Fuel Tank Senders

Kipstone · #1 01-16-2014, 04:38 AM

Fuel Tank Senders - Centre Consul 23 Foot 1976
Please help if you can!

Has anybody got the best suggestion to accessing and the exact position to both the fuel tank senders? Both my Yamaha senders were incorrectly installed - both guages showing opposite to actual state ie full when empty, not a good thing especially when I did not know this when purchased!

One guage has now stopped working completely - so the senders being faulty or installed to the opposite polarity are probably the reason. As its a centre consul its going to have to be a de-rig to access the tanks and I want to find a permanent solution. Has anybody got experience and advice on cutting access hatches above the tanks to access the senders? If so, can you still locate original castings for these new hatches that match my current 1976 patterns?

Any photos for guidance or technical advice for location, remediation etc would be most gratefully received as this boat is now located in the UK where obviously Seacraft experience & knowledge is non exsistant - I think my 23 foot Seacraft is the only one in the UK (good to hear from anybody else in the UK if not).
Many thanks in anticipation
Chris

Bushwacker · #2 01-16-2014, 10:02 PM

Chris,

I'm not familiar with the CC model's, so can't help you with the access question, but SeaCraft was always real good about putting hatches over the fuel tanks so you don't have to rip up the deck to get to them. Sounds like you have two tanks? Accessing the fuel tank is a piece of cake on a Seafari or Sceptre. I would think a previous owner would have installed an access plate over the sending unit so it could be changed without pulling the console or hatch.

Whoever installed your senders obviously got the polarity reversed because your gauge is just reading voltage across a variable resistance. If the voltage is backwards, the gauge will read backwards. I just replaced a Tempo sensor that died after only about 7 years with a Wema sensor. http://www.wemausa.com/sensors/cover...l#.UtiJXvRDua8 They're a bit more expensive but if yours is hard to get to, I would definitely recommend them. They're aerospace quality and use magnetically actuated reed switches that are orders of magnitude more reliable than the old mechanical arm wiping across a resistance coil!

MasterBaiter · #3 01-26-2014, 10:43 PM

I'm guessing your cc is different from my inboard cc. I have a section of deck that can be unscrewed and lifted out. Have you checked the resistance at the gauge? Maybe the gauge is wired backwards, and with any luck the one that stopped working was damaged due to the wiring.

MasterBaiter · #4 01-26-2014, 11:06 PM

While wandering around I found this.
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...ad.php?t=23582

There is a lot of fiberglass dust around, but it sure looks like a lip on the edge where the tank came out - although its a single.....

bumpdraft · #5 01-29-2014, 03:05 PM

You mentioned that the boat is in the UK. I'll just throw this out there. Years ago I had a MGB that was positive ground. I know a lot of older British cars were made that way. Maybe some guy that was used to working on the older cars wired the boat that way.