Fuel Gage Sensor MS 34' Pilot

[sammy999]

My fuel gage on my 2007 MS 34' Pilot with a single Yanmar 370 with 2 100 gal fuel tanks is very erratic. The one boat yard tried spraying WD40 on the top connection but didn't work. My question is are the sensors the long cylinder type with a float or are they just a disk screwed into the top fitting with some type of electronic sensor? If the long cylinder type, there is no clearance at the top of the tank to remove it without cutting an access hole in the bottom of the bench seats. Was thinking of getting the Gobius Pro external tank sensor kit but would rather fix this right if I can. Any hints on what type of sensor and what it would entail to replace the original sensors? Thanks as always!!

 

[Duetto]

i've found that erratic readings can be a bad grd connection.

 

[sammy999]

Do you know if both tanks have a fuel gage sensor or is it just one? Any clues on where the sensor wires are grounded on the 34' Pilot? Thanks!!

 

[TowLou]

If not a bad connection you will need to replace the semding unit.

Is the erratic condition at only certain levels of the tank or all the time? If it is all the time may have a lose or dirty connection. If at only lets say half a tank it may be your sending unit or float setup.

 

[Duetto]

i THINK it has one unit & i THINK it's in the starboard tank. grd should be a ring connector to one of the screws holding sender in tank or some other screw connector to the tank itself or it could be loose connector on the back of the gauge. that's what i found on our other boat.

 

[rgano]

My experience with my 2005 MS 30 Pilot II.

Erratic reading. Then no reading. Replaced Faria cluster gauge (voltmeter gave out too) and got erratic reading back. Found a tank level sender (made by KUS/WEMA) which is a stainless tube with plastic-encased magnet float riding up and down it in BOTH tanks, but only port connected. Installed 4" access plate over each, and replaced both. Connected both to a toggle switch at helm and thence to the Faria cluster - now I can read either tank.

BTW, return was ONLY to port tank. Yours probably is too. Really dumb in case you even had to secure that tank.

Cut open the old sender to find a looong circuit board with reed switches placed every 3/4 inch which react to the magnetic float.

Since the fuel tanks were also mirror images of each other in every way, I also ran a return fuel hose to the stbd tank and ran it to a tee installed in the original port-only hose. With a valve on both port and stbd tank returns, I now have what I consider to be a proper setup.

The model number of your KUS sender is stamped in the top of it. They are quick to send replacements at probably 70 bucks or so.

Yes, the MS people put all the gear in the hull and dropped a deck mold on it all not giving a crap about the long term maintenance issues that owners would face. I have all sorts of accesses cut inclusing one 10X20 inches.

 

[Duetto]

one point david made: on our 2003 pilot 34 the fuel return only goes to the starboard tank.

 

[rgano]

one point david made: on our 2003 pilot 34 the fuel return only goes to the starboard tank.

You can change that with an hour's labor and less than 50 bucks in parts!

 

[Tonic1]

Interesting, on our 07 Pilot 34 we have two engines, two deck fills, and one tank. Tank has WEMA style sensor as Rich described on starboard side under helm. There is room to extract the sensor vertically for replacement. Ground is to a tapped tab welded to the tank. Very easy to replace sensor, just remove about 6 screws, cut the wires and splice new sensor to existing wiring. Obviously, with Mainship YMMV!