[C320-list] Fuel sending gauge/TANK

[sail-ability sail-ability]

   When the tank is removed (thru the  aft cabin hatch) does the tank need
   to be completely empty to avoid spills? I'm planning on removing my
   tank the end of this season to have it cleaned and inspected. If it is
   serviceable I'll just put it back.

   Cheers

   JohnM

   1999#574

     ---------- Original Message ----------
     From: Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at bex.net>
     Date: July 4, 2017 at 1:42 PM
     Jeff, Early 320 hulls had the thinner walled fuel tanks that are
     more prone to leaking over time. It is not a matter of if an aging
     aluminum tank will leak, but when. Cleaning up the fuel after a
     leaking tank or even from a replacement fuel tank sensor, is a real
     pain. Even a small amount of the fuel will find its way under the
     hull liner and move about requiring repeating some multi-step
     processes to get out all of the fuel and the odors. Imagine
     discovering a large amount of fuel under the liner.... I replaced my
     tank on hull #277 tank after having a fuel sender leak on my topped
     off tank over a winter storage period. I found the tank replacement
     to be much less work than cleaning up the leaked fuel. I did not
     want to repeat the fuel cleaning process when my tank finally failed
     (with my luck would occur over a storage season). You can save
     yourself a lot of work if you can find your way to replace the tank
     earlier than later. I also replaced the fuel hoses from the tank to
     the engine when I replaced the tank to ensure the next likely leak
     source was addressed. As our 320 hulls age, there are some
     predictable preventative maintenance schedules that could be gleaned
     from this owner list to avoid sailing season interruptions and avoid
     predictable problems. Replacing an aging original fuel tank on early
     hulls that had thin walled tanks is one such preventative
     maintenance task that will improve your vessel's condition, rather
     than waiting for a predictable failure!
     If you really want to take your chances on your older tank given
     your hull #, you can hang upside down from the aft corner locker
     (after removing the lid) and then go about replacing the fuel
     sender. You will need to remove the wooden shelf pieces above the
     tank and then find the correct tools to reach/replace all of the
     sender screws. Just as a precaution, I suggest that you consider
     applying some fuel resistant sealant paste, (like from NAPA - white,
     that is used when installing a fuel fitting) and paint (goo-up) the
     replaced fuel gauge sender unit AFTER it is installed. Be sure to
     heavily coat all areas of the sender, including all of the screws
     and around the gasket, but only after installing the fuel sender and
     only after checking that your fuel gauge is working to ensure you
     have properly re-attached all of the wires and connectors. The
     sealant will help to keep fuel from ever leaking from fuel sender
     gasket edges and from screws securing the sender, all potential leak
     areas as l I learned. I applied the sealant to a leaking sender and
     that solved my leak problem for one season before finally determined
     it was time to avoid another fuel clean-up and just replace the tank
     at the end of the season after I had used up most all of the fuel
     leaving me with a nearly empty tank. If you decide to replace the
     tank, be sure to order an access port for about $65, so you can more
     easily clean up the tank by hand if ever necessary or simply access
     the tank to pump out about a half-gallon of the dirty fuel gunk and
     water that will settle to the bottom after about every 3-5 years.
     Rick Sulewski
     C320 95' Hull # 277
     -----Original Message-----
     From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On
     Behalf Of Jeffrey Brown
     Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2017 12:11 PM
     To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
     Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fuel sending gauge
     Yes I did. The problem is one or two of the five bolts that hold the
     unit in are underneath some fiberglass from the aft storage locker
     that comes out. The space isn't sufficient to allow the bolt to be
     removed. I need to lift the tank out a bit but that requires moving
     around a lot of stuff.
     Jeff Brown
     949-350-5123
     > On Jul 4, 2017, at 9:07 AM, Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk>
     wrote:
     >
     > Jeff
     >
     > Have you removed the two wooden floor pieces above the tank. It's
     fiddly but it can be done.
     >
     > Graeme
     >
     >> On 4 Jul 2017, at 17:04, Jeffrey Brown <oceanblues at mac.com>
     wrote:
     >>
     >> I'm hull 78 and wondering if anyone near my hull number replaced
     their fuel sending gauge without pulling out the tank. One of the
     bolts is hard to get to. Just wondering before I begin removal of
     the tank. I'm even considering replacing the whole tank if I'm going
     to this much work. Any thoughts?
     >>
     >> Jeff Brown
     >> 949-350-5123
     >
     > --------------------------------------
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     >
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