2008 Phantom 50 - Help access to Fuel Gauge Sender

[John100156]

Recently a friend purchased his boat, the fuel gauges did not read true so the tanks were topped prior to a 200nm delivery trip, last 50nm choppy so senders even if stuck (if float type) should have been exercised.

The new owner asked if anyone has changed them before on this model of boat, and can tell him if they can be removed in the engine bay or if like my old F43 there are access panels cut into the saloon floor, if so where, so he can remove/clean or replace them.

I suppose disconnecting cables at senders to simulate high resistance and shorting them out to simulate no resistance might drive gauges from 0 to 100 FSD, but I am not sure what senders he has fitted, unfortunately Fairline although responding quickly could not help - all info lost!

Any help would be much appreciated...!

 

[rafiki_]

Has he tried Pete’s Fairline forum?

 

[vas]

Recently a friend purchased his boat, the fuel gauges did not read true so the tanks were topped prior to a 200nm delivery trip, last 50nm choppy so senders even if stuck (if float type) should have been exercised.

The new owner asked if anyone has changed them before on this model of boat, and can tell him if they can be removed in the engine bay or if like my old F43 there are access panels cut into the saloon floor, if so where, so he can remove/clean or replace them.

I suppose disconnecting cables at senders to simulate high resistance and shorting them out to simulate no resistance might drive gauges from 0 to 100 FSD, but I am not sure what senders he has fitted, unfortunately Fairline although responding quickly could not help - all info lost!

Any help would be much appreciated...!

when you say don't read true, are the needles moving, but not enough, don't show full, go opposite as in show higher when tank is emptier, or what?
since many times the issue with senders and gauges is cabling I'd first find the senders, undo the cables on top and short them to make sure I get signal across to the gauge. If they do, only then I'd start exploring removing and cleaning or replacing.
Whatever sender they have, the needle should respond to open signal and shorted if not, I'd start at the gauge end and look for 12/24V and gnd to the gauge first.
I know I'm not helping though as I've got no idea where they are but I'd have thought that you have many chances spotting them by looking around the tops of the tanks in the e/r and spot cables.

 

[TK Blue MAX]

Not that I can help with removal, but if required I have a brand new pair of a Targa 52 2008, might be the same if he can get the old ones out to measure them or find a part number, let me know if this is any help.

 

[Momac]

The fuel senders most likely relate to the instruments/engines rather than the boat brand . eg VDO in the case of Volvo penta
I recently replaced a vdo sender in my own boat of the lever arm float type. It was a lot easier to get the sender out with the fuel well down in the tank, It was a fight with too much fuel in there .

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Has he tried Pete’s Fairline forum?

Link to @petem 's very active Fairline Facebook Group. Worth posting the Q on there IMHO

Fairline Owners Club | Facebook

 

[Hurricane]

Did Fairline use Wema devices?
If so, the guys at Wema are extremely helpful.
I recently had some good service from them and in the past they have also been very good.

 

[John100156]

Thanks for responses so far guys, I will pass these on to the owner.

I know Peter of Fairline Forum fame, I contributed a lot of info about 15 years ago just before I sold my Targa-34 and helped take delivery of his Targa 34 when it arrived in Sant Carles! Yes worth a shot.

I think the cables and connectors are a sensible place to start, not my boat, so not sure how visible/accessible sensor end(s) are. I believe they are VDO and not WEMA. I’ve changed the float type before on my F43 which had a very nice panel directly above in the saloon floor!

Any other advice, please let me know.

Many thanks

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I think the new owner joined this Forum did he not? probably worth encouraging him to start posting?

 

[John100156]

Has he tried Pete’s Fairline forum?

No the owner knows a chap whom use to be a quality manager at Oundle/iFairline that he contacted but FL came back and said this info was lost during a changeover.

 

[John100156]

I think the new owner joined this Forum did he not? probably worth encouraging him to start posting?

Yes - that’s what he will do, just wanted me to get this thread rolling. I’m happy to help, Lester will be along soon. As you may know he contributed to the delivery thread!

 

[John100156]

The owners name is Lester @Noto on this Forum I will leave it to him to respond further.

This is his 4th motor yacht, his 1st boat was a Sealine 33 ,purchased at Burton Waters, Lincoln, followed by a Targa 40, then an Azimut 42, now a Phantom 50.

He had engine oil samples back this week, all green In excellent shape which was good!

 

[petem]

Hi john,

I've checked on my FB Group. You've got two choices:

1) See if you can locate a sender with a flexible rod (I'm not sure how you'd get the old one out). The only quoted source is a chandler in Mallorca!
2) Replace with an ultrasonic one (other Phantom owners have used this part - BEP Ultrasonic Tank Sender Ts1 (TS1) (8-94150)). Problem is that they need to be programmed. Peter Bux in the UK has the device or if the boat is abroad you might have to purhchase one (BEP Ultrasonic Tank Sensor Programing Device (TS1-PK) (8-94151)) and sell it on eBay once the job is done.

Pete

 

[John100156]

Useful information thanks Pete. The boat is berthed not too far south of yours in Las Salinas, the owner is I believe flying back to the UK today, but will be out again mid-end of September, so hopefully will update us all - I have recommended he join the FB Group of course.. !