87 Ski Supreme Fuel Gauge Sender

Good morning all,

I thought that the fuel gauge in my 1987 Ski Supreme was failed - always reading empty. I tested the meter with a set of resistors (33 ohm, 136 ohm, and 240 ohm) and the meter reads empty, 1/2, full as expected. The sender however is always reading 300+ ohms. It does not seem to change much as fuel is added. So I believe I have a bad sender and the float is not floating. I believe it should be a 240/33 ohm standard sender based on how the meter behaved with my resistor test.
Question one: Where is a good place to get a new sender?
Question two: Is the mounting plate and hole pattern standard?
Question three: Is the sender mechanism standard or does it have to be adjusted to match the actual tank?

Thanks in advance
Bill

 

There are thousands of online stores that sell senders. The holes are standard. The universal replacement kits have adjustable arms, so they will fit your tank.

 

Gonzo,
Thanks for the reply. My research this morning backs up your assessment. I was also interested in if there were any "stay away from"s or "watchout for"s but it appears to be a pretty standard thing and pretty straight forward to replace.
Thanks again. Bill

 

I have another sender question. I looked at one sender manufactured by Quicksilver; model 851052Q. One thing I noticed is that the terminals on the internal side of the flange are bare metal. Is it a good idea to have the bare metal electrical terminals exposed to the gas and fumes? Doesn't sound like a good idea to me but that is the way it is made. Anyone have any experience or comments? Its the only sender available in my area. I have heard of Quicksilver before and they seem to be a good brand but this bare terminal arrangement is a bit concerning. Thanks in advance.

 

after the connections are made up, take a tube of SealAll and coat the connections, screw heads, around the gasket flange and it will keep everything in good shape

 

No problem with bare connectors, there's no voltage there, the unit is sensing the percentage of ground, no sparks, no boom, etc. Quicksilver is Mercury Marine's parts division. Some of it is rebadged stock, while others proprietary Mercury stuff. QC will be better than many after market outlets, though you'll pay a price for this. This part from Mercury is around $45 (full retail), though you can get the exact part from online outlets, for $30 to $35. Free shipping is available with many of these places, though often a $100 minimum. Since this puppy is off an old boat, you'll likely have a need for at least $100 in other stuff. So, turn her up and toss in a new sender too.