Fuel gauge question?

Posted by kollegewidgwock (kollegewidgwock@…>)

I’m having trouble reading the fuel gauge on my 1987 Freedom 30. I
would appreciate any suggestions from the group regarding some
(simple?) way to determine how much diesel fuel is left in the tank.
The gauge has a flange which is secured to the top of the tank with
a phillips head screw on top of a small cyclindrical housing and
then four hex head bolts around the flange and then a slotted screw
next to the phillips which completes the circle.
On the clear plastic lens which is attached to the flange by two
phillips more head screws is a nut which looks to be situated
between “full” and “empty” indicators. The face of the dial is
beginning to show some red where it once showed “full”.
Can this gauge be removed in order to insert a dipstick? If so, how?
If this question seems too confusing or complicated for the group,
please send a private email to dlynch@…
This is our first summer sailing “Solitude” out of Blue Hill, Maine
and we are really enjoying it but I still have alot to learn about
her systems beyond her sails.
Thanks in advance for your kind response.
Don


Dr. Donald Lynch
Associate Professor of Psychology
Unity College-in-Maine
dlynch@…

Posted by Lorman, Alvin J. (ajlorman@…>)


Don:

Welcome to the Freedom lovers list.

I have a 1987 F30 as well. I’m not entirely sure of what you mean when you say that the fuel gauge is starting to show some red. The gauge, if it is the same as mine, is a mechanical gauge that is bolted onto the top of the tank. They are, at best, casually accurate. Under the gauge, there is a vertical metal fitting which holds a float. As the fuel level rises and falls, the float rises and falls, which cause a spring to move the visible gauge. To the best of my knowledge, they are not calibrated, so any odd shaped tank does not give a true reading.

Depending on how much you use your engine, there are three approaches. The tank, if I recall correctly, is 20 gallons. First, simply unscrew the gauge and take the whole assembly to a chandlery and buy a replacement. Second, it you use the engine a lot, fill the tank completely, and then keep track of how long the engine is running. The engine uses about 1/2 gallon an hour. (I recently helped deliver a boat from Newport, RI to Annapolis, MD, mostly under power, and this is the method the professional delivery captain used.) If you just use the engine to get into and out of your slip and such, you can simply put a gallon of fuel in every time or every other time you use the boat. I never let my gauge get below 1/4 full, but I fill it on the time used rather than what the gauge says.

Al Lorman
F30 Ab Initio

-----Original Message-----From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of kollegewidgwockSent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:06 AMTo: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.comSubject: [freedomyachts2003] Fuel gauge question?

I’m having trouble reading the fuel gauge on my 1987 Freedom 30. I would appreciate any suggestions from the group regarding some (simple?) way to determine how much diesel fuel is left in the tank.The gauge has a flange which is secured to the top of the tank with a phillips head screw on top of a small cyclindrical housing and then four hex head bolts around the flange and then a slotted screw next to the phillips which completes the circle.On the clear plastic lens which is attached to the flange by two phillips more head screws is a nut which looks to be situated between “full” and “empty” indicators. The face of the dial is beginning to show some red where it once showed “full”.Can this gauge be removed in order to insert a dipstick? If so, how?If this question seems too confusing or complicated for the group, please send a private email to dlynch@unity.eduThis is our first summer sailing “Solitude” out of Blue Hill, Maine and we are really enjoying it but I still have alot to learn about her systems beyond her sails.Thanks in advance for your kind response.DonDr. Donald LynchAssociate Professor of PsychologyUnity College-in-Mainedlynch@unity.edu

IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE. Any advice expressed above as to tax matters was neither written nor intended by the sender or Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP to be used and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed under U.S. tax law. If any person uses or refers to any such tax advice in promoting, marketing or recommending a partnership or other entity, investment plan or arrangement to any taxpayer, then (i) the advice was written to support the promotion or marketing (by a person other than Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP) of that transaction or matter, and (ii) such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayers particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor

This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.

Posted by Weeks MD, Andrew (aweeks@…>)



Hi Don
During spring commissioning last year, I removed
the inspection port, pumped out the diesel with a battery powered home kerosene
heater pump, and cleaned the gunk from the bottom of the tank. I then refilled the
tank in increments and noted the gauge reading. As I recall ( I have it written
on the bunk next to the gauge), one half tank had only 4 gallons, and a quarter
only 2 gallons. This is because the tank in V shaped and the mechanical gauge measures
the fluid level in a very asymmetric container. Two years ago, blithely
relying on a “half full” tank, I ran out of fuel and had to get towed
in to Portsmouth NH with a clogged fuel filter!
Ill look for you next week, I’m sailing
Windfall, a F30 up to Frenchman’s Bay from New Hampshire, and will moor her
in Sorrento for a month prior to a mid sept cruise to Nova Scotia. Happy sailing.
Andy Weeks

-----Original Message-----
From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of kollegewidgwock
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 8:06
AM
To:
freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Fuel
gauge question?




I’m having trouble
reading the fuel gauge on my 1987 Freedom 30. I
would appreciate any suggestions from the group regarding some
(simple?) way to determine how much diesel fuel is left in the tank.
The gauge has a flange which is secured to the top of the tank with
a phillips head screw on top of a small cyclindrical housing and
then four hex head bolts around the flange and then a slotted screw
next to the phillips which completes the circle.
On the clear plastic lens which is attached to the flange by two
phillips more head screws is a nut which looks to be situated
between “full” and “empty” indicators. The face of the dial
is
beginning to show some red where it once showed “full”.
Can this gauge be removed in order to insert a dipstick? If so, how?
If this question seems too confusing or complicated for the group,
please send a private email to dlynch@unity.edu
This is our first summer sailing “Solitude” out of Blue Hill, Maine
and we are really enjoying it but I still have alot to learn about
her systems beyond her sails.
Thanks in advance for your kind response.
Don

Dr. Donald Lynch
Associate Professor of Psychology
Unity College-in-Maine
dlynch@unity.edu

\

Posted by John Jones (a1john@…>)

-Take a hacksaw (or whatever) and cut and tear off the entire lower
part of the gauge. Plug any small remaining holes with epoxy. Twist
off anything remaining on top so that all you have left is a brass(?)
screw-in plug or cap. Get several cans of diesel and an accurate
means of measuring one gallon. Cut a “broom stick” handle as a dip
stick. Put in one gallon and measure with dipstick. Cut a line around
broom handle with sharp knife and mark with indellible ink. Continue
until the tank is full and you will have the most accurate “manual”
fuel gauge possible. Stow dip stick on top of tank. Stick can be 6-8
inches longer than necessary. If you are entering your fuel purchases
and your engine hour run time in your log (as you should be) you will
always know when to “worry” enough to even check the gauge. No engine
hour meter? No Problem. Just pay attention and record when you start
and stop the diesel. The half gal/hr consumption previously reported
is accurate. I have used this system for more than 4000 engine hours
since I bought F33 hull#55 in 1989. I don’t think there was much time
on the diesel previously. Good Luck John



– In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “kollegewidgwock”
<kollegewidgwock@…> wrote:

I’m having trouble reading the fuel gauge on my 1987 Freedom 30. I
would appreciate any suggestions from the group regarding some
(simple?) way to determine how much diesel fuel is left in the tank.
The gauge has a flange which is secured to the top of the tank with
a phillips head screw on top of a small cyclindrical housing and
then four hex head bolts around the flange and then a slotted screw
next to the phillips which completes the circle.
On the clear plastic lens which is attached to the flange by two
phillips more head screws is a nut which looks to be situated
between “full” and “empty” indicators. The face of the dial is
beginning to show some red where it once showed “full”.
Can this gauge be removed in order to insert a dipstick? If so, how?
If this question seems too confusing or complicated for the group,
please send a private email to dlynch@…
This is our first summer sailing “Solitude” out of Blue Hill, Maine
and we are really enjoying it but I still have alot to learn about
her systems beyond her sails.
Thanks in advance for your kind response.
Don

Dr. Donald Lynch
Associate Professor of Psychology
Unity College-in-Maine
dlynch@…

Posted by Jerome Weinraub (zayde@…>)

I recently saw a graph for Yanmar 3GM30F fuel consumption. Their data was 0.8 gal/hr @ 2800 rpm,which is what I get on mine. If you have a Yan 3 GM 30 this may help. BTW,@ 3400 rpm the consumption was about 1.5 gal/hr

----- Original Message -----
From: Lorman, Alvin J.
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 10:32 AM
Subject: RE: [freedomyachts2003] Fuel gauge question?




Don:

Welcome to the Freedom lovers list.

I have a 1987 F30 as well. I’m not entirely sure of what you mean when you say that the fuel gauge is starting to show some red. The gauge, if it is the same as mine, is a mechanical gauge that is bolted onto the top of the tank. They are, at best, casually accurate. Under the gauge, there is a vertical metal fitting which holds a float. As the fuel level rises and falls, the float rises and falls, which cause a spring to move the visible gauge. To the best of my knowledge, they are not calibrated, so any odd shaped tank does not give a true reading.

Depending on how much you use your engine, there are three approaches. The tank, if I recall correctly, is 20 gallons. First, simply unscrew the gauge and take the whole assembly to a chandlery and buy a replacement. Second, it you use the engine a lot, fill the tank completely, and then keep track of how long the engine is running. The engine uses about 1/2 gallon an hour. (I recently helped deliver a boat from Newport, RI to Annapolis, MD, mostly under power, and this is the method the professional delivery captain used.) If you just use the engine to get into and out of your slip and such, you can simply put a gallon of fuel in every time or every other time you use the boat. I never let my gauge get below 1/4 full, but I fill it on the time used rather than what the gauge says.

Al Lorman
F30 Ab Initio

-----Original Message-----From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of kollegewidgwockSent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:06 AMTo: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.comSubject: [freedomyachts2003] Fuel gauge question?

I’m having trouble reading the fuel gauge on my 1987 Freedom 30. I would appreciate any suggestions from the group regarding some (simple?) way to determine how much diesel fuel is left in the tank.The gauge has a flange which is secured to the top of the tank with a phillips head screw on top of a small cyclindrical housing and then four hex head bolts around the flange and then a slotted screw next to the phillips which completes the circle.On the clear plastic lens which is attached to the flange by two phillips more head screws is a nut which looks to be situated between “full” and “empty” indicators. The face of the dial is beginning to show some red where it once showed “full”.Can this gauge be removed in order to insert a dipstick? If so, how?If this question seems too confusing or complicated for the group, please send a private email to dlynch@unity.eduThis is our first summer sailing “Solitude” out of Blue Hill, Maine and we are really enjoying it but I still have alot to learn about her systems beyond her sails.Thanks in advance for your kind response.DonDr. Donald LynchAssociate Professor of PsychologyUnity College-in-Mainedlynch@unity.edu

IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE. Any advice expressed above as to tax matters was neither written nor intended by the sender or Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP to be used and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed under U.S. tax law. If any person uses or refers to any such tax advice in promoting, marketing or recommending a partnership or other entity, investment plan or arrangement to any taxpayer, then (i) the advice was written to support the promotion or marketing (by a person other than Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP) of that transaction or matter, and (ii) such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayers particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor

This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.

Posted by kollegewidgwock (kollegewidgwock@…>)

-Thanks Andy (and everyone else who has responded). Can you tell me
where the inspection port is located on the fuel tank or was it just
the fuel gauge that you removed in order to inspect the tank’s
contents. If there is a separate inspection port on the top of the
tank, can I use this to insert a dipstick?
thanks,
Don




– In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Weeks MD, Andrew”
<aweeks@…> wrote:

Hi Don

During spring commissioning last year, I removed the inspection
port,
pumped out the diesel with a battery powered home kerosene heater
pump,
and cleaned the gunk from the bottom of the tank. I then refilled
the
tank in increments and noted the gauge reading. As I recall ( I
have it
written on the bunk next to the gauge), one half tank had only 4
gallons, and a quarter only 2 gallons. This is because the tank in
V
shaped and the mechanical gauge measures the fluid level in a very
asymmetric container. Two years ago, blithely relying on a “half
full”
tank, I ran out of fuel and had to get towed in to Portsmouth NH
with a
clogged fuel filter!

Ill look for you next week, I’m sailing Windfall, a F30 up to
Frenchman’s Bay from New Hampshire, and will moor her in Sorrento
for a
month prior to a mid sept cruise to Nova Scotia. Happy sailing.

Andy Weeks

-----Original Message-----
From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
kollegewidgwock
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 8:06 AM
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Fuel gauge question?

I’m having trouble reading the fuel gauge on my 1987 Freedom 30. I
would appreciate any suggestions from the group regarding some
(simple?) way to determine how much diesel fuel is left in the
tank.
The gauge has a flange which is secured to the top of the tank
with
a phillips head screw on top of a small cyclindrical housing and
then four hex head bolts around the flange and then a slotted
screw
next to the phillips which completes the circle.
On the clear plastic lens which is attached to the flange by two
phillips more head screws is a nut which looks to be situated
between “full” and “empty” indicators. The face of the dial is
beginning to show some red where it once showed “full”.
Can this gauge be removed in order to insert a dipstick? If so,
how?
If this question seems too confusing or complicated for the group,
please send a private email to dlynch@…
mailto:dlynch%40unity.edu
This is our first summer sailing “Solitude” out of Blue Hill,
Maine
and we are really enjoying it but I still have alot to learn about
her systems beyond her sails.
Thanks in advance for your kind response.
Don

Dr. Donald Lynch
Associate Professor of Psychology
Unity College-in-Maine
dlynch@… mailto:dlynch%40unity.edu

Posted by Lorman, Alvin J. (ajlorman@…>)


On my F30, you have to unscrew the plywood covering the aft portion of the aft cabin (it is the same piece as has the hole cut for the fuel gauge.

-----Original Message-----From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of kollegewidgwockSent: Monday, August 07, 2006 3:59 PMTo: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.comSubject: [freedomyachts2003] Re: Fuel gauge question?

-Thanks Andy (and everyone else who has responded). Can you tell me where the inspection port is located on the fuel tank or was it just the fuel gauge that you removed in order to inspect the tank’s contents. If there is a separate inspection port on the top of the tank, can I use this to insert a dipstick?thanks,Don-- In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Weeks MD, Andrew” <aweeks@…> wrote:>> Hi Don> > During spring commissioning last year, I removed the inspection port,> pumped out the diesel with a battery powered home kerosene heater pump,> and cleaned the gunk from the bottom of the tank. I then refilled the> tank in increments and noted the gauge reading. As I recall ( I have it> written on the bunk next to the gauge), one half tank had only 4> gallons, and a quarter only 2 gallons. This is because the tank in V> shaped and the mechanical gauge measures the fluid level in a very> asymmetric container. Two years ago, blithely relying on a “half full”> tank, I ran out of fuel and had to get towed in to Portsmouth NH with a> clogged fuel filter!> > Ill look for you next week, I’m sailing Windfall, a F30 up to> Frenchman’s Bay from New Hampshire, and will moor her in Sorrento for a> month prior to a mid sept cruise to Nova Scotia. Happy sailing.> > Andy Weeks> > > > > > -----Original Message-----> From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com> [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of kollegewidgwock> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 8:06 AM> To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com> Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Fuel gauge question?> > > > I’m having trouble reading the fuel gauge on my 1987 Freedom 30. I > would appreciate any suggestions from the group regarding some > (simple?) way to determine how much diesel fuel is left in the tank.> The gauge has a flange which is secured to the top of the tank with > a phillips head screw on top of a small cyclindrical housing and > then four hex head bolts around the flange and then a slotted screw > next to the phillips which completes the circle.> On the clear plastic lens which is attached to the flange by two > phillips more head screws is a nut which looks to be situated > between “full” and “empty” indicators. The face of the dial is > beginning to show some red where it once showed “full”.> Can this gauge be removed in order to insert a dipstick? If so, how?> If this question seems too confusing or complicated for the group, > please send a private email to dlynch@…> mailto:dlynch%40unity.edu > This is our first summer sailing “Solitude” out of Blue Hill, Maine > and we are really enjoying it but I still have alot to learn about > her systems beyond her sails.> Thanks in advance for your kind response.> Don> > Dr. Donald Lynch> Associate Professor of Psychology> Unity College-in-Maine> dlynch@… mailto:dlynch%40unity.edu>

IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE. Any advice expressed above as to tax matters was neither written nor intended by the sender or Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP to be used and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed under U.S. tax law. If any person uses or refers to any such tax advice in promoting, marketing or recommending a partnership or other entity, investment plan or arrangement to any taxpayer, then (i) the advice was written to support the promotion or marketing (by a person other than Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP) of that transaction or matter, and (ii) such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayers particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor

This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.