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There are four bass model fuel tank variations.
1. Obviously one is the main single fuel tank of 33 gallons usable. Some of those models also have a light indicator to switch the gauge in dash, which does not function. As there is only one tank.
2. The Cougar FTD has two (2) rear fuel tanks of 26 gallons per side (52) and these function on the valve, which is the right left valve for fuel flow, located in the splash well. That does not change the gauge, which is changed on the A-Ten touch pad noted by that indicator LED in dash. Smart Craft gagues are notoriously slow to move as they avarage to prevent bounce in rough water.
3. Pantera II and Pantera Classic series with Kicker tanks of 10 gallons added to the standard 33 gallon fuel tanks. These have the A-Ten touch pad switch to switch the gauge only. They also have the dial vavle in the splash well which switches from the main (left) 33 gallon tank, to the kicker (right) fuel option of 10 gallons.
4. Jaguar, Puma and Pantera IV (Option 2 x 10 gallon), have the main 33 gallon fuel tank and the twin (2) 10 gallon kicker tanks. They have the switch for the gauge at the dash assembly. They also have the valve in the splash well for switching the fuel tanks. The valve switches from the main (left) 33 gallon tank to the twin (2) 10 gallon kicker tanks (right) which total 20 gallons.
These two rear tanks must be filled independently if you intend on using them soon after filling. They will siphon between tanks, though not in a rapid fashion for iimmediate use. They are t’eed together under the valve and the right pulls from both tanks simultaneously.
They will siphon to equal levels, if one side is added to for a pop of a couple of gallons added. Though you can not top off from one side only for immedaite use.
We hope this clears up the usage on the fuel tanks!
Never hesitate to ask your questions here, that is what this board is for!
BCB
BCB Memo: newer tanks of 2010 and later should all have anti siphon valves. These can fail also though tanks no longer siphon between each other and on 10 gallon kickers must be filled to level out similarly.
Here’s one we pasted from another board and thought it might fit in to this topic. It relates to fuel gauge accuracy.
BCB
Since you have a warning light these are not Analog gauges. Analog gauges are only as good as the sending unit. Of course since this is a relatively new 2014 we would assume that it’s an issue from day one. Lot’s of people think they understand the sending units because they worked on one years ago, though they are quite different on todays boats. Ours always were years ago with the capsule style Rochester senders, though todays are even more improved. There were a few of the varying brands of pivot arms sending units we used that realistically are not very good. Those were usually on lesser boat with less component costs. Just a few bucks here and there saved on a less price tagged unit makes a difference overall.
Today they are all WEMA senders at this time, as we use the WEMA sending unit and have for a decade. These are extremely reliable and generally very accurate as they use a donut float on a straight shaft and no arm. They send a signal to the gauge through an analog signal and the conversion takes over for your digital gauge through hexadecimal conversion.
The issue is not the gauge as those are a programmed function, thus it has to be the sending unit itself, or the wrong length of sending unit was installed by mistake in your fuel tank.
Figure out how or if you want to address this and then either yourself or through your dealership we would be glad to provide another sending unit. You can test those outside the boat with the wiring for accuracy before installing or even breaking down the existing sending unit. IN a few minutes you would have an idea of what or if to tackle it.
Of course we would usually have a dealership remove the sending unit and verify the stages on the stem that the gauge was activated before replacing one, which you could do also if the sending unit is in an area where you can remove it.
We hope this one was helpful.
BCB
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