What did you get for your Motorhome today?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Special made fuel tanks have many applications.

But, the universal issue is always the gauge, or sender.

The fuel moving around , can indeed wear out the best of senders.

However, there is a very simple thing that can be done, that will totally avoid the sloshing around damage.

Within the tank, install a cavity that has small holes in it.

If you wish, for simplicity, build a small box that totally surrounds and completely shields the fuel gauge sender.

Then, drill a small hole in the bottom of that shield as well as the top. Something in the order of perhaps 1/8 inch hole would work very well. As the fuel moves back and forth within the tank, it could not do the same thing within that shield, as the 2 small holes would prevent any rapid changes within the shield.

Then perhaps drill 2 small holes, both at the bottom as well as the top of the shield, just in case one of them got plugged up for what ever reason.

For those that are experiencing the sloshing problem, do you think that this method would cure the issue ??

Andy

[shepherd57]

Tony can you say recycled metal oops sorry Brad

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by shepherd57

Tony can you say recycled metal oops sorry Brad

I guess with all the rust in the fuel tank you recycled they didn't have enough metal left to include the baffles...

The upside is the motorhome will weigh just a little bit less so I should get better fuel economy!

[bkahler]

If you looking for a replacement Classic Tachometer or would like to have a spare these are available on ebay for $14.53 delivered.

These are new tachs and this is by far the cheapest that I've seen. Matter of fact I just bought one for myself

At the time of this posting there are still 9 available.

[dljosephson]

There are gauges already made like Andy mentions, that have a cylinder with a float riding on rods rather than a float on the end of a pivoting arm. Apparently they are much more resistant to wearing out but you need to get the one specifically for your tank depth. There are also capacitive senders with no moving parts (as used on Monacos for instance) and also a new approach used in some experimental aircraft that puts a pressure sensor outside the tank, that basically weighs the amount of fuel above it. I may try one of those, as it doesn't require removing the tank. Or maybe just a sight gauge outside...

[streamquest]

Originally Posted by bkahler

If you looking for a replacement Classic Tachometer or would like to have a spare these are available on ebay for $14.53 delivered.

These are new tachs and this is by far the cheapest that I've seen. Matter of fact I just bought one for myself

At the time of this posting there are still 9 available.

Attachment 255227

Brad

Thanks for the heads up. For ten bucks I'm in. Otherwise, I know my tach will be doomed to fail. Cheap insurance.

Charly

[bkahler]

Modifying the stock sending unit would be pretty much a wasted effort due to the design of the float arm. An aftermarket alternative would probably have a lot more chance of success.

If you know of some examples of the capacitive type that would fit in an 11" deep tank and also fit the tank opening of the Chevy tank with the sealing clamp and o-ring I'd be interested in hearing about it.

I'm not looking forward to dropping the tank again just to change a sending unit.

Brad

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by streamquest

Brad

Thanks for the heads up. For ten bucks I'm in. Otherwise, I know my tach will be doomed to fail. Cheap insurance.

Charly

Charly I've been watching for several years and the tach was the last gauge that I couldn't find new at a reasonable price. I say reasonable because I already have a used tach from the 345 I dismantled.

A shiny new tach will look SO much better

Brad

[shepherd57]

Brad lf you could get me 1 I'll take one.
Thanks John

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by shepherd57

Brad lf you could get me 1 I'll take one.
Thanks John

Done

[dljosephson]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Modifying the stock sending unit would be pretty much a wasted effort due to the design of the float arm. An aftermarket alternative would probably have a lot more chance of success.

If you know of some examples of the capacitive type that would fit in an 11" deep tank and also fit the tank opening of the Chevy tank with the sealing clamp and o-ring I'd be interested in hearing about it.

I'm not looking forward to dropping the tank again just to change a sending unit.

Brad

The actual supplier for the Monaco and similar units is Centroid, CENTROID PRODUCTS - Computerized Tank Display - Electronic Senders - capacitive fuel gauges and their site teaches a lot about this issue. Capacitive senders require a different type of gauge that responds to 0-5 volts rather than the varying resistance of a conventional sender. There are some on ebay. The pressure type sender system is made by beliteaircraft.com and they have LED bar gauges to go with it (also 0-5V.)

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by martin300662

If you don't hear back in a day or so I will order a few of the tools Brad and get them sent over, with my next 'Red Cross' parcel....I can't survive for long without supplies from 'home'.

OK so....I'm not convinced the size of the 'diamond' on the tip of the tool I bought, will be wide enough to open the bead in the Argosy/Classic window rubber, seems to be for a smaller window rubber. However I have found another vendor in the UK that sells the same tool with exchangeable 'diamonds'.

4in1 Diamond Windscreen Filler Tool

The plus side is he ships to the US, so I have just ordered one to try.

May take a couple of weeks to arrive but I will let folks know what it is like when it does.

[bobmiller1]

This tool will work for all the windshield rubber seals...available from Snap-On, YA208A $28.75

[Hans 34.5]

Add some gojo on the rubber very slippery stuff.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by bkahler

If you looking for a replacement Classic Tachometer or would like to have a spare these are available on ebay for $14.53 delivered.

These are new tachs and this is by far the cheapest that I've seen. Matter of fact I just bought one for myself

At the time of this posting there are still 9 available.

Attachment 255227

Well dang. The tachs appear to be for diesel rigs. The picture of the back with the selector switch was blurry and where I thought it had selections for number of cylinders it actually turned out to be number of poles. It has selections for alternators with poles of 4, 6, 10 or 12.

John, I didn't think about it until I looked at the tach that just arrived but your rig is a diesel so the one I "thought" this was wouldn't have worked so you lucked out and this will work for you!

Tony, if you would like a free spare tach let me know I'll send you the one I bought.

If anyone out there bought one of these tachs on my recommendation and have a 454 engine let me know and I'll reimburse you for cost.

Sorry about that

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Well dang. The tachs appear to be for diesel rigs....

No worries Brad, but are you sure they do not work with Gasoline engines?

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

No worries Brad, but are you sure they do not work with Gasoline engines?

The only thing I know about them is they work with 4, 6, 10 or 12 pole alternators. I would think if the alternator had the AC output terminal and had the right number of poles then in theory it ought to work.

I feel bad that I recommended something without waiting until I had it in my hands to verify. Live and learn I guess

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

The only thing I know about them is they work with 4, 6, 10 or 12 pole alternators. I would think if the alternator had the AC output terminal and had the right number of poles then in theory it ought to work.

I feel bad that I recommended something without waiting until I had it in my hands to verify. Live and learn I guess

Everyone knows that you did that on purpose, which makes you a bad person. Welcome to the club: I recommended a sealant that failed in short notice and Steve recommended a Trans Pan that requires cutting 3 feet out of your frame

It looks real good next to that 100 amp ammeter I purchased, so I have no issues.

[streamquest]

Brad,

Don't think twice about it on my behalf. My 325 has a Cummins in it!

Charly

[Keyair]

And Peter suggests a radio that requires rewiring the whole coach, AND some structural reinforcement of the dash and P30 Frame... ROFL.
Its a contagious disease, I tell you!