Update on my Tricabin fuel tanks

[oldtimer]

Hi guys, this is an update to a posting of mine from back in Oct/2013 on a fuel gauge problem I have with my 74 Tri cabin. I had bought the boat a short while before and knew there was a problem with the gauges, and posted same on the forum. Got some good advice back then from g36 and prowlerfish. So now into this year of 2014 I have installed two new gas gauges, and over this past weekend hooked them up to the tank senders. Started by checking out the Port tank, got same reading (3/4 full) as on old gauges. Knew gauge was good, so unhooked sender wire from the tank and ran a jumper wire direct to gauge. Still got a 3/4 full reading, on by the way, what I know to be a tank only 1/4 full. Next hooked up a short wire directly to fuel sender stud and hooked up my voltmeter with the Ohms set to 200, and got a reading of 110, which showed it should be roughly about 1/2 full. So, guess I am going to have to bite the bullet and replace the fuel senders. A job I dread to tackle, especially the sender in under the galley sink. On my boat there is a floor in the cupboard itself, and then directly below this is the original saloon floor about 6" below. I am thinking of cutting a much larger hole in this area to be able to work in. The Stbd side one under the stairs seems fairly easy to work on. Also, anybody out there personally taken those 5 screws out of the sender, those old screws liberally coated with some type of black sealer ? rickalan 35, this should be of interest to you if you are reading this post, as you were having the same problems after having your tanks coated. I dont remember if it was you or not that mentioned you knew of a place locally here in Ontario to get new senders. Would be nice to save going through a customs broker. Can anyone tell me if they are just a standard American ohm tank sender, or are they customized to fit a round tank top ?

On a different subject now, I am away a lot and dont always have access to the website. What I haven't seen over the past few months though are any postings from Aarron. Does anyone know if he is alright or just away a lot on his job. The advice given on this site by him along with many others of you is invaluable to all Trojan owners.

Oldtimer

[jimbo36]

Google Moeller Marine Products. We order parts through our wholesale suppliers regularly. I own the same year F36 tri cabin and have been up close and personal with the double floor under the galley sink as well. My pickup tube and valve needs replacement and I am having difficulty matching up thread sizes. I have communicated with Bob @ Beacon without success. Hope it all works out for you. Where is your home port?

[oldtimer]

jimbo36, my home port is the Holland River Marina, btm end of L.Simcoe. Very nice marina, covered slips, and everything well maintained. Also close to our home, can be up there in approx 45 min. Means a lot of driving time saved when we are not yet ready to sleep aboard. Hopefully will get to do this about mid season. Thanks for the website, will check it out, and maybe some of the other guys on the forum after reading the post, will throw some more info our way.

Oldtimer

[oldtimer]

jimbo36, was talking to a fellow Trojan owner at the marina over the weekend, (73 Trojan Tri), and he told me that he ordered new tank senders thru the West Marine store in Midland, and had them within two weeks. More to it than that to place an order, but at least they are available for our old girls.

Oldtimer

[rickalan35]

Hi everyone,
Well, I will be investigating the sending units shortly. I have been a little behind getting my '74 tricabin ready for the water this year due to the late spring and the high water levels here on the Rideau Lakes. Just finished up the bottom paint chores. I will be commenting on the forum as to what particular adventures I run into regarding the sending units. Thanks for the information regarding Moeller Marine Products (Jimbo) and West Marine (Oldtimer). Cheers, Rick

[gables]

My Son Just bought a trojan 36 flybridge ("76), He is changing the gas tanks. However when he opened the floors looks like there are 4 tanks and not two. Are the other ones reservoirs???
Don't have a manuel... Would appreciate input

[oldtimer]

Hi rickalan35, good to see your post and that you will also be considering the change of your fuel senders. I am away a lot, but will keep an eye on the forum to see what is happening. Just came home from the marina, and while up at the boat, I cut a 12" square hatch in the floor directly over the Stbd tank to make it easier to access when I get my senders, (and my nerve up to change them). Had to slide in a pc of 1/4" plywood under the floor in this area above the mess of wires that come from the elec panel to protect them. I then cut out the 12" square hatch very carefully with a hand saw. Otherwise, a full floor panel has to be unscrewed and lifted up to get at the tank sender. I know the tank sender can be seen from under the aft cabin top step, but it would not be possible to lift out the sender with the floor so close above it. I also intend to cut out a much larger access hatch through both floors under the galley sink port side. The present little metal cover that's there now is only ok to get a hand down to the tank to clean the terminal or sender wire. Good luck with things.

gables, re your tanks. My 74 Tri also has 4 tanks. The PO before me said that he had never used them, both port & stbd are closed off at the valves. As a new owner myself of a Trojan, I have just left them closed off, have no info on them, but have found out that on my dashboard there are two switches, one for port, one for stbd. They are marked as reserve fuel, but as near as I can figure out, pulling the switch on either tank,just shows the fuel levels in each reserve tank. Other than that, I intend to just keep using the main aft tanks. Right now I have so many other jobs I would like to do, that these reserve tanks are on the back burner for now. Sorry I dont have more info for you, but maybe someone else on the site will have something more for you.

Oldtimer