Adjusting the float

[dkmcgowan]

I replaced the fuel pump, but it's the factory sending unit and float on my 89 Comanche.  I'm not sure if it's worse since I messed with it, but I did finally start measuring things.  When I fill things up all the way, it does go all the way to full, but not for long, it should go further.

 

I then drove until the gas light came on and it took about 12.5 gallons.  So it's off by about a quarter of a tank.

 

I was thinking I could just remove the sending unit, bend the float more straight and adjust for about a quarter of a tank, aka 4 gallons give or take, and then re-install and it should be fixed.

 

Is that correct?

[Eagle]

I replaced the fuel pump, but it's the factory sending unit and float on my 89 Comanche.  I'm not sure if it's worse since I messed with it, but I did finally start measuring things.  When I fill things up all the way, it does go all the way to full, but not for long, it should go further.

 

I then drove until the gas light came on and it took about 12.5 gallons.  So it's off by about a quarter of a tank.

 

I was thinking I could just remove the sending unit, bend the float more straight and adjust for about a quarter of a tank, aka 4 gallons give or take, and then re-install and it should be fixed.

 

Is that correct?

That's correct in theory. If you have about 4 gallons in a 16-gallon tank (a quarter of a tank, in other words), I would adjust it to read a little bit lower than 1/4. I prefer to have a bit of a cushion over what the tank is telling me.

[dkmcgowan]

I feel like it's worse since I swapped the fuel pump.  Is there any wiggle room in mounting the sender?  For example, if I have it rotated too much clockwise, it would make it not go all the way full and show empty too soon because it would raise the float up...

 

Could I remove the lock ring and adjust it counter clockwise and get some adjustment?

 

I don't recall when I put it on...  I know there are tabs on the fuel sender so it won't go on but a couple different ways, but not sure if there is some wiggle room or not.