northstar1951
New Member
Working on my "new to me" 97 Sportster that I picked up this winter I understood that there were two issues that I needed to deal with after purchase. Both the fuel gauge and bilge pump did not work.
I did a ton of searching on this forum and came across a whole lot of helpful diagnostic advice that helped me zero in on how to approach diagnosing and fixing these issues.
I determined that the bilge pump was toast and literally tore it out of the engine compartment. I could have merely cut the wires and left it mounted in the boat, but oh no, I decided to remove it. Should have left it alone and saved a few knicks and scratches to my hands. Any ways it is done! I ordered a new automatic pump with a 3 way switch and will mount it towards the back of the bilge for future ease of maintenance.
As for the fuel gauge here is a brief summary of my fix:
Ordered and received the new float (I diagnosed this as the problem);
Disconnected the battery;
Disconnected the fuel sender snap connector;
Loosened the large ring clamp at the top of the baffle;
Gently pulled out the fuel baffle from the tank without removing any of the attached hoses;
Popped off the screen housing at the bottom of the baffle using a small flat head screw driver;
Tilted the baffle and the old float slid right out;
Inserted the new float;
Popped the screen back on the bottom of the baffle;
Inserted the baffle back into the tank;
Tightened the ring clamp;
Reconnected the fuel sender connector wires;
Re-connected the battery;
Fuel gauge displayed the correct gas level in the tank.
:thumbsup:
I was very fortunate that my baffle lines were long enough to allow me to remove the baffle from the fuel tank without disconnecting any of these hoses. Made the float change out a super quick fix.
As soon as I get my new pump and 3 way switch (Manual-Off-Automatic) I will complete the wiring of the new pump and be back in business. Using the original wiring connector off of the old pump I will only have to string one additional wire (Automatic) up to my new helm switch.
I plan on utilizing the old Bilge Pump Switch as an On Off switch for future accessories.
I did a ton of searching on this forum and came across a whole lot of helpful diagnostic advice that helped me zero in on how to approach diagnosing and fixing these issues.
I determined that the bilge pump was toast and literally tore it out of the engine compartment. I could have merely cut the wires and left it mounted in the boat, but oh no, I decided to remove it. Should have left it alone and saved a few knicks and scratches to my hands. Any ways it is done! I ordered a new automatic pump with a 3 way switch and will mount it towards the back of the bilge for future ease of maintenance.
As for the fuel gauge here is a brief summary of my fix:
Ordered and received the new float (I diagnosed this as the problem);
Disconnected the battery;
Disconnected the fuel sender snap connector;
Loosened the large ring clamp at the top of the baffle;
Gently pulled out the fuel baffle from the tank without removing any of the attached hoses;
Popped off the screen housing at the bottom of the baffle using a small flat head screw driver;
Tilted the baffle and the old float slid right out;
Inserted the new float;
Popped the screen back on the bottom of the baffle;
Inserted the baffle back into the tank;
Tightened the ring clamp;
Reconnected the fuel sender connector wires;
Re-connected the battery;
Fuel gauge displayed the correct gas level in the tank.
:thumbsup:
I was very fortunate that my baffle lines were long enough to allow me to remove the baffle from the fuel tank without disconnecting any of these hoses. Made the float change out a super quick fix.
As soon as I get my new pump and 3 way switch (Manual-Off-Automatic) I will complete the wiring of the new pump and be back in business. Using the original wiring connector off of the old pump I will only have to string one additional wire (Automatic) up to my new helm switch.
I plan on utilizing the old Bilge Pump Switch as an On Off switch for future accessories.
