kelvin12 Report post Posted July 8, 2011 G'Day All, Another one for the experts among us. My speedo and tach have small, about 3" dia. VDO electronic sender type units. I have been told these are generator type senders ??? The older engine / trans. was 24 volt and the replacement engine was 12 volt. but now it will be running 24 volt as the older engine. Any idea if these senders run at either voltage or are the voltage specific. Thanks again in advance. Dirk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfe10 Report post Posted July 9, 2011 Dirk, Best source for that information would be VDO themselves: http://www.usa.vdo.com/generator/www/us/en/vdo/main/home/home_en.html Brett Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelvin12 Report post Posted July 9, 2011 G'Day Brett, Couldn't get a reply from VDO. Tried a few times but no good. At one time they referred me to an Australian agency but also couldn't get any where with them either. I was hoping one of the members might have come across these little units. I figure I can give it a go on 12v to see if I get a reading then if that works 24v momentarily. If they are generator type units then a quick test shouldn't hurt them, hopefully. Thank you for your reply anyhow. Dirk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClayL Report post Posted July 10, 2011 G'Day Brett, Couldn't get a reply from VDO. Tried a few times but no good. At one time they referred me to an Australian agency but also couldn't get any where with them either. I was hoping one of the members might have come across these little units. I figure I can give it a go on 12v to see if I get a reading then if that works 24v momentarily. If they are generator type units then a quick test shouldn't hurt them, hopefully. Thank you for your reply anyhow. Dirk If you post a picture I might be able to help. It sounds like the sender that was used by a number of companies in the 70's. If so it is actually a small permanent magnet generator and requires no power to operate. Try turning the shaft. If you can feel it sort of lock into position (caused by the magnets) maybe 8 times (could be 4 times) per rotation that would be a good indicator that it is a generator type. As I recall they weren't made by VDO - maybe Ford or Caterpillar - it has been too many years so I am not sure about that though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelvin12 Report post Posted July 10, 2011 G'Day Clay, Thank you for this, I tried turning them as you suggest but couldn't feel any definite resistance or lock up, just a very slight drag sort of thing. One of the units was on the old motor / gearbox, (Spicer Crash Box, 24v system) while the other came with the replacement motor from the US. All accessories on this US motor were 12v. There is no indication on either sender about voltage. The 3 electrical connections are marked "C" middle connection, the outer ones are "GS" whatever that means, and "ZO" on the other, again no idea what this means. They certainly don't make things easy eh.... Both motors were mid 80's versions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfe10 Report post Posted July 10, 2011 Kelvin, I am really surprised if you sent that same well documented post including VDO part number to VDO and got no response. When did you send it? If more than 3 working days ago (currently Sunday evening in U.S.) would be worth a phone call. If that doesn't work, PM me with the e-mail address you sent it from and I will give them a call and see why they have not responded. Brett Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelvin12 Report post Posted July 11, 2011 G'Day Brett, It was a couple of months ago that I sent the email, but haven't kept an exact record of when or to who, I should have, but didn't unfortunately. I actually gave both sender part numbers, speedo and tacho, but didn't get any sort of reply or acknowledgment which was disappointing. I didn't send the photos just the part numbers. My email address, kelvin12@westnet.com.au (No space between the kelvin and 12). Must admit got the run around over here in Oz to with VDO dealers and Allison dealers, each saying it was a VDO part and of course Allison saying it was probably a VDO part number. Situation normal over here. Dirk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClayL Report post Posted July 11, 2011 Sorry can't help, it does look like a VDO part and appears to be a design that came out after I left that part of my career. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelvin12 Report post Posted July 12, 2011 Thanks anyhow Clay, I give VDO in the US another shot as Brett suggests and see how things pan out. I am also looking for a shaft for the same. Hopefully I am more successful this time around. Dirk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
