fuel gage problems

[henry robertson]

thanks for all the replies--wish i had read all the albin stories posted here in feb.--would have bought the fla. boat--
note- repairs were purchase contingency and release to me in less than eight weeks was written and seriously discussed . repaire were fix spot lite--tighten rudder--reinstall electronics--fix small delam by gen intake --rebed several things.--redo dinged prop-- original est two weeks--having owned several businesses i am not one of those hard to please--but i fix my mistakes and expect others to do same--
enough about this -anyone know where i can ger cacinet/drawer hardware?
happy boating to all, love to have any snow birds stop by when cruising thru--we have dock space extra beds and a spare car--beaufort sc is fun stop--note we are 600' off icw-- bridge clearence 15'
henry robertson

[Tuxedo]

Thanks Tom for the fuel gauge info. I have a 35TE 2000 w/twin 370 Cummins I purchased last year and have not had time to figure out the fuel system yet. I think mine works axactly like you describe. My only problem is after fuel fill and useage of about half a tank the gauge won't settle out for more than an hour so can't trust it when I am fishing offshore in the Pacific all day. Does the WEMA gauge solve this situation? I think my access is probably through the cockpit center bumper storage bin. It has about 6 screws and very accessible. I know the tanks are connected with about a 1 1/2 or 2 inch fuel line but, when I fill I still fill on both sides. I haven't come close to testing if it really holds 370 gallons as advertised.
Any words of wisdom you have on this will be greatly appreciated.
Terry

The fuel gauge switch on the 31 is the same one they use on the 32 which has 2 tanks. The switch goes left to right, port tank, off, starboard tank. On the 31, which has 3 interconnected tanks, the port side is wired to nothing and the starboard side is connected to a gauge in the center tank. Sounds like the 35 is the same. (I had 35 hull #1 in my dealership, but I don't remember those details.)

The fuel sender is a Tempo unit like this



The length of the arm is adjusted to the depth of the tank, and the arm swings down as the fuel level drops. The arm can also run into a baffle or other obstruction in the tank, and probably is susceptible to bouncing around a bit.

The WEMA unit looks like this.



I just find it much more accurate and reliable. In fact, for the Bahamas trip, I put a WEMA gauge in the water tank.

[TD]

Thanks Tom for the great pictures. What do you mean when you say the starboard is connected to the center fuel gauge? Do you think there is a sender unit in the center tank and starboard tank and that one gauge is reading the results of both tanks? Terry

[Tuxedo]

Thanks Tom for the great pictures. What do you mean when you say the starboard is connected to the center fuel gauge? Do you think there is a sender unit in the center tank and starboard tank and that one gauge is reading the results of both tanks? Terry

The starboard, or far right, position of the switch activates the one and only fuel gauge sender, which is in the center tank.

[TD]

That is what I thought. Thanks very much for the info--since this is my first Albin I need all the help I can get and this forum is very helpful.
Good fishing and less work!!
Terry