Fuel level sender

[Ken Seymour]

I'm having trouble with the sender in the tank. I get nothing on the gauge. I have tested the sender outside of the tank. With the pump relay removed I moved the float by hand. The needle tracks the sender. All the way down E. All the way up F. In the middle 1/2. So it works. Put it in the tank the needle sits on E and the low fuel warning lights. Guessing about 6 gallons in the tank. Gasket and locking ring in place. When I had the tank out I cleaned it and put a used pump in. Pump works and the engine runs. I noticed that there is something in the bottom of the tank. Looks like a rectangular metal object about 2 inches tall. Is there anything that the float can get stuck on? Or the thing works there's just not enough fuel in the tank to register? 

Thanks 

[Pete M]

how deep is the gas in the tank?

[Ken Seymour]

Pete

Going to have to measure. So the float can't get caught. 

I'm off all week so I'll figure out a way to dipstick it. 

When I pulled the pump I pumped it till the pump stopped pumping.

After I tested the sender l put 5 gallons+ in the tank. 

Does anybody know what the band of metal in the bottom is? It's not a baffle.

 

Thanks 

Ken

[Pete M]

there are 2 pieces of metal in the bottom of a factory tank: the fuel sump around the intake and the smaller brace for the bottom of the pump assembly.  most aftermarket ones seem to do away with the pump brace. 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

If the float is working for you when you move it by hand, but not in the tank, perhaps the float is leaking?

[Ken Seymour]

Checked that. The float is empty. I'm going to check how high the fuel is in the tank. I pumped it out and put about 6 gallons back in. 

I have the basic tank. I'll make a wood dipstick and use my visegripes to hold on to it. I'll see how high it gets wet. I use one on the Sling2 I fly to cross check the fuel gauge in the cockpit. It's marked in gallons.

 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

39 minutes ago, Ken Seymour said:

I use one on the Sling2 I fly

Well if you have to run out of gas, the Jeep is the much better choice!

 

My gauge is off also just not as badly as yours.  When it hits 1/8 full I have learned the hard way it's time to fill up.  And when I do fill up it goes about about 1/2" past the Full mark.  I got a suggestion quite a while back to just fill it up then move the needle to back to "Full", but I have been afraid that might put me in worse shape!

[Ken Seymour]

Just so there's no confusion the Sling2 is an airplane. The wood dowel I use is a backup cross check for the fuel gauge. 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

I had assumed that was the case

[Ken Seymour]

I got it. I plugged in the DVM on ohms. With it hooked up to the sender I installed the pump. Adjusted it till the meter was registering resistance and installed the lock ring. Tighten the ring and checked the DVM again. 8.2 ohms. The gauge is off the bottom above the the red square. Low fuel light is finally out. The float was catching on the metal baffle in the tank.