Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-03-2017, 08:36 PM   #1
Veteran Member
 
City: Pasadena, MD
Vessel Name: Cleo's Barge
Vessel Model: 2006 Mainship 34T
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 38
2006 Mainship 34T fuel guages

The fuel gauges in my boat (upper and lower helm) are not working. Both show about 7/8 full tank of fuel even though the tank sight gauge shows less than 1/3 tank of fuel. Since both gauges are reading the same amount of fuel, I assume the problem is in the sender unit on the fuel tank which is not readily available and may mean cutting the cabin floor.

Anyone else have this problem? Resolution?
trawlerdeejay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2017, 03:49 PM   #2
TF Site Team
 
Shrew's Avatar
 
City: Westerly, RI
Vessel Name: N/A
Vessel Model: 1999 Mainship 350 Trawler
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,154
IF there are two fuel tanks, then swap the senders. If it is the sender, the other tank should now show 7/8 and the current tank should now reflect the proper 1/3 capacity.
Shrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2017, 04:02 PM   #3
Valued Technical Contributor
 
DavidM's Avatar
 
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,775
As you surmise, the sender is stuck. It has been a long time since I looked but I think it is accessible from a removable hatch in the sole of the lower cabin near the steps. There is a circular cover with about 6 screws you remove to get the cover off and the sender pulls out. Clean it and watch the gauge as you move the float up or down.

David
DavidM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2017, 12:41 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
LongJohn's Avatar
 
City: Watts Bar Lake, Tn River
Vessel Name: RedBoat
Vessel Model: MS 34T
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 148
Both gauges reading at the same time? On my 34T, one must toggle between the two. Might be something else going on.
__________________
LongJohn
LongJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2017, 12:50 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
City: Jarrettsville, MD.
Vessel Model: Mainship Pilot 30' Rumrunner
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 157
Do you have two sending units or one? I have seen some MS 's that have one sending unit in one of the two tanks with a cross connected hose for fuel that keeps both tanks at the same level reading off one sending unit. When you say you have two gages are they for two different tanks or two different helms reading one tank?
jskinner30PII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2017, 04:10 PM   #6
Veteran Member
 
City: Pasadena, MD
Vessel Name: Cleo's Barge
Vessel Model: 2006 Mainship 34T
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 38
2006 34T fuel gauges

Thanks for the responses.

This Mainship 34 has only 1 250 gal.fuel tank.

As also mentioned, the fuel sensor only sends signals to 1 fuel gauge at a time. There is a switch at the lower helm that turns on the fuel gauge you want - upper or lower helm - strange design but it is what it is. (All of the other gauges in the instrument cluster work at both stations all the time).

I'll check for an access plate under the steps down to the galley next time I go on the boat.
trawlerdeejay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2017, 04:16 PM   #7
Veteran Member
 
City: Pasadena, MD
Vessel Name: Cleo's Barge
Vessel Model: 2006 Mainship 34T
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 38
2006 34T fuel gauges.

David,

Finally got on the boat and was unable to find the round access panel you described. Perhaps it is because this is the 34' trawler and not the 34' pilot.

Anyone else know where an access panel might be?

trawlerdeejay
trawlerdeejay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2017, 04:34 PM   #8
Valued Technical Contributor
 
DavidM's Avatar
 
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,775
I knew it was a 34T not my current Pilot 34. I used to own a 34T.

You looked underneath the steps leading down from the main cabin to the galley?

David
DavidM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2017, 08:59 AM   #9
Guru
 
danderer's Avatar
 
City: Newark, DE
Vessel Name: Infinity
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 48
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 708
On my 34T the compartment under the steps is forward of the fuel tank and separated from it by a bulkhead. No access to the tank from there.

I'd start by pulling the panels in the ER that cover the aft side of the tank to at least see where the sender is and if there is any access.
danderer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2019, 05:08 PM   #10
Newbie
 
City: St. Petersburg
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
Was the gauge error ever resolved?

Trawlerdeejay, did you ever figure out what was wrong? I just had the same issue occur (gauge reading about 7/8 when I know the actual fuel is less than 1/3).
PTCarrera is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2019, 09:36 AM   #11
TF Site Team
 
Shrew's Avatar
 
City: Westerly, RI
Vessel Name: N/A
Vessel Model: 1999 Mainship 350 Trawler
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,154
Ah, one tank, one sender, two gauges!!!! Mine also has a switch to toggle the fuel gauge between the upper and lower helm, however, I have two fuel tanks, two senders and one fuel gauge at each helm. I have a second switch which toggles between port and Stbd tanks. (Sometimes a few extra details make more sense).

The float on the sender sounds like it's stuck. If this were an electrical issue, I would assume the gauge would either read as Full (shorted circuit) or Empty (dead circuit).
Shrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2019, 08:09 AM   #12
Veteran Member
 
City: Sint Maarten DWI
Vessel Name: Au Naturel
Vessel Model: 2000 Mainship 390 Trawler
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 69
I too had a similar issue with fuel reading. I went to each gauge (lower helm, upper helm) and located the wire connections, pulled them off, cleaned them as lots of corrosion from salt air, reattached them, and voila they both worked again properly. Not saying this will solve your issue...but just eliminating possibilities.
suntansailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2019, 11:05 AM   #13
Veteran Member
 
City: Pasadena, MD
Vessel Name: Cleo's Barge
Vessel Model: 2006 Mainship 34T
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 38
Your fuel guage not working

Quote:
Originally Posted by PTCarrera View Post
Trawlerdeejay, did you ever figure out what was wrong? I just had the same issue occur (gauge reading about 7/8 when I know the actual fuel is less than 1/3).
Your issue exactly like mine. Interestingly, the problem simply went away this past summer. Gauges now work top and bottom.
trawlerdeejay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2019, 07:53 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Molly's Avatar
 
City: Punta Gorda
Vessel Name: La Bella Vita
Vessel Model: 2006 Mainship 34T
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 127
That panel on the port side in the ER says DO NOT REMOVE on my boat. Or maybe NO! Something like that. I would not remove that panel. Just sayin
My gauges "flicker" on and off at times. I was going to clean the contacts.
Molly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2019, 09:47 AM   #15
Veteran Member
 
City: Palm Harbor, Florida
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 40
Our 2009 34T fuel sender is accessible from the engine room. I had to remove the

panel that separates the engine from the fuel tank. There is not very much space between the top of the fuel tank and the ceiling. I was told that the original fuel sender manufacturer was going out of business.

My mechanic installed a "Royce Flexi Sender" Part no. 0110-0510-025 U2584. $184.00

He stated that "Had to buy one and use parts from both to make one working unit, due to part of sender welded into tank".
panhead56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 01:10 PM   #16
Newbie
 
City: Branford
Vessel Model: 2003 Mainship Pilot Sedan
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2
03 Mainship Pilot 34T fuel gauge

Fuel gauge pins full with power. I have 2 tanks that Y together sensor should be in port tank, but I can’t find it? Not behind galley steps. Any body know? Thanks
bvpusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 01:48 PM   #17
Valued Technical Contributor
 
DavidM's Avatar
 
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,775
Sounds like you have a Pilot 34, the downeaster style not a 34T, the flybridge trawler. I had both, but I don’t know where the fuel sensor is located. If it is like the 34T, it is on the top of one of the tanks. Probably stuck.

David
DavidM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2019, 04:39 PM   #18
Newbie
 
City: Branford
Vessel Model: 2003 Mainship Pilot Sedan
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2
Yes a downeast style with twin yanmars. 2 tanks Y together. I’ll have to take insulation down to see top of tanks. Problem is I am 6’ 240 not great for small spaces. Supposed to be on port tank. Thanks
bvpusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012