Commander fuel gauge

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My Commander does not have the fuel gauge option. Any ideas on an aftermarket solution? It has a 25 gallon plastic tank with a bottom gravity feed. The cap is maybe 3" to 4" in diameter."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Check out some marine shops.  I bet you could find a boat gauge that will work.  Another option might be a lawnmower gauge.  Electrical or simple float type?RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:I saw these stick on type of temp sensing gauges for plastic tanks somewhere. This linkhttp://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-B.../dp/B0001UZRBGis for propane tanks but I swear I saw one for plastic. The reviews werent good but it might work if you dont want to use a float, sending unit or stick. At $11, it might be worth it.
Reply:I have no idea what a Commander is in this case, but this is a ridiculously simple boat tank fuel meter/gascap. As the float rises it turns the twisted bar in the middle with a needle attached to the top.
Reply:My dozer just uses a dipstick retained in a loop attached just inside the opening. The stick slides up through the loop.
Reply:I take it the plastic tank is not translucent?With a little work you can add a clear plastic "loop" line running from the bottom fitting in the tank and traveling to the top of tank externally connecting to a fitting (which you will have to add).Replace the bottom OEM fitting with a Tee fitting.  Install a fitting in the top of tank.  Fitting needs to be the kind that installs using a nut inside the tank. Locate the fitting near the fill opening so you can install the nut using pliers or other reaching tool.Use fuel grade clear plastic tubing to connect the top fitting to the bottom fitting and wherever the fuel line is in the tubing is how much fuel is in the tank. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by Rog02Check out some marine shops.  I bet you could find a boat gauge that will work.  Another option might be a lawnmower gauge.  Electrical or simple float type?
Reply:I did find this. It seems to look like what I would want.http://www.moellermarine.com/afterma.../fuel_senders/"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:"No fuel tank is not translucent. I did think of this, but you cannot see the tank unless you unbolt the panel. It's not visible from the engine inspection area."Well, that adds another obstacle to the mix.  The clear fuel level hose could be routed outside of the enclosure panel for visibility.But that might make the hose vulnerable to physical damage unless adequate protection for the hose could be provided.If you do go with an electric gauge package, you will have to provide a ground wire to the metal mounting flange of the tank unit because your tank is plastic and therefore can't act as its own ground path for the gauge to work with.  I'm pretty sure the kit would mention something about this, but you never know.
Reply:If you look at the link page, on the left towards the bottom they have a link to the wiring diagram. It looks pretty simple, but I probably will delete the light bulb."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Heck, I would let the light work in case you need to check the fuel level in the dark.I looked at the schematic and was hoping it would turn out to a warning lamp that comes on when the tank is down to 1/8, but it's just a plain old dash bulb to light up the gauge face.
Reply:Yeah, the original meter's/gauge's option shut it down before it ran out. I have no problem keeping it with fuel, so...... And this is just a hobby, for now, so end up I trying to fill it sooner than it can burn what's in there. I don't need the light because nothing else is backlit. So, if I'm working at night I would still be using a flash light, and that's just a couple more wires that just don't NEED to be there."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerweldI take it the plastic tank is not translucent?With a little work you can add a clear plastic "loop" line running from the bottom fitting in the tank and traveling to the top of tank externally connecting to a fitting (which you will have to add).Replace the bottom OEM fitting with a Tee fitting.  Install a fitting in the top of tank.  Fitting needs to be the kind that installs using a nut inside the tank. Locate the fitting near the fill opening so you can install the nut using pliers or other reaching tool.Use fuel grade clear plastic tubing to connect the top fitting to the bottom fitting and wherever the fuel line is in the tubing is how much fuel is in the tank.