fuel sending unit

[searaytn]

The fuel gauge on my 1989 Searay 160BR is not working. I've traced it down the fuel sending unit. Specifically, the float on the rod will not float. I've removed the sending unit and moved it by hand and the gauge moves with it. I also put it in a bucket of water and it works fine. However, when in the fuel tank it sinks. I tied a string around the float, put it in the tank and it registered empty. When I pulled the string up the fuel gauge would move to full.

The unit is a Rochester 8341-70. The specs say the float is an epoxy coated cork. Does anyone know of a suitable float replacement?

 

[Bt Doctur]

any old wine bottle cork should work. if it floats in water it should float in gas.

 

[achris]

any old wine bottle cork should work. if it floats in water it should float in gas.

Not necessarily. If the cork is fuel soak it will sink. Petrol is less dense than water, so a petrol soaked cork, like the petrol itself, will float on water, but as the cork adds very slightly to the density, it will sink in petrol.

Chris....

 

[gm280]

You could use most any type cork of about the same size and replace the one in your tank and make it work again. If you can remove the one on the rod now, you may be able to drain the gas out of it and reseal it. OR you could buy an all new sender setup and replace the entire sender system...

 

[achris]

You could use most any type cork of about the same size and replace the one in your tank and make it work again. If you can remove the one on the rod now, you may be able to drain the gas out of it and reseal it. OR you could buy an all new sender setup and replace the entire sender system...

That would be my option. They are not expensive.. Just throw a new unit in...

http://www.iboats.com/Fuel-Gauge-Se...817497--session_id.300699926--view_id.1161553

Chris..........

 

[searaytn]

I checked amazon and sending units are very inexpensive. I purchased a Moeller that should work for $18.

I also looked for float replacements. Surprisingly, there were very few options.

 

[cvflyer]

I just went through a similar problem. Every time I pulled the unit it bench tested ok. After the 3rd time it quit working mid trip I replaced the whole thing. No more problems. They are not too expensive and the Moeller units come with all the parts you should need including the seal and screws.