MTFCA Forum

All I want to do is regulate the amount of gas going to the headlights. Right now, I have no gauge at all and just crack the valve until I think I have enough going to the lights, then light them and regulate them. I want something that's vintage looking.

That's been to chancy for me.

Thanks,

Marty

Marty, That won't actually regulate the gas pressure; it'll just tell you how much pressure you have set. And it will only read correctly with all the the gas valves flowing at the same time.

An acetylene regulator on a welding tank typically has two gages -- a high pressure gage and a low pressure. The high pressure gage reads the internal pressure in the tank (to tell you how much gas remains in the tank) and the low pressure gage tells you how much pressure is set to flow out of the regulator and down the hose. Be careful not to put your low pressure gage at the outlet of the tank, as tank pressure will be 'way too high for that gage.

A true regulator tries to keep the pressure constant regardless of how many outlets are opened downstream of the regulator. You may be able to come up with a small gas regulator and install your old looking gage on the modern regulator.

That won't do what you want Marty.

The pressure to your lights should be nearly zero, but not quite. This gauge's needle will not even move off the peg at those low pressures. You don't need a gauge, what you need is a regulator. There were regulators made in the Model T era, and those that you can buy today at welding shops. Either way, do NOT use anything that was not originally designed and intended fore use with acetylene. This is no place to retrofit or innovate.

Acetylene is funny stuff and there are materials/devices you do NOT want mixed in with it.

Jerry has given excellent warning/advice

be careful

Something like this may work for you: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Victor-Acetyle ... SwyXNZ7SXV

This is pretty close to what I use. This one is a little big/bulky though: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ESAB-Purox-R-2 ... SwKQ9aTCA9

Another possibility: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Uniweld-RB-Ace ... Sw~oFXMj60

Or: https://www.ebay.com/itm/PREST-O-LITE-A ... SwKs1dbUml I think this one may be your best bet.


Notice the regulator on this tank. It's an old fashioned Prestolite style. Don't know if it's adjustable or not. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Prest- ... 8045!US!-1


Yup, the new ones are ugly on a T, but at least the one I use, works great, (on my Overland).

So what was the way to adjust the pressure to the lights. Just using the off/on valve on the tank to regulate it? Is that the way Ford recommended to owners how to do it?
Just wondering since I have black era T’s and not brass.

I don't think there is any pressure off a carbide generator.

I am lucky with my chocolate van. There is a small, modern cylinder and an old, two gauge regulator on top. With this set-up, the headlights can be adjusted way down so you have parking lights!

Allan from down under.

Marty-
When I was experimenting with the MC tank I used a small regulator (like the second one Jerry showed) but the handle unscrewed it self and fell off!

I like the fourth one he shows.

However, there is no need for a regulator. They did NOT come with a regulator. I just crack the valve open. It takes 2 lbs pressure, about 1/8 of a turn of the valve.

Keith

: ^ )

Thank you all. Great advice.

I was looking for something that looked more period so I guess I'll just stick with the "just crack the valve" method.

I've had this full tank for a couple of years and, although I don't use the lights that often, I do use them. I guess I'll know when it's empty when I no longer get any gas out of it.

Thanks again.

Marty

John kuehn wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 27, 2019 8:35 pm

So what was the way to adjust the pressure to the lights. Just using the off/on valve on the tank to regulate it? Is that the way Ford recommended to owners how to do it?
Just wondering since I have black era T’s and not brass.

No acetylene tank at all. A needle valve regulated how much water dripped onto chunks of calcium carbide. More water = more gas.

Thanks for answering the question.