Fuel leak

[michael]

After filling my tank last week I saw some fuel in the center bilge.I cleaned it up looked yesterday and the water in the bilge was clean.Yesterday while running I opened the small hatch and saw fuel was coming thru the gasket of the fuel sender especially when we hit a bump.Around the sender,fuel fill and fuel lines are what I call a fiberglass dam with a flange that is epoxied to the top of the fiberglass tank.The pipe fittings and screws are all threaded into a metal plate that is on top of the tank with the dams around them.My question is,can fuel get under the plate and under the flange of the so called dam and does anyone know how the metal plates are fastened to the top of the tank.Ihave a 79SF with the original tank Thanks Michael Th

[franklyprice]

Michael, The bolts that hold the plate to the tank are really glued down. Not to say that they absolutely can't leak but I would first suspect a bad gasket or the sender itself. You can break the fiberglass dam off fairly easily to gain some access and you probably should so that you can see the source of the leak. If you get the fiberglass dam off and still can't find the leak, I would close off the fuel valves and pressurize the tank to a pound or to (no more) and squirt some soapy water around the flange . It will bubble up like crazy at the leak. They actually tested these tanks at 10 PSI so a pound or so won't hurt it but you will find any leak with very little pressure. You could probably close off the valves and plug the vent in the morning , then as the day warms up it should pressurixze itself and you could find the leak with the soapy water, just be carefull not to let it build up too much pressure.

[Rick]

Mike, Sounds like it's time for a new sender, I agree w/ Frank. Same thing happened to me. Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

[michael]

Thanks Frank+Rick I replaced the sender. The gasket was is bad shape. I believe that was the problem Michael