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Author Topic:   Fuel Gauge / 1987 Outrage 22

Piscator22 posted 07-28-2011 04:02 PM ET (US)
I have to replace a fuel gauge on my Outrage 22 and I am having difficulty removing it. The gauge sits under a clear access port on top of the tank, and it has four bolts connecting it to the tank with nuts on the underside. The problem that I am having is there is no way to get a wrench & hand into the 6 inch access port to get a grip on the nuts. I am thinking that there must be a special plumbers wrench out there that could get a bite on a 3/8 inch nut, but I don't know what to ask for at the hardware store. Any ideas or experience on this would be appreciated!
Piscator22 posted 07-28-2011 04:13 PM ET (US)
Here is a photo of the gauge:
[img]http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb327/hgseymour/IMG_0028.jpg[/img]
AZdave posted 07-28-2011 04:19 PM ET (US)
You might take a picture of the physical limitations and show it to an old guy at a good hardware store. If you are replacing the gauge because it does not read correctly, try to use a magnet to move the pointer. The fuel gauge on my Outrage 18 consists of a float arm that moves a magnet. The top magnet with pointer attached is supposed to follow, but can get out of position. When I got the boat the tank was full, but the pointer showed only half a tank. Once I moved the pointer with a handheld magnet, it worked perfectly.
AZdave posted 07-28-2011 04:20 PM ET (US)
You might take a picture of the physical limitations and show it to an old guy at a good hardware store. If you are replacing the gauge because it does not read correctly, try to use a magnet to move the pointer. The fuel gauge on my Outrage 18 consists of a float arm that moves a magnet. The top magnet with pointer attached is supposed to follow, but can get out of position. When I got the boat the tank was full, but the pointer showed only half a tank. Once I moved the pointer with a handheld magnet, it worked perfectly.
JMARTIN posted 07-28-2011 04:36 PM ET (US)
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb327/hgseymour/IMG_0028.jpg
Piscator, use url intsead of img
John
Phil T posted 07-28-2011 06:46 PM ET (US)
Having used the site search with "fuel gauge remove Outrage" I found this thread, among a dozen others.
Read Clark Roberts suggestions.
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005737.html
jimh posted 07-29-2011 04:55 PM ET (US)
A small 3/8-inch open end or box end wrench should work. Small wrenches are often sold under the description of "ignition wrenches" from the days when you used them to adjust the timing in your distributor.
contender posted 07-29-2011 05:06 PM ET (US)
I'm confused, If you wish to remove the fuel gauge just use a long phillips screw driver and take the four phillips machine screws out, the gauge will lift out (may have it turn it some to get it out, but this is a no brain-er) If you are have trouble with the screws spray some lubricating oil on them and let them sit a while. Also you can use a set of vise grips on the screw driver to help you turn the screwdriver. If there are nuts behind the 4 screws? Do as Jim has stated, ignition wrenches should help you out.
Piscator22 posted 08-01-2011 11:54 AM ET (US)
Thank for your advice. A helpful man at the local True Value guided me to a pair of needle nose with a 90 degree bend in the nose and with these I was able to get a grasp on the nuts on the underside of the gauge and removed the bolts. Didn't know such a tool existed. Replacement gauge is on the way, which is a relief as I have been trying to keep track of operating time and fuel burn for the past two months to make sure that I keep enough fuel in the tank.
lizard posted 08-01-2011 03:45 PM ET (US)
Clock repairmen use those 90 degree needle noses and they are a handy tool to have around. I have a nice Channellock set.
acseatsri posted 08-01-2011 07:13 PM ET (US)
Rather than replace a gauge that isn't accurate and never was accurate, get yourself a Northstar F210 fuel flow gage for about $150 or less. You won't even look at the gauge in the floor after you install it.
When I fill up, I take within a gallon of what the gauge says I should- usually takes about a gallon more to fill than the F210 says on an almost 70 gallon fill-up, probably due to extremely low flow rate on an ETEC when idling out of the marina. Also allows you to optimize the trim and engine speed to the most economical setting.

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Author	Topic: Fuel Gauge / 1987 Outrage 22
Piscator22	posted 07-28-2011 04:02 PM ET (US) I have to replace a fuel gauge on my Outrage 22 and I am having difficulty removing it. The gauge sits under a clear access port on top of the tank, and it has four bolts connecting it to the tank with nuts on the underside. The problem that I am having is there is no way to get a wrench & hand into the 6 inch access port to get a grip on the nuts. I am thinking that there must be a special plumbers wrench out there that could get a bite on a 3/8 inch nut, but I don't know what to ask for at the hardware store. Any ideas or experience on this would be appreciated!
Piscator22	posted 07-28-2011 04:13 PM ET (US) Here is a photo of the gauge: [img]http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb327/hgseymour/IMG_0028.jpg[/img]
AZdave	posted 07-28-2011 04:19 PM ET (US) You might take a picture of the physical limitations and show it to an old guy at a good hardware store. If you are replacing the gauge because it does not read correctly, try to use a magnet to move the pointer. The fuel gauge on my Outrage 18 consists of a float arm that moves a magnet. The top magnet with pointer attached is supposed to follow, but can get out of position. When I got the boat the tank was full, but the pointer showed only half a tank. Once I moved the pointer with a handheld magnet, it worked perfectly.
AZdave	posted 07-28-2011 04:20 PM ET (US) You might take a picture of the physical limitations and show it to an old guy at a good hardware store. If you are replacing the gauge because it does not read correctly, try to use a magnet to move the pointer. The fuel gauge on my Outrage 18 consists of a float arm that moves a magnet. The top magnet with pointer attached is supposed to follow, but can get out of position. When I got the boat the tank was full, but the pointer showed only half a tank. Once I moved the pointer with a handheld magnet, it worked perfectly.
JMARTIN	posted 07-28-2011 04:36 PM ET (US) http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb327/hgseymour/IMG_0028.jpg Piscator, use url intsead of img John
Phil T	posted 07-28-2011 06:46 PM ET (US) Having used the site search with "fuel gauge remove Outrage" I found this thread, among a dozen others. Read Clark Roberts suggestions. http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005737.html
jimh	posted 07-29-2011 04:55 PM ET (US) A small 3/8-inch open end or box end wrench should work. Small wrenches are often sold under the description of "ignition wrenches" from the days when you used them to adjust the timing in your distributor.
contender	posted 07-29-2011 05:06 PM ET (US) I'm confused, If you wish to remove the fuel gauge just use a long phillips screw driver and take the four phillips machine screws out, the gauge will lift out (may have it turn it some to get it out, but this is a no brain-er) If you are have trouble with the screws spray some lubricating oil on them and let them sit a while. Also you can use a set of vise grips on the screw driver to help you turn the screwdriver. If there are nuts behind the 4 screws? Do as Jim has stated, ignition wrenches should help you out.
Piscator22	posted 08-01-2011 11:54 AM ET (US) Thank for your advice. A helpful man at the local True Value guided me to a pair of needle nose with a 90 degree bend in the nose and with these I was able to get a grasp on the nuts on the underside of the gauge and removed the bolts. Didn't know such a tool existed. Replacement gauge is on the way, which is a relief as I have been trying to keep track of operating time and fuel burn for the past two months to make sure that I keep enough fuel in the tank.
lizard	posted 08-01-2011 03:45 PM ET (US) Clock repairmen use those 90 degree needle noses and they are a handy tool to have around. I have a nice Channellock set.
acseatsri	posted 08-01-2011 07:13 PM ET (US) Rather than replace a gauge that isn't accurate and never was accurate, get yourself a Northstar F210 fuel flow gage for about $150 or less. You won't even look at the gauge in the floor after you install it. When I fill up, I take within a gallon of what the gauge says I should- usually takes about a gallon more to fill than the F210 says on an almost 70 gallon fill-up, probably due to extremely low flow rate on an ETEC when idling out of the marina. Also allows you to optimize the trim and engine speed to the most economical setting.