Need help with fuel gauge!

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symandalay	Need help with fuel gauge!		Lead	[-]
Posts: 147 09/19/07 05:51:12	Tags : None Hi all, My electric fuel gauge has begun reading full regardless of how much fuel is in the tank. I opened up the sending unit and moving the float has no effect. There is a piece of metal (brass?) sticking out of the sending unit that does not look right - could be a spring or a wiper on a pot or ??? I expect the sending unit needs replacing. Anyone know if it is a standard part with standard hole pattern, etc. and where to get one like it? Any other suggestions? Thanks, Colin Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel Florida
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garrywillis		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 292 09/19/07 07:40:45 Moderator	Hi Colin, Does the gauge go down to empty when you turn the key off? If it does than you have more than likely a short in the wire going from the sending unit to the gauge that must be tracked down and find out where it is. If not and it stays on full all the time than you have a bad gauge and you can get a replacement from the manufacturer or do a search to get another one. I'm not sure who the manufacturer of the gauge is but Seward makes the panel. If the latter is the case you might want to troubleshoot the panel and check the wires there too. The sending unit is installed by the tank manufacturer and I don't know who that is but can find out. Nice article in the Sep't Sail magazine on passage making with the photo of your boat btw. Garry "Breezn" #502 2-Cabin
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symandalay		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 147 09/19/07 14:18:49	HI Garry, Thanks for the help and the comments about the article. The gauge goes to zero when you turn off the key so I assume it is a short or bad sending unit. I will pull the engine panel cover off tomorrow and look for clues. Colin Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel Florida
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Dan Hundley		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3 09/20/07 06:52:44	Colin- You can get a new sending unit w/float for less than $40.00. Go get it, hook it up to wiring without putting it into taand, work the float bar up and down. If that doesn't do it problem is elsewhere. I just did it on my boat. Dan Hundley Hull # 147 Sea Gypsy
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symandalay		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 147 09/20/07 10:16:08	Hey Dan, Thanks for that advice. I will do that since a look in the engine panel didn't show any problems (except the lamp is burned out). Where did you get a sending unit that fits with the original mounting holes? Are they standardized? BTW, anyone know if the little instrument lamp bulbs are easy to find? It is all glass with no metal base....looks like a halogen bulb. Colin Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel Florida
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CaptNorm42		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 631 09/20/07 10:54:54 Moderator	Colin, Are you positive the bulb is burned out? Since there are 2 problems w/your fuel meter, sounds like could be bad wiring. I'm just about positive the big hole in the tank is a standard diameter, 1.1". I've been checking into the Snake River products. You may confirm your tank with their specs: http//www.snake-river.org/pdf/Diesel%20Rod%20Hole%20Pattern.pdf I believe the tank manufacturer's name is on the label on the tank, you could call them. If not, a call to Catalina would make sense. You may remember, I had a tough time re-sealing that sender gasket. Here's a link to the problem/solution: http//catalina42discussionforum.yuku.com/topic/1038 As Garry mentioned, Seaward Products makes the panels & I'm sure can tell you the ohm range of the fuel sender. Tom, the owner knows everything, his son Lon E. also is very knowledgable. I recently replaced my fuel guage--it always points to 9 oclock, power on/off makes no difference. Here's a link to their catalog, will give you their phone number: http//www.seawardproducts.com/SeaCat05.pdf ~~~~_/)~~~~ Norm Perron, Hull #600/2 cabin, Aphrodisiac, Marina del Rey, CA
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Dan Hundley		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3 09/20/07 11:13:47	I got the sending unit at West Marine, and the fit is tight for the holes. I found that the threading on the screws supplied with the sending unit were too fine to bite the tank securely, so I substituted screws with more aggressive threading. Then, I torqued them down in sequence very carefully to avoid stripping, and last, put some of "Captain Tolley's Creepy Crack" around the surface where the rubber gasket addresses the tank. I found I had to do this to prevent weeping of diesel from the screws. It seems to be sealed pretty well now. Dan
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marvroni		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 20 09/21/07 09:28:20	When I replaced the sending unit on my 36, I found out the tank was manufactured by Allright Welding in Utah, and they sold me a replacement sending unit. Since I am not at the boat I don't know if the 42 is the same manufacture or not, but their address is : Allright Welding 381 West Center Plesant Grove, Utah 84062 I don't have their phone number, but it could probably be found on the internet. Marv Bromley 314/2 Wing
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bob776		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 124 09/25/07 05:03:56	Colin: I had the exact same problem recently. After checking the sending unit to make sure it wasn't stuck and finding no loose or shorted wires I changed the guage. Bingo! Actually I had the same problem on our Catalina 36 a few years ago so I was suspicious of the gauge from the start. Bob 776
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symandalay		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 147 09/27/07 10:16:36	Thanks Bob....The sending unit did not fix the problem so I have ordered a gauge from Seaward. Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel Florida
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symandalay		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 147 10/10/07 12:34:30	I solved the problem but had to replace both the gauge and the sending unit.......Something must have fried them both. Colin Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel Florida
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