Fuel Gauge

So, long story short, the needle in my fuel gauge was stuck this weekend. I tapped the face of the gauge to see if it would unstick, and the needle fell off.

The boat is a 1993 Alumacraft Competitor (side console). Is the fuel gauge going to be fairly easy to replace? Can I buy pretty much any fuel gauge, or does it specifically need to be a Alumacraft gauge? Anything to watch out for?

Also, it looks like I will have to pull the dash panel off to get the gauge out. The screws look to be secured on the back with plastic clips (I tried to take some out and they pretty much just stripped out). Where can I find those plastic clips that the screws go into?

Thanks!
Ryan

A fuel gauge should be a fuel gauge, shouldn’t be anything special. Depending on your electronics Lowrance makes a fluid level sensor for the nm2000, Pretty sure it’s only 2 wires to tap with the lowrance sensor, anyways…The gauge itself probably in’t too much more usually there is a power supply/ground for the light too. I’d pull the old one out bring it to the store with you. Probably have to take the dash out, I would guess I hardware store may have what you need or something that works, heck the new gauge may not need anything else special to mount it. My gauges are held in by a little c clip the bolts onto the backof the gauge.

Thanks, Nick. It’s the future mother-in-law’s boat, so it’s not outfitted with the latest electronics. I’ll just need to replace the OEM gauge. I hope I can tackle it with no problems. I think getting the dash out will be the biggest pain in the butt.

just make sure you mark your wires. There should only be 3 (positive/negative/light).

Like Nick said, a fuel gauge is a fuel gauge. Nothing really to fancy about them.

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There should only be 3 (positive/negative/light).

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4, I think. One for the sending unit.

You can get the plastic clips at hardware stores, or something similar that will work. You might get stuck looking through bins for an hour, but true value usually has most types of fasteners.

Okay, I got a gauge that should work. Looks fairly simple to install.

Now, I am really wishing I would have brought one of those clips/screw anchors home with me so I didn’t have to rely on my memory

Hey Duf…er I mean Ralph, I didn’t see this question asked to anyone over on the football boards. No faith in anyone over there that they’d have your answer?

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Hey Duf…er I mean Ralph, I didn’t see this question asked to anyone over on the football boards. No faith in anyone over there that they’d have your answer?

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LOL, how’d you find me??? And no, I don’t have any faith in the guys over there and their mechanical abilities

Gauge installed Very easy. Pulling the dash out proved to be the most difficult task by far.