Bongo Fury

With the ever increasing price of fuel & rise in fuel theft, I was wondering if it'd be possible to fit a modification to make the fuel gauge return to zero with the ignition off so the thieving scrotes can't instantly see that the tank is full? Surely a relay in the right place would do the trick?
I realise that all they have to do is tap the tank to see how full it is, just thought it may be an idea?

Or maybe put a sticker on the filler cover that says 'Used Chip Oil Only'. That'd put the scrotes off....if they can read

The gauge consists of 2 coils with a common earth. Sticking a voltage on one end will take the needle to one end of the scale, & the opposite end when applied to the other coil. The reason it stays up when the ignition is off it that their is no return spring on the needle & it's heavily damped so it stays in the same position when the voltage is removed.

I think the short answer to your question is that it should work. You'd just need a momentary push switch to apply 12v to the 'empty' end of the coil & it will go to zero. A very clever idea Kirsty

just a bored brain, not quite clever or motivated enough at the mo to figure out the details though, hopefully someone'll run with the idea

Yep, good thinking kirsty...if somebody comes up with a way to make the needle drop to zero with the ignition off, i'll copy the method myself!... Why am i reminded of the film "mad max 2"?

i have approached this with a low tech method-piece of card to obscure the gauge

ah - was just gonna say cover over the guage and Bob's your thingy !

The techie guys just love a more mechanical solution to these things tho!