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Fuel Leak

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BobbyPaulk(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:42 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

List

 At 78 hrs. my left tank VDO fuel level sender started weeping fuel thru the center wire connector fitting. i am planning to drain the fuel, clean the area with solvent and try to cover the area with proseal to stop the leak. if that does not work i will try to remove the sender thru the access hole. i do not want to remove the tank. 

has anyone had this problem. any solutions.



thanks 

bobby

N131BP

601 XL



 [quote][b]

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:33 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

Before I installed my tanks I pressure checked  everything and made sure the gauges worked.  Go figure, after sitting for a  year I finally put fuel in the tanks.  

 The darn things didnt read at all.  I guess  the time spent without fuel caused the rheostats to corrode or something like  that.

 For whatever reason I had to remove the  senders.  Each checked out bad.

 The manufacturer , VDO, is now  Continental....

 I ve had a very bad time purchasing new  senders.  Zenith helped by supplying new ones but they were the wrong ones  for my gauges....I had to purchase SN 39 senders online.

 Made for Ford trucks they are the VDO  equivalent...

 This whole story comes down to  this:    It was such a hassle to remove the senders that I  decided to seal off the 59mm holes in the tank ends and go the "old way"   by installing the senders on top of the wing...

 This has been a very good move...

 If I were to build again,  I would be sure to  have the senders on top.

 I have pictures of the "rebuild" if your  interested.

 It took less than a day and I m now  happy.....

  

 Steve

  

 [quote]   ---

steerr(at)bellsouth.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:56 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

I, too, had a bad sender (but just one, not two).  I got a price from 

Zenith for a replacement and then checked around on the net.  I finally 

purchased one from Don's Sport Vehicle Sales in Perry, Michigan.  Phone 

numbers are 1-800-303-6211 or 1-800-636-0669.  It was the exact same 

sender I originally got from Zenith.



Hope this helps somebody.



Bill

steve wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Before I installed my tanks I pressure checked everything and made 

 sure the gauges worked.  Go figure, after sitting for a year I finally 

 put fuel in the tanks. 

 The darn things didnt read at all.  I guess the time spent without 

 fuel caused the rheostats to corrode or something like that.

 For whatever reason I had to remove the senders.  Each checked out bad.

 The manufacturer , VDO, is now Continental....

 I ve had a very bad time purchasing new senders.  Zenith helped by 

 supplying new ones but they were the wrong ones for my gauges....I had 

 to purchase SN 39 senders online.

 Made for Ford trucks they are the VDO equivalent...

 This whole story comes down to this:    It was such a hassle to remove 

 the senders that I decided to seal off the 59mm holes in the tank ends 

 and go the "old way"  by installing the senders on top of the wing...

 This has been a very good move...

 If I were to build again,  I would be sure to have the senders on top.

 I have pictures of the "rebuild" if your interested.

 It took less than a day and I m now happy.....

  

 Steve

ashleyw(at)gvtc.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:04 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

Bobby,

  

 I had similar problem with fuel leaking past on of  the screws.

  

 Check that yours is actually the the sender and not  an upper screw leak showing up on the wire.

  

 In any case, I backed the screws out an put some  thread lube on the and that solved the problem.

  

 The senders are not that difficult to remove thru  the access hole.

  

 If as you think it is the sender leaking I would  try the proseal before getting a new sender. 

  

 In any case, you should not have to open the wing  to fix it.

  

 Floyd Wilkes

 601XL

 [quote]   ---

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:09 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

I talked to Zenith and was told that the VDO senders were unsatisfactory. 

People are having problems with the brand..  Personally I like VDO.

When new they worked great.    My point is that I m old and dont like to 

mess around in uncomfortable positions, trying to get the senders in and out 

of the wing through the ribs.

No matter what brand of senders I like the access thru the top wing skin.

Its sooooooo much easier to remove now and it can be done with fuel in the 

tank.......

SW

---

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:13 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

In my case, removing the sender was no big  deal.  Getting them back in was...

 It aint easy working with one hand thru the small  rib hole.

 I was so frustrated , and when I saw how other  builders installed the senders on top of the wing, well that was for  me.

  

 SW

 [quote]   ---

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:16 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

Im also sure that when you get it all worked out, you will probably never 

need to open it up again.   How often do people need to remove their senders 

in automobiles ???



---

eldenej(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:57 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

Steve,

 

Might we ask you to post the photos on the list?

 

Thanks,

 

Elden Jacobson

xl/3300



--- On Sat, 2/21/09, steve <notsew_evets(at)frontiernet.net> wrote:



From: steve <notsew_evets(at)frontiernet.net>

Subject: Re: Fuel Leak

To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009, 11:31 PM

 

#yiv1208483879 P {

MARGIN:0px;}

Before I installed my tanks I pressure checked everything and made sure the gauges worked.  Go figure, after sitting for a year I finally put fuel in the tanks.  

The darn things didnt read at all.  I guess the time spent without fuel caused the rheostats to corrode or something like that.

For whatever reason I had to remove the senders.  Each checked out bad

Flydog1966(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject: Fuel Leak

Twice in 4 years. Ford truck.

  

  In a message dated 2/21/2009 11:17:03 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  notsew_evets(at)frontiernet.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  How    often do people need to remove their senders 

in automobiles  ???

	


 You can't always choose whom you love, but you can choose how to find them. Start with AOL Personals.

  [quote][b]

jbrumpt(at)activ8.net.au
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject: Fuel Leak

Hi Steve

 Could you please forward some pictures to the  list & specify the senders and gauges you used and where they were purchased  from at what cost?

 Thanks 

 John

 ---

ashontz

Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 723

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Fuel Leak

I'm building my tanks now. I actually went ahead and decided on my own to put the sender on top. Glad I did. Just a generic fuel sender from Pep Boys, sender and gauge, $40 total. To mount the sender I made a ring backer plate out of .0125 aluminum and tapped the ring for 10-32 brass machine screws. Also, I cut a notch of of the ring to essentially make it horseshoe shape so that it can be installed through the access hole in the tank that the sender sits in. I install the assembly by using a piece of 12" long all-thread to hold the backer plate in place from the inside while I start to install the sender from the outside. Works really well and would work well for a retrofit for moving the sender to a new location after the fact.



[quote="notsew_evets(at)frontiern"]Before I installed my tanks I pressure checked  everything and made sure the gauges worked.  Go figure, after sitting for a  year I finally put fuel in the tanks.  

 The darn things didnt read at all.  I guess  the time spent without fuel caused the rheostats to corrode or something like  that.

 For whatever reason I had to remove the  senders.  Each checked out bad.

 The manufacturer , VDO, is now  Continental....

 I ve had a very bad time purchasing new  senders.  Zenith helped by supplying new ones but they were the wrong ones  for my gauges....I had to purchase SN 39 senders online.

 Made for Ford trucks they are the VDO  equivalent...

 This whole story comes down to  this:    It was such a hassle to remove the senders that I  decided to seal off the 59mm holes in the tank ends and go the "old way"   by installing the senders on top of the wing...

 This has been a very good move...

 If I were to build again,  I would be sure to  have the senders on top.

 I have pictures of the "rebuild" if your  interested.

 It took less than a day and I m now  happy.....

  

 Steve

  

  	  Quote: 	
		     ---

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:57 am Post subject: Fuel Leak

I ll be happy to send you all pictures of how I  installed the senders on the top of the fuel tanks.  I do have a slight  problem.  Seems I cant post on matronics.  All I can do is reply to  your emails.

 About six months ago I got totally fed up with the  website, with all of the wannabies spewing BS.

 There was much information that was not from actual  builders and some of it was down right "off base".

 Remember the guy who told us to put weights on the  trailing edge of the ailerons?...  Thats his suggestion on balancing to  stop flutter....

 I hope things are better now.

 I m on the Zenith site now.  Its for builders  and flyers.

 So far the scoop seems ok....

  

 SW

 [quote]   ---

eldenej(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:14 pm Post subject: Fuel Leak

Steve,

 

I'd be delighted to receive such photos; I am at the point of having to make basic decisions about the fuel tanks. Thanks    eldenej(at)yahoo.com



--- On Mon, 2/23/09, steve <notsew_evets(at)frontiernet.net> wrote:



From: steve <notsew_evets(at)frontiernet.net>

Subject: Re: Fuel Leak

To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 3:55 AM

 

#yiv30729176 P {

MARGIN:0px;}

I ll be happy to send you all pictures of how I installed the senders on the top of the fuel tanks.  I do have a slight problem.  Seems I cant post on matronics.  All I can do is reply to your emails.

About six months ago I got totally fed up with the website, with all of the wannabies spewing BS.

There was much information that was not from actual builders and some of it was down right "off base".

Remember the guy who told us to put weights on the trailing edge of the ailerons?...  Thats his suggestion on balancing to stop flutter....

I hope things are better now.

I m on the Zenith site now.  Its for builders and flyers.

So far the scoop seems ok....

 

SW



---

jbrumpt(at)activ8.net.au
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject: Fuel Leak

Steve

 Could you email me on jbrumpt(at)activ8.net.au (jbrumpt(at)activ8.net.au)

 Thanks

 John 

  

 ---

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