above the terminal that the orange wire connects to)? Thanks
I don’t quite understand the question. The black wire is the earth wire the orange is power going through the regular to bypass the factory regulator. Hope that’s what you were asking.
Really good video Mike, I'm currently installing a electronic voltage regulator, is it possible to put an insulating material between the contacts on the factory voltage regulator rather than cutting the wire?
Great vid Mike, on my xbgt my petrol guage reads 1/2 full when the tank is full and it reads empty when the tank is half full and its got a new sender unit, but the other 3 guages are reading ok , could it be the voltage reg ,what do you think is going on thanks
Fuel sender. What concerns me is you saying you have a new sender unit. Unless it is an original sender unit it will never read correctly. Get a genuine sender not the new reproduction ones which are useless. I have tested plenty never seen one that worked correctly. If you have not installed an electronic regulator yet do so fast before your gauges fry or worse the car catches on fire.
Hey Mike, great video. Topical too as it's been discussed a lot of on Ford facebook page lately. Where'd you pick up the regulator from? What are the voltages?
XB TAS I should have probably mentioned that. The gauges run on approximately 5 to 6 volts. The electronic regulators are sold on eBay and many instrument technicians also sell them. PS feel free to share the video on any pages or forums you are part of. Looking at making more videos along the same lines in the future.
@@MikesManCave yeah I sus'd it out and ordered the same brand you linked but for xc so I will wait and see what shows up. Great video cheers for the reply!
@@MikesManCave Cool, thanks Mike. I did have my gauges all repaired. I have fitted the new reg, cut the wire, but it seems they have shit themselves again
Could be your temperature sender or the gauge has burned out, fit a digital regulator and check the winding on the gauge. These gauges can be repaired and rebuild so don't throw it out, take it to an instrument technician and they can test the gauge for you. If you are close by I can test it for you.
Hi Mike, Great video and at the right time for me. I'm at 95% of a full rebuild of my XB sedan. Going through all the testing phase and trying to rectify issues and fuel gauge being one. Gauge only shows half tank when it is full. Does fall when empty correctly. I've replaced 3 senders and all having the same issue. I've grounded out the single wire at the sender which does then read full on the gauge. Other gauges seem to be reading correctly. Do you think it could possibly be that I need an electronic regulator to help? If so which ebay seller would sell the same as you installed? thanks Mike Regards P
Seriously I would not be running these gauges without one, any of the ones on eBay are fine. You are playing with fire keeping the original mechanical regulator, your gauges will read a lot better and be more accurate with an electronic one, and best of all they will not burn out, as you know these gauges are worth a lot of $$ now. Are you using an original sender or reproduction one?? Unfortunately the Reproduction ones NEVER work correctly. Where in Australia are you located?
@@MikesManCave Hi Mike, thanks so much for your reply. I was using a repo one until today. Decided to spend time looking at the problem. I repaired one of my old analog meters and finally got to test all of them correctly. Found the 2 rare spares one's were miles out. No wonder it never work. I got the original one out and tested it. It was way better. I was able to calibrate it to 73-10ohms. Should be good now. I just didn't want to modify the original pickup to suit the aftermarket in tank fuel pump I have but oh well looks like i just had to do it. Sad when you have to go back to a 46 year old sender. I think it should work now. I live in Melbourne. I will order a electronic regulator and install from your good advise. Looks like most are 4 wire. No big deal. Negative in and out. I'll join them together. I take it 3 amp should be plenty at 5vdc? Thanks again Regards Paul
@@pzac5108 Should only be three wire, this is the only one I have ever seen. www.ebay.com.au/itm/DASH-GAUGES-VOLTAGE-REGULATOR-FORD-XK-XL-XM-XP-XR-XT-XW-XY-XA-XB-XC-FALCON-MORE/283514938294?hash=item4202cea3b6:m:mDCMAjsK7KFU_gp_YvCFLgg
@@MikesManCave The only one's I found where just 12vdc to 5vdc voltage regulator mainly for led lighting. That's why they are 4 wire. They are between $8-9. I'll order the one you have provided. Thanks so much for your help Mike I really appreciated it. I also checked the fuel gauge after I last wrote to you and so far with how much petrol is in it I think it's reading finally correctly. Fingers crossed! When I get the wheels back on it I can go fill it up to find out. Thanks again. Regards Paul.
@@MikesManCave not a matter of wanting us gauges, it used to be a way to fix australian falcon fuel gauges or instrument clusters where the metal strap style voltage regulators were used. Ie used for the parts etc…. Nowdays you don’t need to use the old analogue voltage regulators as you can just use a new digital voltage buck for 1/20 of the price. Cheaper, more consistent and more reliable. ie the buck does the voltage regulation. the good ones you can actually dial up specific output. - so similar to what you discovered
@@MikesManCave my bad, didnt mean to imply that the guages were the same, its more that prior to the digital fix, the solution was to cannibalise the voltage regular from other ford products of a similar build period. The digital solution is obviously easier and better. The better digital solution is to use the buck converter over the old triac style digital regulator. The reason is that the triacs can overheat if something goes wrong, and in a worse case scenario, lots of smoke and fire. Bucks let you dial in exactly the voltage that your fuel gauge expects. Nothing wrong with what youve done, just saying that triacs have been superceded by buck converters as they are a more stable option. 👍
Brings back memories, I was a pimply faced apprentice at Flexdrive when they were making these gauges. Sigh, happier times.
certainly were better times....
Good video, Mike, I've just done the cluster on my XB GS the same way. I'm glad to have found this, because I wasn't aware of the potential problem. Cheers, Steve.
Very good. The regulator is a big fire risk and will definitely damage your gauges if it fails I will be getting back into my XB very shortly, 2023 will be a big XB year.
My old man bought his xa sedan new on his birthday in 1973, he fully restored it 100% himself minus the interior seat retrim a few years back at the age of 71..she's a head turner on the street..
PERTH WEST OZ RC nice one. 👍👍 they are great old cars. A lot of money and work though.
Only new to the Ford scene and in the middle of converting my XA Falcon 500 to a GS/GT dash, which this video has helped me with. I do have a question regarding the earth wire on the regulator. My wiring harness doesn't have an earth wire for either the fuel or temp gauge? So by fitting the black ground wire from the regulator to that centre pin on the fuel gauge, where does it get the earth from? Is there supposed to be an earth wire on that flat plug and perhaps the guy who re-wired my harness has left it off? Thanks in advance.
Definitely supposed to be an earth wire on the flat connector.
Hi Mike thanks for the video! Can i ask what the black wire is that goes from the terminal above the input from the regulator( above the terminal that the orange wire connects to)? Thanks
I don’t quite understand the question. The black wire is the earth wire the orange is power going through the regular to bypass the factory regulator. Hope that’s what you were asking.
Really good video Mike, I'm currently installing a electronic voltage regulator, is it possible to put an insulating material between the contacts on the factory voltage regulator rather than cutting the wire?
@@ChrisSchulz-f9z can’t see why it wouldn’t be, as long as the factory regulator is disconnected it will be fine.
Great vid Mike, on my xbgt my petrol guage reads 1/2 full when the tank is full and it reads empty when the tank is half full and its got a new sender unit, but the other 3 guages are reading ok , could it be the voltage reg ,what do you think is going on thanks
Fuel sender. What concerns me is you saying you have a new sender unit. Unless it is an original sender unit it will never read correctly. Get a genuine sender not the new reproduction ones which are useless. I have tested plenty never seen one that worked correctly. If you have not installed an electronic regulator yet do so fast before your gauges fry or worse the car catches on fire.
Hey Mike, great video. Topical too as it's been discussed a lot of on Ford facebook page lately.
Where'd you pick up the regulator from? What are the voltages?
XB TAS I should have probably mentioned that. The gauges run on approximately 5 to 6 volts. The electronic regulators are sold on eBay and many instrument technicians also sell them. PS feel free to share the video on any pages or forums you are part of. Looking at making more videos along the same lines in the future.
Whats it regulating too ....or maybe i missed it
The gauges, fuel gauge, temp gauge and oil pressure gauge run on around 5.1 to 6 volt, I explain it in great detail in the video.
Awesome mate, ever done this on a XC with the laminated wires? Thanks for that had a dodgy guages for years just hope i can convert it to xc
Never owned an XC. I am sure it can be done. As most of these gauges work the same way.
@@MikesManCave yeah I sus'd it out and ordered the same brand you linked but for xc so I will wait and see what shows up.
Great video cheers for the reply!
Hey Mike thanks for the info. A question, Can I power my volt meter from the terminal marked green as that is 12V? Thanks
Yes the green wire is the 12V feed that powers all gauges.
@@MikesManCave Cool, thanks Mike. I did have my gauges all repaired. I have fitted the new reg, cut the wire, but it seems they have shit themselves again
Hi Mike, all my Gauges work expect my temperature gauge what do u think it would be? It was working but now has stop, it's xb gs.
Could be your temperature sender or the gauge has burned out, fit a digital regulator and check the winding on the gauge. These gauges can be repaired and rebuild so don't throw it out, take it to an instrument technician and they can test the gauge for you. If you are close by I can test it for you.
I in Melbourne where are u?
@@duanespiteri3501 Mid North Coast NSW, Long way from Melbourne unfortunately.
Ok, thanks
Back in the 80s you could still buy some of these brand new from Ford.
Yep. I know. To me the 80’s does not seem that far away till you realise it was 40 years ago. 😳
Hi Mike, Great video and at the right time for me. I'm at 95% of a full rebuild of my XB sedan. Going through all the testing phase and trying to rectify issues and fuel gauge being one. Gauge only shows half tank when it is full. Does fall when empty correctly. I've replaced 3 senders and all having the same issue. I've grounded out the single wire at the sender which does then read full on the gauge. Other gauges seem to be reading correctly. Do you think it could possibly be that I need an electronic regulator to help? If so which ebay seller would sell the same as you installed? thanks Mike Regards P
Seriously I would not be running these gauges without one, any of the ones on eBay are fine. You are playing with fire keeping the original mechanical regulator, your gauges will read a lot better and be more accurate with an electronic one, and best of all they will not burn out, as you know these gauges are worth a lot of $$ now. Are you using an original sender or reproduction one?? Unfortunately the Reproduction ones NEVER work correctly. Where in Australia are you located?
@@MikesManCave
Hi Mike, thanks so much for your reply. I was using a repo one until today. Decided to spend time looking at the problem. I repaired one of my old analog meters and finally got to test all of them correctly. Found the 2 rare spares one's were miles out. No wonder it never work. I got the original one out and tested it. It was way better. I was able to calibrate it to 73-10ohms. Should be good now. I just didn't want to modify the original pickup to suit the aftermarket in tank fuel pump I have but oh well looks like i just had to do it. Sad when you have to go back to a 46 year old sender. I think it should work now.
I live in Melbourne.
I will order a electronic regulator and install from your good advise. Looks like most are 4 wire. No big deal. Negative in and out. I'll join them together. I take it 3 amp should be plenty at 5vdc?
Thanks again
Regards Paul
@@pzac5108 Should only be three wire, this is the only one I have ever seen. www.ebay.com.au/itm/DASH-GAUGES-VOLTAGE-REGULATOR-FORD-XK-XL-XM-XP-XR-XT-XW-XY-XA-XB-XC-FALCON-MORE/283514938294?hash=item4202cea3b6:m:mDCMAjsK7KFU_gp_YvCFLgg
@@MikesManCave
The only one's I found where just 12vdc to 5vdc voltage regulator mainly for led lighting. That's why they are 4 wire. They are between $8-9. I'll order the one you have provided. Thanks so much for your help Mike I really appreciated it.
I also checked the fuel gauge after I last wrote to you and so far with how much petrol is in it I think it's reading finally correctly. Fingers crossed! When I get the wheels back on it I can go fill it up to find out. Thanks again.
Regards
Paul.
@@pzac5108 The one I linked is the correct one, check the guys feed back, can't get better than that.
Takes me back 30 years......................sigh
Yep, I bought my first XB Falcon in 1986.I wish I could go back and do it all again
It's just incredible how unnecessary changes happen, l didn't know that the xa and Xb were different, whose going to reproduce them...?
I never understood why they changed it. Lots of things like that. Don't think anyone will reproduce them.
Using a voltage buck is a whole lot easier than sourcing early US falcon and US galaxy, or mercury marauder gauges to cannibalise….
No idea what any of that means. What is a voltage buck and why do you wan t US gauges?? I am confused.
@@MikesManCave not a matter of wanting us gauges, it used to be a way to fix australian falcon fuel gauges or instrument clusters where the metal strap style voltage regulators were used. Ie used for the parts etc…. Nowdays you don’t need to use the old analogue voltage regulators as you can just use a new digital voltage buck for 1/20 of the price. Cheaper, more consistent and more reliable. ie the buck does the voltage regulation. the good ones you can actually dial up specific output. - so similar to what you discovered
@@gfenwick1 Oh, OK, I did not realise that they had the same gauges. I will look into that. That. might explain some of the odd gauges I have here.
@@MikesManCave my bad, didnt mean to imply that the guages were the same, its more that prior to the digital fix, the solution was to cannibalise the voltage regular from other ford products of a similar build period. The digital solution is obviously easier and better. The better digital solution is to use the buck converter over the old triac style digital regulator. The reason is that the triacs can overheat if something goes wrong, and in a worse case scenario, lots of smoke and fire. Bucks let you dial in exactly the voltage that your fuel gauge expects. Nothing wrong with what youve done, just saying that triacs have been superceded by buck converters as they are a more stable option. 👍