Water tank float/sending unit on Mainship 34 Pilot

[Dublin]

Has anyone had to replace the fresh water float/sending unit on a MS 34 Pilot? Where is it located and how difficult is the task? My fresh water gauge (WEMA) is stuck in the full position. When the breaker is turned off it drops to empty.


Thanks for you help.
Dublin

 

[ranger58sb]

Dunno where it might be, but once you find it it's reasonably simple to get it sorted if it;s their newer screw-in style (likely).

Check the KUS/WEMA website to review how it works, but basically you just turn off power, disconnect the power wires, unscrew the sender, plop it into a bucket of cleaner (muriatic acid works pretty well), let it sit and bubble for a while... then screw it back in and remake the electrical connections.

Helps to do a flush/rinse/repeat a couple times beforehand, but the task isn't really all that onerous.

If it's not set up already for quick electrical disconnect/reconnect, add some spade connectors or whatever while you're at it, for next time. Which might be in about 3 years or more depending on how often you pump and rinse, tank treatments, etc.

-Chris

 

[oak]

Dunno where it might be, but once you find it it's reasonably simple to get it sorted if it;s their newer screw-in style (likely).

Check the KUS/WEMA website to review how it works, but basically you just turn off power, disconnect the power wires, unscrew the sender, plop it into a bucket of cleaner (muriatic acid works pretty well), let it sit and bubble for a while... then screw it back in and remake the electrical connections.

Helps to do a flush/rinse/repeat a couple times beforehand, but the task isn't really all that onerous.

If it's not set up already for quick electrical disconnect/reconnect, add some spade connectors or whatever while you're at it, for next time. Which might be in about 3 years or more depending on how often you pump and rinse, tank treatments, etc.

-Chris

The fresh water sending unit on my 2007 34 pilot is accessed under a small insert in the floor of the salon.

 

[kwmeyer13]

Same in my 2004 as Oak’s 2007

 

[Dublin]

Thank you,


Not at the boat right now, but to be clear, you are talking about the small lift out panel centered and just aft of the v-berth door?


D

 

[kwmeyer13]

Yes

 

[DavidM]

The same thing happened to me on my Pilot 34. Pull the hatch in the floor. Not sure if it is the forward one or the aft one in the cabin. Then unscrew a half dozen screws on the sender which is on the top of the water tank. Use a putty knife to pry it up and break its gasket seal. Then pull the sender up and out.

It has an articulated float that is probably stuck. Clean it up, make sure it is operating freely and put it back on.

David

 

[Duetto]

hi,

on our 2003 the float was just a donut around a center pole. other than that remove/replace was as described.
i got replacement from jamestown distributors but you can probably get anywhere, just match specs.

 

[ranger58sb]

The same thing happened to me on my Pilot 34. Pull the hatch in the floor. Not sure if it is the forward one or the aft one in the cabin. Then unscrew a half dozen screws on the sender which is on the top of the water tank. Use a putty knife to pry it up and break its gasket seal. Then pull the sender up and out.

It has an articulated float that is probably stuck. Clean it up, make sure it is operating freely and put it back on.

That would have been the older WEMA style. I guess... only I don't remember it being articulated. The newer stainless replacement just unscrews from the collar that holds it in the tank, and it's a float within a straight, perforated tube.

Very easy to replace the old style with the new (circa 2004-5?)... I think I updated ours in early 2007... and from then on, it's very easy to remove/clean/replace the "dipstick" with it's internal float.

-Chris

 

[Karl Swanson]

Same in my 2004 as Oak’s 2007

I have the same tank monitor problem in my 2000 Pilot 34, but there's nothing but a bilge pump under the small hatch in the floor of the forward part of the salon. Any other idea where acess might be?

 

[oak]

Water tank

If not under the salon floor and accessible thru that small panel. I would check under the v berth. It’s is a 75-100 gal.aluminum tank so should not be that difficult to find.

 

[Karl Swanson]

I'll check again, but only thing in the hatch under the v-berth is the bow thruster. I was told at survey that water tank is in the forward engine compartment.

 

[mashenden]

I have the same tank monitor problem in my 2000 Pilot 34, but there's nothing but a bilge pump under the small hatch in the floor of the forward part of the salon. Any other idea where acess might be?

I have a 2000 Pilot 34. Presumably you found the answer, but in case you did not, the freah water level sender is accessible from the engine compartment. The aft end of the water tank extends a few inches into this area. I got to it by squeezing into the area beside the engine and edging myself to the forward part. Mine was somewhat hidden by the macerator.

If you found yours and replaced it, please share the type that you used.