Fuel gauge sender

Topic: Fuel gauge sender (Read 1553 times) previous topic - next topic

Fuel gauge sender

July 22, 2019, 11:50:20 am

My fuel gauge is stuck on "F"... actually past that point on the stop. I found the sender (passenger side) and cleaned the terminals to no effect. So I ordered a new gauge from FT this morning. Question... can it be installed without removing the tank cover? I'm sure I can get the screws out but I'm wondering about the length of the sender.

Also, the rubber "gasket" around the filler is available from FT. Ordered one of those too. Brad said it was just a suspension joint cover from an ATV. One from FT will replace both sides since one just has to cut it in half.

George

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #1 – July 22, 2019, 02:08:02 pm

Foretravel sold me a "centroid" fuel tank electronic sensor. Much better. Self calibrating.

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #2 – July 22, 2019, 08:47:01 pm

get the right angle and the fuel sender will slip out.. new one slips in.

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #3 – July 24, 2019, 03:59:26 pm

My gas gauge reads correctly when I first start the motor but as I drive my gauge rises until it reads full. Since I don't believe my fuel tank is magically refilling itself, I believe I might need a new sender as well. George, what did your sender cost?

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #4 – July 24, 2019, 08:17:17 pm

I'd like to know also. My gauge reads about 1/4 tank lower than it actually is.

Larry

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #5 – July 24, 2019, 09:20:11 pm

The fuel levels on the oem sender are adjustable.

Very sensitive. Tiny movements of the screws.

Drove me crazy. Too high. Too low.

Put an electronic one from FOT.

Ahhh. Works great. Full is past the end of the full mark

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #6 – July 25, 2019, 12:37:14 am

I don't have an invoice for the new sender from FT yet, but Brad said the cost was very close to the original equipment sender, which they still have in stock. When I get the price, I'll post it. I'll also post some pics.

George

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #7 – July 26, 2019, 06:48:49 pm

As promised here are two pics of the new fuel sender from FT. The cost is $118.17 (minus any discounts) plus shipping. Note that the new gauge only has two wires while the old one has three (positive, ground and send). I could use some advice on installing the new one if anyone has already done this job. No directions provided by FT. The manufacturer is Royce Industries. The part number is 1-0520-1134-0230.

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #8 – July 26, 2019, 09:31:41 pm

Thanks for the info George.

Larry

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #9 – July 26, 2019, 11:12:09 pm

Larry... I am beginning to think that FT sent me the wrong sensor. I contacted Caflashbob who said he had installed one of the new ones and it is a Centroid brand. I found a pic on the forum and it has three wires like the original one. Stay tuned.

George

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #10 – July 27, 2019, 12:26:06 am

George mine shows over full range when full.

Foretravel May have found a better unit.

They told me they were changing sources when they shipped mine

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #11 – July 27, 2019, 01:02:55 am

George the picture I sent to you is a Centroid and has 3 terminals like the original. I am happy with it, seems about as accurate (or inaccurate) as most of the cars I have had. It will be interesting to see what you find out about the one you got.
Don

Quote from: George Hatfield – July 26, 2019, 06:48:49 pm

As promised here are two pics of the new fuel sender from FT. The cost is $118.17 (minus any discounts) plus shipping. Note that the new gauge only has two wires while the old one has three (positive, ground and send). I could use some advice on installing the new one if anyone has already done this job. No directions provided by FT. The manufacturer is Royce Industries. The part number is 1-0520-1134-0230.

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #12 – July 27, 2019, 07:53:12 am

George I will be watching. I was planning on changing the sending unit out this fall when I finish the fuel lines. I'll have to pull the tank for that anyway.

Larry

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #13 – July 27, 2019, 02:37:45 pm

It looks like the attachment screw hole pattern for the Royce sender is the same as the original equipment, but it is hard to tell for sure. The length looks to be OK.

Still wondering how to go from three wires (original) to two wires (Royce).

George

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #14 – July 27, 2019, 08:54:40 pm

George,
If I can find the wiring info that FOT put on my paperwork I will let you know something about it.

Mark

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #15 – July 27, 2019, 09:07:59 pm

OK George,
According to my paperwork you Cap off the EL4 wire. Black goes to ground. Red / white wire together. Something I wished I had messed with more prior to installing it is to check the gauge deflection outside of the tank prior to install. I installed a variable resistor behind the gauge so I could adjust the full level.

Mark

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #16 – July 28, 2019, 12:06:25 pm

George:
Doing some internet research, it appears Royce Industries was acquired by WEMA Corp.
http://www.wemausa.com
You may can contact WEMA for assistance.
Best wishes,

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #17 – July 28, 2019, 03:06:50 pm

Maz need more info on the variable resistor to allow full adjustment.

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #18 – July 28, 2019, 05:13:47 pm

I also installed the Royce sender that FT Parts sent - they didn't have the newer Centroid sender in stock.

I put a 300 ohm mini-pot in series with the sensor wire at the gauge and was able to adjust the full setting.

Later I had funny fuel level readings from the new sensor and found that the ground to the sender was floating at 7.4V when the engine was running (measured at the gauge). I ran a separate ground from the chassis to the sender and got mostly dependable readings.

The Royce sender is a pretty good design, with a string of magnetic reed switches and resistors inside a sealed tube. A float with a magnet runs up and down the outside of the tube, and the position of the float closes the appropriate reed switch to change the resistance, but I have noticed that our fuel level seems to get stuck sometimes, and since the sensor tube is installed at a slight angle, I'm guessing that the float rubs on the tube. Making a mounting wedge could be another project...

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #19 – July 29, 2019, 12:57:02 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – July 28, 2019, 03:06:50 pm

Maz need more info on the variable resistor to allow full adjustment.

Like what was mentioned later in this thread. The full level with a full tank goes past the full line on the gauge. Putting an adjustable resistor inline at the gauge allows you to adjust the needle to the full mark.

Mark

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #20 – July 29, 2019, 02:54:16 pm

Maz after the recalibration how accurate was the tank readings at various levels?

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #21 – July 29, 2019, 03:30:32 pm

I called FT support to find out how to install the Royce (two-wire) sender in place of the OE Centroid sender (three-wire: sender, positive and ground). I was advised to cap off the positive wire since the Royce does not need power. It is just a variable resistor. So the black wire on the Royce goes to the coach ground and the Royce red wire goes to the coach sender wire that was on the OE sender. I have yet to install it, but this is what I was told. It is certainly great to have FT to call on for these questions!

George

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #22 – July 29, 2019, 07:29:07 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – July 29, 2019, 02:54:16 pm

Maz after the recalibration how accurate was the tank readings at various levels?

That is a hard question to answer since I think this probe is a little shorter than the Centroid. I wish I had spent more time messing with it out of the tank to see how well it responded at full and empty. When you put the resistor inline and set the full mark it at least shows usage earlier than leaving it maxed out. As long as I can see it moving it is fine with me.

Mak

Re: Fuel gauge sender

Reply #23 – July 30, 2019, 02:16:29 pm

I finally got the new Royce sender installed as described above. The tank is about 85% full according to my "handy dandy" fuel dipstick and the gauge (without a variable resistor) seems to read pretty close to that. I'm going to leave the tank covers off. Thanks to everyone for their advice. On to the next project!

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