I hate boat repair.... sending unit help please!

[rost495]

Hey folks

Everything has been solveable till now. I'm trying to get to the point of testing, and the fuel gauge sending unit was cracked. No wonder water was getting in the fuel according to previous owner.

Anyway I ordered a new sending unit, poly tank. Got it all trimmed up to be right lenghts and then find the top hole is not large enough to drop the sender through to attempt to bolt down and seal.

Cutting the poly would be no biggie, BUT the shavings will fall in the tank!! What do I do?

On another note, I'm going to glass on a ring of 8 inch PVC pipe around the sender to have a "lip" to prevent water from standing there as there is a dip in the tank about right there.

Also any other info on jam nuts is still welcome, seems to be7/8 x 16 threads aluminum is needed... OR can I just apply an epoxy or polyester resin around the threads to hold and seal?

Help!!

TIA, Jeff

 

[Coors]

Re: I hate boat repair.... sending unit help please!

Are the ohms correct with the gauge?

 

[Coors]

Re: I hate boat repair.... sending unit help please!

put permatex or something on it; you may have to remove it one day.

 

[rost495]

Re: I hate boat repair.... sending unit help please!

Ohms match the gauge, gauge is existing as was sender, boat is 85 model.

My just now thought is the tank has been out for 3 years, no fuel in it, its back in now and trying to top off all the fittings to screw the deck down.. heat up a hacksaw blade with a propane torch and melt a notch out, no shavings in the tank that way. I suspect I can actually vacuum the tank out wiht the shop vac and a tube but would prefer not too....

More thoughts welcome.

And yes, permatex on the sender, I am talking abotu glassing a ring of PVC around the sender to act as a berm to keep water off it.... long story, tank has a dip right there, preventative maintenance if you will.

Jeff

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I hate boat repair.... sending unit help please!

Attach that pvc ring with 3m 5200 and use locktite on the nuts.... be sure to clean the threads first.

 

[Bondo]

Re: I hate boat repair.... sending unit help please!

I suspect I can actually vacuum the tank out wiht the shop vac and a tube but would prefer not too....

Don't Do That,..!!.........

There was a fella Killed doing that up here a year or 2 ago.........

Gas Fumes,+ a Shop-Vac Don't Mix...........

 

[rost495]

Re: I hate boat repair.... sending unit help please!

Bondo

Thanks, was aware of that, but the tank has been dry for a minimum of 3 years, probably more like 5+ years so I figured, couldn't be any fumes left by now......

Guess i'll try to heat up a saw blade to cherry red and melt away a notch. Sounds best, though the red blade around the fumes.......

Jeff

 

[rost495]

Re: I hate boat repair.... sending unit help please!

FWIW, since I had no real good replies I thought i'd pass this along. As noted it was a poly tank, and had not had fuel in it in years. I got a propane torch and heated up the end of an old hacksaw blade, and melted a slot into the side of the hole for the float wire to slide into. Took a few goes and test fits. Then a bit off one side to square it up a bit. The melting worked good, I could "cut" it and then it would eitehr come up with the blade or stay stuck so I could grab it with a needle nose. I had one smaller piece fall in and should be no big deal.

Off to get permatex 2 to seal up under/around the gasket and away we go again!!

Thanks, Jeff