Ballast dash gauge is stuck??

[SuperSquirt]

On my 08 210, the port side ballast gauge won't go lower than 1/2 when draining. It seems to fill fine and the gauge will move all the way to full mark. But when draining, it stops moving at 1/2 mark.

Any ideas? Is there a simple way to fix this?

[MHayes]

RE: Ballast dash gauge is stuck??

Can you easily get to the gauge sending unit in an 08? I know on the older boats, you can access the sending unit on top of the hard tank. Sometimes the little float gets stuck, which sounds like what your issue may be.

[SuperSquirt]

RE: Ballast dash gauge is stuck??

Surprisingly, i pulled out the ballast sensor connection (on the top of the hard tank) and pulled out the metal rod that has a float on it. I don't know how in the world, but the metal rod was bent at about 45 degree angle, with the float stuck on the upper half. Somehow someway, that rod got bent inside the hard tank??? This is truly strange, hopefully CC will warranty it

[MHayes]

RE: Ballast dash gauge is stuck??

That really is strange...must have been that way from the factory. I'm sure CC will have no issues covering that under the warranty.

[d_nodixon]

RE: Ballast dash gauge is stuck??

Both my rear guages have the same problem. Did not come that way. I think it has resulted from standing/sitting on tanks while servicing. Or possible from the tanks collapsing when pumping out the tanks(additional sacks installed).

[SuperSquirt]

RE: Ballast dash gauge is stuck??

How would sitting/standing on a hard tank cause the sensor to bend? Its inside the tank and only water touches it

[d_nodixon]

I got my 06 210 last year. One of the rear gauges did not work. I pulled the float assembly and it was bent as you described above. I pulled the other and it was straight as an arrow. The other rear gauge stopped working this year. I pulled it again and it is now bent. If you look in the tank it is not just and empty shell. There is a square hole at bottom that the float assembly goes into. Looks like when you step/sit the tanks gives causing the rod to move and hit the edge of the wall and eventually bend. it does not happen right a way, so i guess you get unlucky and step on just the right(wrong) way and it bends.

[noti_dad]

I have extar ballast on top of my tanks that weight 250lbs. I've neer collapsed the hard tank enough to bend the rod. The dealer tells me that it will but I've never seen it. I have bent it by not venting the extar bags and collapsing the tank, but that's a differant story.

[d_nodixon]

I have never completely collapsed the tanks but they do bend quite a bit if not vented. Not sure how much my bags weigh, one web site says 280 and another 400. I think they are closer to 400.

[Shooter]

I have been thinking about plumbing sacs on top of my stock tanks and have done some research. I don’t think this problem is that uncommon? If the hard tanks can’t vent properly when empting, it will cause air-lock. This will cause your hard tank to "collapse" which will damage the float. The tanks obviously don’t fully collapse, but bend enough to break that float. I would think this could happen even if you don’t have sacs plumbed in. Check your ballast vent line or put PVC pipe in your sacs to prevent them from creating air-lock.

[d_nodixon]

I recently put a check valve between the stock tank and the fat sac. I installed a T-fitting with a PVC check valve that allows air to enter when the suction is strong enough. Works good so far, a little noisy. I am going to try to find one that makes less noise.

[Shooter]

The t-fitting is a good idea, but maybe a pressure/vacuum relief valve would work better than a check valve. Something like this?

http://www.dripirrigation.com/drip_i...roducts_id=891

[Cherasho]

gauges

I have a 2001 Air Nautique and have just experienced the "sticking" valve issue many of you describe...

Coincidentally I have been experimenting weighing down my boat with 5 gallon water jugs (4 of which conveniently fit in the back locker) and apparently have since bent the gauge. Where exactly are the gauges located and would 4 jugs of 40lbs each bend the gauge? I have done this a number of times without issue... I am a bit concerned about this because I was planning on purchasing a more permanent ballast system and was considering using lead in the back compartment but don't want to collapse my factory tanks and bend the gauges.

Like me I'm sure many of you use the back locker for ballast space because of its location and convenience... have you reinforced this area to prevent this problem?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Shooter]

RE: gauges

Cherasho: I don’t know about a 01, but my 03 is fine with weight on top of the rear tanks. I have had filled sacs (way more 160 LBS) on top of my rear tanks with no issues. I think the air-lock issue is more of a concern because the tanks are not designed to take that inward pressure. I would say to make sure you spread the weight out so it is not concentrated in one spot and make sure the lead doesn’t disrupt the hard tank vent lines

[Shooter]

RE: gauges

Just found this. Looks like quality SS floats / sending unit at half the price of the dealer. It looks like the plastic one is the same as OEM, but not positive.

http://www.wemausa.com/tank_sensors/...el_sensors.htm

If you think the sending unit is bad due to flex in the tank, order the replacement one inch shorter. The reading will be less accurate, but it will give the sending unit more clearance.