Fuel Gauge Removal in 170A

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sreeves
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Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:11 pm

Fuel Gauge Removal in 170A

Post by sreeves »

Well, my left fuel gauge float has apparently stopped floating. Occasionally I get a reasonable reading but for the most part it sits near empty. So I am going to try to remove the gauge to further investigate. I have drained the fuel from the tank and from inside the cabin I see 4 screws around the gauge. Does anyone have recent experience with removing the gauge to remember if those 4 screws is what needs to be removed for the gauge itself to be pulled out?
Stephen Reeves
Palm Harbor, Florida
Cessna 170A, N1773D, S/N 20216
Aeroplane
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Re: Fuel Gauge Removal in 170A

Post by Aeroplane »

Remove the four screws and the gauge should come out. It may take a little coaxing as it will most probably be a bit stuck from being on there for seventy years. The whole thing, float and all, comes out through the hole with the gauge. You can get a new float from Aircraft Spruce. I believe it’s the same one that fits a model A Ford. I replaced mine a couple of years ago and found that the new floats don’t seem as buoyant as the originals before they gave up the whole buoyancy thing. All fuel gauges lie, they’ll just lie differently with new floats...
Louie Hanna ‘49 A model
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GAHorn
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Re: Fuel Gauge Removal in 170A

Post by GAHorn »

Spruce sells replacement plastic/nitrile floats that are much better than the varnished cork. They are exact replacements. Very expensive. Almost $4. :twisted:
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... ey=3083475
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
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cessna170bdriver
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Re: Fuel Gauge Removal in 170A

Post by cessna170bdriver »

Just remember to use a new gasket upon reinstallation. I coated mine with a thin layer of EZ-Turn (fuel lube). The hardest part of the whole process was getting the headliner sock back in place and retied.
Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
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DaveF
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Re: Fuel Gauge Removal in 170A

Post by DaveF »

Miles is right about tying the sock, especially if the string is trimmed short. It would be hard to thread a new, longer, piece. Instead, tie one to the old string and pull it through. Now you can make the tails as long as you like.
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