rgano
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2007
- Messages
- 4,995
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- FROLIC
- Vessel Make
- Mainship 30 Pilot II since 2015. GB-42 1986-2015. Former Unlimited Tonnage Master
I have finally worked down my to-do list to the "Fix the fuel gauge/sender" problem. I was not working when I bought the boat in June; so I installed a quickie sight gauge in the engine compartment and have been ok with that. But there it was that nagging empty reading on the console fuel gauge.
In the interim, the volt meter on my Faria cluster gauge gave out, and I replaced it. While involved in that fix, I discovered a testing procedure for the gauges from Faria which also gave the impedance values for a full/half full/empty tank taken between the disconnected sender wire and ground as well as a gauge needle test. The sender tested bad, and the new gauge predictably tested OK.
So back to replacing the sender and how in the world to get access to the fuel sender. I was able to visually locate the senders on both tanks (yes, there are two - thanks, Mike Shepard for the clue on that), but only one sender is connected to the console gauge.
I had to cut a four-inch diameter access hole under the bench seat on the bridge deck to get to the fuel senders. After getting a visual on the senders, I measured back 8 inches from the forward and outboard 11 inches from the inboard bulkheads of the compartment under the bench seating and drilled a pilot hole to be sure of my location and then easily cut the access hole.
I removed and tested both Wema 17-inch SSL senders and found that the port side sender, which was never connected would give reading which fluctuated between the proper level (I was sliding the float up and down on the sender's rod) and zero, but mostly zero. The starboard side sender's impedance value never changed.
Wema has a website and thankfully has exact replacements. If I need to replace one in the future, it ill be a snap.
In the interim, the volt meter on my Faria cluster gauge gave out, and I replaced it. While involved in that fix, I discovered a testing procedure for the gauges from Faria which also gave the impedance values for a full/half full/empty tank taken between the disconnected sender wire and ground as well as a gauge needle test. The sender tested bad, and the new gauge predictably tested OK.
So back to replacing the sender and how in the world to get access to the fuel sender. I was able to visually locate the senders on both tanks (yes, there are two - thanks, Mike Shepard for the clue on that), but only one sender is connected to the console gauge.
I had to cut a four-inch diameter access hole under the bench seat on the bridge deck to get to the fuel senders. After getting a visual on the senders, I measured back 8 inches from the forward and outboard 11 inches from the inboard bulkheads of the compartment under the bench seating and drilled a pilot hole to be sure of my location and then easily cut the access hole.
I removed and tested both Wema 17-inch SSL senders and found that the port side sender, which was never connected would give reading which fluctuated between the proper level (I was sliding the float up and down on the sender's rod) and zero, but mostly zero. The starboard side sender's impedance value never changed.
Wema has a website and thankfully has exact replacements. If I need to replace one in the future, it ill be a snap.
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