Has anyone changed fuel gauge and float on 1988 Outrage

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Has anyone changed fuel gauge and float on 1988 Outrage

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Has anyone changed fuel gauge and float on 1988 Outrage

topshelf posted 06-08-2009 05:32 PM ET (US)
I have a 1988 18 outrage with a Florida Marine Tank 63gal. At the end of last season the gauge worked now it doesen't. I lifted up the clear floor plate and tried to remove the gauge and of course after 20yrs the screw heads broke off. Now I am assuming I have to replace the whole housing. It looks like there are four bolts holding it on and I cant tell if there is a nut on the back end. I didnt want to take it apart without having a new one in hand.I was just wondering is the gauge the magnet and there are 2 little spings under each screw that snapped off I was just wondering what they did. On Florida Marine Tanks website there is no parts or any diagrams to look at.I am not sure if I need a gasget. I am currently waiting on a call back from them but I was wondering if anyone has ever changed this. Is this part universal or do I have to go to a Whaler dealer if the Tank co. dosent sell direct.

padrefigure posted 06-16-2009 12:44 AM ET (US)
You have four screws with lock nuts that hold the activator and tank flange together on top of the tank. These are the larger Phillips head screws that are in the NE, NW, SE, SW corners of the assembly. Floating above this assmebly is the dial, held on two mounting posts by two smaller Philips screws that are oriented N and S on the assembly. There is a coil spring on each post to keep the dial in its floating position. I believe the nut size on the 4 larger screws is 3/8 and 1/4 for the two smaller screws. Remove all of the screws and the entire assembly will lift out of the tank. I believe there is an O-ring or gasket between the actuator and the tank flange. There is no mechanical connection between the acuator and the dial. I believe that there is a magnet in the top of the actuator that is turned by an arm at the tank end of the actuator. The arm is geared to the end of the actuator stem by a float on the end of the bottom arm. I had the same problem that you describe and after disassembly, discovered that the float on the end of the arm was MIA. I disassembled a Tempo gauge and used the float to repair the Florida Marine tank assembly. I think the original was bradded or glued onto the arm--I added a Stainless Steel cotter pin for more reliable retention. 5 years later, this is still working. I never did figure out what happened to the old float.
westcoastwhaler posted 06-16-2009 12:09 PM ET (US)
I had the same problem on my 18' Outrage.
My issue was the dial. I removed the dial via the two little screws that are North and South. Be careful that you do not lose the nuts and springs. You can test the dial by moving a magnet around the back of the gauge. If the needle moves then the gauge should be okay. If it doesn't (mine didn't) then you can get a replacement gauge at e-components.net. You can also get the gasket from them as well.
If you have already taken off the larger four bolts, then you should replace the gasket, regardless of the condition of the gauge.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Has anyone changed fuel gauge and float on 1988 Outrage
topshelf	posted 06-08-2009 05:32 PM ET (US) I have a 1988 18 outrage with a Florida Marine Tank 63gal. At the end of last season the gauge worked now it doesen't. I lifted up the clear floor plate and tried to remove the gauge and of course after 20yrs the screw heads broke off. Now I am assuming I have to replace the whole housing. It looks like there are four bolts holding it on and I cant tell if there is a nut on the back end. I didnt want to take it apart without having a new one in hand.I was just wondering is the gauge the magnet and there are 2 little spings under each screw that snapped off I was just wondering what they did. On Florida Marine Tanks website there is no parts or any diagrams to look at.I am not sure if I need a gasget. I am currently waiting on a call back from them but I was wondering if anyone has ever changed this. Is this part universal or do I have to go to a Whaler dealer if the Tank co. dosent sell direct.
padrefigure	posted 06-16-2009 12:44 AM ET (US) You have four screws with lock nuts that hold the activator and tank flange together on top of the tank. These are the larger Phillips head screws that are in the NE, NW, SE, SW corners of the assembly. Floating above this assmebly is the dial, held on two mounting posts by two smaller Philips screws that are oriented N and S on the assembly. There is a coil spring on each post to keep the dial in its floating position. I believe the nut size on the 4 larger screws is 3/8 and 1/4 for the two smaller screws. Remove all of the screws and the entire assembly will lift out of the tank. I believe there is an O-ring or gasket between the actuator and the tank flange. There is no mechanical connection between the acuator and the dial. I believe that there is a magnet in the top of the actuator that is turned by an arm at the tank end of the actuator. The arm is geared to the end of the actuator stem by a float on the end of the bottom arm. I had the same problem that you describe and after disassembly, discovered that the float on the end of the arm was MIA. I disassembled a Tempo gauge and used the float to repair the Florida Marine tank assembly. I think the original was bradded or glued onto the arm--I added a Stainless Steel cotter pin for more reliable retention. 5 years later, this is still working. I never did figure out what happened to the old float.
westcoastwhaler	posted 06-16-2009 12:09 PM ET (US) I had the same problem on my 18' Outrage. My issue was the dial. I removed the dial via the two little screws that are North and South. Be careful that you do not lose the nuts and springs. You can test the dial by moving a magnet around the back of the gauge. If the needle moves then the gauge should be okay. If it doesn't (mine didn't) then you can get a replacement gauge at e-components.net. You can also get the gasket from them as well. If you have already taken off the larger four bolts, then you should replace the gasket, regardless of the condition of the gauge.