Champ 1961 Champ 7EC 13 gallon tank fuel guage

[damaviation]

Trying to figure out my fuel guage. It gets stuck at zero when full until about 1/2 tank then it starts bouncing again. I think it could use a cleaning and put back together with new seals anyway and that will fix it or maybe reveal the problem. Is there any advice for this job or is it pretty strait forward? I see spruce sells a refurbish kit work new seals and a rubber cork but not sure it's the right parts.

 

[MA Cantin]

We did our ‘59 7EC and ordered the kit from Spruce. Plastic float in the kit we got. It worked well. We did get a new glass cut by a local glass shop. It was kinda cruddy in there so it didn’t hurt to clean it up. I thought I had a photo of the gauge out of the tank but I only have one of the whole tank with the gauge in it! Lol!
Hope this helps!

 

[Bartman]

Here are a few photos that I took while removing that style of guage from an old tank. The last pic shows the order that the parts go in, note that there are two gaskets.

 

[Bob Turner]

So is that a standard thread? I have a J4 that needs a new gauge, and the opening appears to be threaded.

 

[damaviation]

Thankyou for sharing. Looks like a pretty strait forward job then. I just filled the tanks again today and sure enough the gauge read zero until about 1/2 tank was left. Damnest thing. So do I need any special thread sealant to re-assemble or do the gaskets so the job?

 

[MA Cantin]

The gaskets should be with the kit. When we redid ours, I used a special sealant for fuel called EZ Turn.

EZ Turn Lubricant | Aircraft Spruce Canada

EZ Turn Lubricant EZ Turn is a specialty lubricant/sealant used for fuel and oil line valves & is resistant to high temps. Especially effective where high octane fuels and aromatics are present. EZ Turn is also e...

www.aircraftspruce.ca

Pilot Supplies and Aircraft Parts | Aircraft Spruce Canada

Aircraft Spruce Canada is a worldwide distributor of certified and homebuilt aircraft supplies.

www.aircraftspruce.ca

The above link might be it.

Sorry for the canadian links, eh! Lol!

You can refer to Bartmans photos to know in which order the gaskets go and note how yours come out.
I wish you success! Let us know how it goes.

M-A

 

[damaviation]

Just got seal kit from spruce and it doesnt appear to be the right glass but looks like I can use the gaskets. One of those problems I'm sure associated with the change from aeronca to champion in the 60's. I'll try to disassemble and clean up what I got and replace the old cork with the new rubber float. I'll make sure to take pictures to post for the next guy.

 

[damaviation]

Update: The fuel gauge is out and cleaned up. I installed the new rubber float to replace the old cork, but kind of junked up the soldering. I did read a little more and I've decided to just go get a neoprene float from Spruce because it is supposedly better if heaven forbid I put car gas in there (Alaska is supposed to have ethanol free fuel but best to be sure). And this time I'll do a better job soldering. The old lens was plastic and 1 3/4 diameter and the Spruce repair kit is definitely a smaller lens. But the gaskets work so I think I'll go get glass cut for the lens. My question is if I should go with a plastic lens because that was what was in there originally or will glass be ok (wear and tear, cracking?).

 

[Bartman]

thanks for the update. these parts are available from American Champion Aircraft. Call and ask for Chad, he will make sure you get exactly what you need.