The 31 gas gauge reading low

[kowal_53]

I suspect I have a loose connection, my gauge is reading a 1/4 tank low. When I put my Albin into winter storage it was working fine. Since it is likely to show up again, I was winding how I might get/find the fuel pickup on my Albin. I have looked and can not see it on top of any one of my 3 tanks. It looks like I will have to pull up the big deck panel in the rear deck, the one with the center storage bin. Do these come up easy, or are they hard to get out?

[jointventure]

I had to remove the deck panel to replace the fuel sender and it was very difficult. Remove as much of the caulking/sealant around the panel.There will remain some between the panel and the deck flange which is the problem.I ended up placing a hydraulic bottle jack between the panel and the hull stringer with appropriate wood spacers to distribute the load. It took significant force before the panel released from the sealant .
The sender is from Centroid Products , Edgewater,Florida. 386-423-3574.

[furball]

If I open the small hatch at the base of the rear doors, i can see the wires running back to the fuel sender. I can reach in and feel the spade terminals and some extra wire looped and zip tied. I must have some corrosion in the terminal connections. My gauge started floating up and down by a 1/4 of a tank. By squeezing and pressing on the spade terminal I’ve been able to stop that but I’m sure that’s temporary. With a camera and snips I may be able to cut the zip tie and maybe there’s enough wire to pull the connections out to where i can clean them up. It’s on the winter to-do list. Hope to use a small snake video camera to get a good look but there is access, sort of, by lifting the hatch over the trans.
Good luck.
John

[kowal_53]

Turned out to be a bad fuel sensor. Getting the large hatch out was a bit much to deal with though.

[kowal_53]

How we removed the 4 x 6 panel.

We cut the silicone with a utility knife. Removed the screws on the panel. My strong boat mechanic climbed down through the access hatch, and lifted the back end of the lip of the access hatch/panel on the from behind, and with bent knee lifted. until the silicone broke free.