Fuel Tank Level Gauge Repair

[rnln]

Refer to Figure 1 below when answering the questions that follow:

Fig. 1. View of broken mechanical fuel gauge from c.1986 REVENGE 22.

th.jpeg (12.93 KiB) Viewed 24294 times

Q1: On a 1986 REVENGE 22 with a 77-gallon aluminum fuel tank with mechanical gauge, what is the purpose of the springs on either side?

Q2: is the purpose of the springs on the mechanical fuel gauge on a 77-gallon fuel tank on a 1986 REVENGE 22 to push up the [dial face mechanism]?

Q3: will the mechanical fuel gauge on a 77-gallon fuel tank on a 1986 REVENGE 22 remain operational without the springs?

BACK STORY: I accidentally kicked on the gauge and broke one of the two ears off

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.DXkB ... &P=0&h=220

ASIDE
I am searching through many threads on this board to understand how the mechanical fuel gauge works in order to repair it.

[jimh]

Q1: On a 1986 REVENGE 22 with a 77-gallon aluminum fuel tank with mechanical gauge, what is the purpose of the springs on either side?

The purpose of the springs that are seen in Figure 1 above is to lift the dial display mechanism upward so that the dial face presses against the clear circular pry-out deck access plate above. The most reasonable inference about the reason for having the dial face mechanism pressed against the clear circular pry-out deck access plate is to improve the visibility of the dial face and pointer.

[jimh]

Q3: will the mechanical fuel gauge on a 77-gallon fuel tank on a 1986 REVENGE 22 remain operational without the springs?

I cannot predict with certainly what might occur, but I would expect that as long as the dial face mechanism remained level, that is, as long as both sides were without the lifting springs, the mechanism should work.

The coupling between the dial mechanism and the actual float lever is done with a magnetic field link, not a direct mechanical link.

You can probably get an exact replacement dial mechanism from the OEM manufacturer. The OEM vendor of the fuel gauges is mentioned in the REFERENCE article about OEM Sources and Recommended Vendors at

https://continuouswave.com/whaler/refer ... #fuelGauge

I suggest you contact a vendor who sells these gauges. See

https://www.e-components.net/direct_read_gauges

Also, contact the OEM manufacturer to see if they could supply just the dial face mechanism instead of an entirely new gauge and float.

[rnln]

Thanks Jim

[jimh]

Another alternative might be to repair the broken tab. If the metal is aluminum you could use epoxy to adhere a new tab to the dial face portion. The repair does not need to be incredibly strong. The force exerted by the spring is not very high.

[rnln]

Thanks Jim. I did, used marine tech, but it broke off when tighten and bend it a bit, so I ended p installing it back without the springs.
Thanks again.

[jimh]

Use a real epoxy adhesive instead of a pre-mixed resin with a lot of fillers that is sold to customers who do not understand how epoxy works.