07-21-2015, 02:12 PM
Just want to share my recent experience with tank level sensors. My vintage uses penetrations through the plastic tank walls at the 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full points. There is also a common penetration at the 1/4 level. That makes for a total of 5 sensors per tank, and 10 sensors per coach.
The common sensor for my potable tank started leaking on my most recent trip. I was also experiencing poor operation of the sensors on both tanks. That was new as the potable tank usually gave a good and reliable reading.
The common sensor for potable is in a difficult location directly behind the Mach5 water pump with very little room to even see in there. It took my flexible camera and display to even find where the leak was coming from. As I felt around with my hand back there, oh no, the sensor just fell out and a stream of water flooded the bay. I opened the tank drain and let the rest directly to the ground until it reached the 1/4 level and stopped. Since I was at the factory at the time I inquired about replacement sensors. My service advisor thought they were in stock and my visit to parts did not go well. With Creslie in tow the next time, we determined that Newell no longer stocks these sensors. I taped over my hole and went home.
I decided to try removing the high level sensor figuring if I screwed it up it would not matter much since it was at the top of the tank.
Eventually I removed 9 of them. Some can be pulled out with vise grips, other don't want to come out at all. For those I ran a nylon web strap through the jaws of the vise grips, wrapped the web around my waist, looked around to be sure no one was watching in case I fell on my butt, and pulled for all I was worth. That got them out!
In this post I will show pictures of the corroded sensor as well as the others. They are all in some state of deterioration including being pretty well covered in mineral deposits.
The thickness of the tank wall and the diameter of the hole do not fall in the range of sizes that grommets are available for. Or at least that is what I decided after much searching. In the end I made my own sensors that seem to be working very well. Now tank levels in both tanks work perfectly. A few tips if you plan to make yours too. I used #6 hardware as #8 ( what was there ) was just a bit too big since I had to put a nut on the inside of the tank. My rubber plug just matches exactly the hole diameter. I had to drill a hole down its center to accept the 2" #6 SS screw. That is a bit tricky as the rubber wants to expand and the hole you get is smaller than you expected. But soon I learned what size bit to use and was turning out my ten new sensors.
I used LocTite on the nut and when dry pushed in the sensor, centering the plug and have about 1/8" beyond flush and each side. A few turns of the outside nut and it expands the plug and it is leak tight.
I removed the water pump and water filters to make access easier, but was never able to get access to the high level sensor in the waste tank.
Some picture attached. Russ
The common sensor for my potable tank started leaking on my most recent trip. I was also experiencing poor operation of the sensors on both tanks. That was new as the potable tank usually gave a good and reliable reading.
The common sensor for potable is in a difficult location directly behind the Mach5 water pump with very little room to even see in there. It took my flexible camera and display to even find where the leak was coming from. As I felt around with my hand back there, oh no, the sensor just fell out and a stream of water flooded the bay. I opened the tank drain and let the rest directly to the ground until it reached the 1/4 level and stopped. Since I was at the factory at the time I inquired about replacement sensors. My service advisor thought they were in stock and my visit to parts did not go well. With Creslie in tow the next time, we determined that Newell no longer stocks these sensors. I taped over my hole and went home.
I decided to try removing the high level sensor figuring if I screwed it up it would not matter much since it was at the top of the tank.
Eventually I removed 9 of them. Some can be pulled out with vise grips, other don't want to come out at all. For those I ran a nylon web strap through the jaws of the vise grips, wrapped the web around my waist, looked around to be sure no one was watching in case I fell on my butt, and pulled for all I was worth. That got them out!
In this post I will show pictures of the corroded sensor as well as the others. They are all in some state of deterioration including being pretty well covered in mineral deposits.
The thickness of the tank wall and the diameter of the hole do not fall in the range of sizes that grommets are available for. Or at least that is what I decided after much searching. In the end I made my own sensors that seem to be working very well. Now tank levels in both tanks work perfectly. A few tips if you plan to make yours too. I used #6 hardware as #8 ( what was there ) was just a bit too big since I had to put a nut on the inside of the tank. My rubber plug just matches exactly the hole diameter. I had to drill a hole down its center to accept the 2" #6 SS screw. That is a bit tricky as the rubber wants to expand and the hole you get is smaller than you expected. But soon I learned what size bit to use and was turning out my ten new sensors.
I used LocTite on the nut and when dry pushed in the sensor, centering the plug and have about 1/8" beyond flush and each side. A few turns of the outside nut and it expands the plug and it is leak tight.
I removed the water pump and water filters to make access easier, but was never able to get access to the high level sensor in the waste tank.
Some picture attached. Russ
Russ White
2016 Winnebago Vista LX 30T
#530 ( Sold )
1999 45' Double Slide - Factory upgrade 2004