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Technical Flathead Ford Two sending units one Gauge will it work?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Raunchy, Dec 22, 2018.

  1. Raunchy
    Joined: Apr 16, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Raunchy
    Member

    On a flathead Ford V8 since there are two separate water systems a lot of people run two temp. gauges. Would it be possible to run through a switch and have two electric sending units wired into one gauge? I don't have anything but mechanical temp gauges and I am not that familiar with electric. I don't think I have ever even wired an electric one in. It would be on a blown flathead with an alternator and serpentine belts so I an not worried about the period correct thing running an electric gauge. I am thinking there might be feedback from one side to the other.
     
  2. TrailerTrashToo
    Joined: Jun 20, 2018
    Posts: 1,293

    TrailerTrashToo
    Member

    Yes, if the electric senders both electrically match the electric gauge chosen. A single pole, double throw (SPST) toggle switch works for this situation (only one sender is connected to the gauge at a time, so there is no "feedback").
     
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  3. Raunchy
    Joined: Apr 16, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Raunchy
    Member

    Well that was easy enough. Thanks
     
  4. Dick Stevens
    Joined: Aug 7, 2012
    Posts: 3,715

    Dick Stevens
    Member

    I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't want to have 2 seperate gauges so you can see at a glance what the temp is on both sides instead of having to switch it to see?
     

  5. Raunchy
    Joined: Apr 16, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Raunchy
    Member

    The gauge panel I want to run doesn't have enough holes.
     
  6. That's is exactly what I did.
    Mounted the switch behind the gauge. IMG_20150902_161342.jpg
     
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  7. Raunchy
    Joined: Apr 16, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Raunchy
    Member

    Thanks for the picture. If the dash is installed is the switch easy to reach there?
     
  8. Yes it works well. I did one for a customer like that last year. The gauge package he wanted to use only had one temp gauge so I ordered another sending unit and wired it all together with a switch to have the gauge reading only one sending unit at a time.
     
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  9. The 39 guy
    Joined: Nov 5, 2010
    Posts: 3,532

    The 39 guy
    Member

    i wired mine as Trailer Trash Too suggested. It has worked trouble free for three years.
     
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  10. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,737

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    I seem to remember a pic of a gauge that had two needles, one for each side. If you could find one of those dual gauges you wouldn't need a switch, you could see both at the same time....
     
  11. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,920

    Slopok
    Member

    Henry used only one gauge, was he wrong?
     
  12. Mike51Merc
    Joined: Dec 5, 2008
    Posts: 3,856

    Mike51Merc
    Member

    Don't ask me, I'm running dual mechanicals.
     
  13. phoneman
    Joined: Dec 5, 2010
    Posts: 109

    phoneman
    Member
    from Missouri

    The way Henry did it one sending unit was basically a switch that completed the circuit to the other normal sending unit. If the switch side activated the circuit went open and the gauge went to full hot.
     
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  14. knucklenutz
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 154

    knucklenutz
    Member

    I recently stared my blown Flathead for the first time. The blower is a H&H S.C.oT . The driver side pump pulley did not have enough of a belt wrap around. After two miles of driving, the second gauge told the tale and prevented possible failure.
     
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  15. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,951

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Do you mean like this :
    WM-DUALTP (2).jpg

    They were usually used on two cylinder snowmobile engines. I've been looking for one for a while now, but the only ones I have found measure exhaust temperature, not water temperature.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2018
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  16. Andy
    Joined: Nov 17, 2002
    Posts: 5,121

    Andy
    Member

    I wired my flathead with two senders and one gauge. I was surprised that there was a lag when switching senders. It took a little time for the new sender to read right. Worked fine.
     
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  17. Yup, just put hand under dash, click to either side.
     
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  18. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,951

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Wow! Westach wants $122 for a dual gauge. I know it won't be much help to the O/P, but I'd look in a snowmobile Salvage Yard (yes, we do have them in Minnesota).
     
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  19. Raunchy
    Joined: Apr 16, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Raunchy
    Member

    Thanks for all the ideas and opinions. I will go with the switch idea. It will work for me.

     
  20. Raunchy
    Joined: Apr 16, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Raunchy
    Member

    I never knew this all the motors I have pulled and dealt with had been hacked on before I got to them.
     
  21. Sheep Dip
    Joined: Dec 29, 2010
    Posts: 1,572

    Sheep Dip
    Member
    from Central Ca

    As stated SPDT switch with 2 senders, I did it on my Flattie and also used a SPDT switch for high and low beam headlight relay trigger. One suggestion is to mount the toggle sideways so it's easier to remember what side your reading.
     
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  22. Yes it would be totally possible with electric gauges. Use a 3 position switch closed open closed. Run each sender to a closed position on the switch, open no gauges closed #1 activates the #1 head and closed #2 activates the #2 head (or #1 and #2 senders if you prefer.)..
     
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  23. Thanks for all the reply's....kinda was my thoughts on the approach to monitor both the banks of my flattie......
     
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