Fuel storage tank float replacement

Dave H (MI) · Aug 21, 2019

Here is an odd one. I have a 300 gallon fuel tank with gasoline. The fuel gauge punked out on me a month or so back and I just got around to pulling it from the tank to see what is up. It was a fairly easy assumption that the float was not working. So I pulled this finely calibrated instrument from the tank yesterday to find it is a thin articulated steel arm with a big cork on the bottom. Guess I won't be taking it to any sophisticated repair facilities to have it fixed and calibrated. I'm thinking I just find a replacement cork.

Not as easy as you might think! I get a lot of hits for old cars and trucks. Anyone know where you find a big cork for a gas storage tank?

I am thinking pretty much anything that floats and is resistant to gas saturation/degradation would work, right? Maybe I should just buy one of the car floats?

Determined · Aug 21, 2019

Go to a beer and wine making supply, they should have a cork big enough for your needs.

MarkB_MI · Aug 21, 2019

I'll bet the original cork was coated with shellac. Oh, by the way, the standard thinner for shellac is denatured alcohol, aka ethanol.

jeffcat · Aug 21, 2019

He could also dunk that cork in some gas tank sealer. Should keep it happy.

Janicholson · Aug 21, 2019

Brass float from a junkyard. Usually clipped onto the arm. Jim
Floats

Wheres Waldo · Aug 21, 2019

Unless he can get the sealer into the slot, it won't last long. Brass float is WAY better.

retired farmer · Aug 21, 2019

New gauge is around fourty dollars.

leroy in ne · Aug 21, 2019

just a thought how about a float for carb. from auto supply store or tractor and clamp it to gauge arm with one of the screw type hose clamps like fuel filter uses

showcrop · Aug 21, 2019

I replaced the sending unit in a fifty year old car and the float was plastic. I googled fuel tank float and the same plastic float came up.

Destroked 450 · Aug 21, 2019

Don't know what brand you have but you can google: Fuel Storage Tank Gauge, and a number of brands comes up.
I have a Krueger Sentry, a new one for a 300 gallon tank runs $28-40, They have plastic floats for $5.
I had to replace the plastic site glass on mine after 12 years of use, repair kit was maybe $10.

BillinCentralMO · Aug 21, 2019

Big cork ball float for catfishing. At your local bait and tackle ?

JD Seller · Aug 21, 2019

I just made mine out of a short piece of PVC pipe with two caps glued to the ends. I then used a stainless steel hose clamp to attach it to the gauge rod. Been working for over 20 years now. Ethanol will eat a natural cork float.

fixerupper · Aug 21, 2019

You could solder the arm to the brass float to keep it light.

Fuel storage tank float replacement

Dave H (MI)

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Determined

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MarkB_MI

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jeffcat

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Janicholson

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Wheres Waldo

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retired farmer

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leroy in ne

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showcrop

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Destroked 450

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BillinCentralMO

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JD Seller

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fixerupper

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