Low Fuel Sensor

[jiott]

I just purchased the Kitfox low fuel sensor option for my SS7. It came with a separate small round aluminum tank to mount the sensor in. This tank/housing is then mounted above the header tank, in the vent line. I know many of you just mount the fuel sensor in the upper side port on the header tank without using the additional housing that Kitfox provides.

I would like to hear some pros and cons of each method. Obviously the higher mounted separate housing would give you earlier warning of low fuel, but its extra complexity and more potential leak points. Any other opinions would be appreciated.

Jim

[DesertFox4]

I have the aluminum header tank behind the co-pilots seat with the sensor mounted in the tank. Either system works well.

[cap01]

I also have a aluminum tank , but its mounted aft of the cargo bag . It's a custom 2 gal tank with the level sensor from spruce installed in it . Works well. Also I know of a speedster with the can sensor installed in the vent hose that also has been working well . Guess you could call it a crap shoot .

[akarmy]

I have the same little tank inline. Seems to work fine. I did have a bit of a challenge getting the sensor sealed the first time and had a bit of a fuel leak to deal with.

[Maverick]

I have the aluminum tank and my low fuel sensor was 1/2" so it did not fit. Murle drilled out the 1/4" hole out to a larger hole and then arced a 1/4" plate over the old hole. I then drilled through the plate and tapped it to take the 1/2" fitting of the low fuel sensor. We had to deal with a few pin holes in the weld but we finally got it done. It works well but, I do not recommend this route. If you can find a quarter inch sensor that will work through the 1/4" hole, I would go that route. It would seem that the factory would make the hole size for the sensor optional for the purchaser, either 1/4" or 1/2". JMHO.

Maverick

[Jerrytex]

On my header tank, the welded on collar is slightly larger than 1". My plan is to drill the 1/4" hole to 1/2" and tap it. That will leave plenty of "meat" on the collar. Seems like the easiest most reasonable thing to do, to retrofit it.

Edit: The low fuel sensor, the optical one that came with the kit, is actually 3/8" NPT not 1/2" as originally thought, so I'll being drilling and tapping to 3/8".

IMG_3272.jpg

[jiott]

Why is everyone shying away from the factory optional low fuel sensor with its separate little reservoir? It works perfectly and is super easy to install with no modifications to the header tank. Just curious.

[Eric Page]

In the immortal words of Colin Chapman, "Simplify, then add lightness."

[hansedj]

I would never want to be that low on fuel

[dholly]

Would like to revisit this topic.

I have a 4-1200 w/ center high mount poly header tank, which would seem to preclude using the 'aux tank for sender' style low fuel warning.

Header tank has (3) 'in' ports, (1) ea. for L/R wing supply and the vent line and single lower 'out' port, with no sump quick drain or extra port/fitting for the ACS 6905-400 low fuel sensor.

Best option short of switching to a new aluminum 'behind the seat' header tank?

When using a [new, ethanol resistant] HWllc vent line sensor, is it best to install as low as possible in the vent line to minimize false alerts (resulting in a near horizontal orientation), or does the sensor body need to be in a completely vertical orientation to operate properly?

Thnx.