Hi folks, many years ago I replaced the original sending unit in my aft tank with a replacement from JBG. I really enjoyed having a gas gauge again, until about a week later the float developed a pinhole leak, and I literally watched the needle fall as the float filled with gas and fell to the bottom of the tank permanently.

At the time I didn't feel like dropping the tank again, so I've left it ever since. I finally feel like replacing it (looking at Rock Auto this time), and I do see the standard brass float model made by Dorman, but I also see a model by a brand called "Spectra" that appears to use a plastic float for only a dollar more. I assume the plastic float would be one piece and would be better, since the two-piece brass floats can leak at the solder joint. Has anybody used a plastic float, or heard of this brand? I'm curious if they're any good; I'd hate to drop the tank a third time!

Brass float (Dorman):



Plastic float (Spectra):

 

I've heard of the Spectra brand but don't have any personal experience with them. From what I have heard about them, the sending unit has a 5/16" hose nipple instead of the 3/8" that our trucks use.
If your sending unit is okay, Dennis Carpenter has replacement floats that will never leak. P/N 68-9275-S $5.00

 

Thanks for your input Mike; I happened to find it on Amazon as well and saw similar complaints about the hose fitting being the wrong size. Seems like a pretty important thing not to mess up when designing a replacement part. I am going to stay away. Thanks for the link; I had not thought to replace just the float. I guess they just snap in and out? I'll be picking one of these up from DC.

 

Glad to help.
Yeah, the rod that the float is connected to has a "C" shape at the end and the float has a groove in it. The groove snaps into the "C".

 

sorry for hijacking......i have the same sending unit, with the brass float. sometimes works, sometimes doesnt. what i wondered, is why mine has some kind of rubber boot that slips onto the float, covers most of the brass, but not all. what is the boot for???

thanks.............

 

I don't know, I've never seen one that had a boot on the float. The sending unit in the picture is a NOS unit that I bought from Ford about 15 years ago, it didn't have a boot, neither did the old one I took out of the tank. Plus the illustration in the Ford Master parts catalog doesn't show a boot.
Depending on how heavy it is, I think the boot could also throw off the gauge reading.