Wing fuel gauge

[Patrick Horan]

Well this was an interesting way for my Rochester wing gauge to break.

I just wished we can get new ones. I purchased general Rochester gauges and it works..sorta, but it's not like the real thing. 

 

Is it possible to go directly to Rochester and have some custom made? Since Mooney doesn't want to help us out. Or have more important things to do.

[IvanP]

Same thing happened to one of my gauges. LASAR has a wait list for these. No ETA, though. Maybe they are waiting for enough people to be in the list to place an order for a batch of indicators.

[DonMuncy]

1 hour ago, Patrick Horan said:

Is it possible to go directly to Rochester and have some custom made? 

 

[DonMuncy]

My experience with Rochester indicates it would not be possible.

[MikeOH]

With no options, local hangar fairies in my vicinity would be hard at work fabricating a pointer

[M20F]

4 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

With no options, local hangar fairies in my vicinity would be hard at work fabricating a pointer

Paintbrush seems a great solution ;-)

[Marc_B]

32 minutes ago, M20F said:

Paintbrush seems a great solution ;-)

Does the paintbrush always point to “full” or always on “empty”?  …or maybe just halfway!

[dkkim73]

18 minutes ago, Marc_B said:

Does the paintbrush always point to “full” or always on “empty”?  …or maybe just halfway!

Is halfway "half empty" or "half full"? Other threads imply it might have to do with whether or not it's G100UL. 

[dkkim73]

I went with a custom overlay (will dig up thread). While I'd hoped to have a proper replacement sooner, it is holding up well... 

[mike_elliott]

7 hours ago, Marc_B said:

Does the paintbrush always point to “full” or always on “empty”?  …or maybe just halfway!

To be legal, it must point to empty when tank is empty. No restrictions on where it points to in other fill states

[Danb]

Happy New Year Mr Mike…hopefully 2025 will be better than ‘24

[TaildraggerPilot]

3 hours ago, mike_elliott said:

To be legal, it must point to empty when tank is empty. No restrictions on where it points to in other fill states

I think the rule about that changed within the last decade or so……

[Pinecone]

Rule was never that it ONLY had to read empty when empty.

Problem with something like LASAR going a buy from Rochester, is there are a number of different ones for different models

 

[mike_elliott]

Since a sight gauge is not primary, I doubt there is any rule on any precision of its reading , Correct me if wrong again

[mike_elliott]

7 hours ago, Danb said:

Happy New Year Mr Mike…hopefully 2025 will be better than ‘24

Happy new year Dan, Fran!

[Marc_B]

The wing site gauges were designed to read accurate on the ground on the landing gear (nose pitch up) so in flight aren’t accurate. So I don’t think it’s considered a primary fuel gauge and isn’t required equipment. 

[Pinecone]

3 hours ago, mike_elliott said:

Since a sight gauge is not primary, I doubt there is any rule on any precision of its reading , Correct me if wrong again

That would be my understanding.

POH says it only an aid to partially fueling.

[dkkim73]

@Patrick Horan I think you're already fully in the loop on the do-it-yourself marking discussion, but now that I'm at a computer I dug up the other thread for those maybe wanting to fab a temporary replacement :

Note that the scale markings vary from model to model; you can use my template for the appropriate 89/100 tanks, but if not the approach is generalizable. 

[dkkim73]

23 hours ago, Marc_B said:

The wing site gauges were designed to read accurate on the ground on the landing gear (nose pitch up) so in flight aren’t accurate. So I don’t think it’s considered a primary fuel gauge and isn’t required equipment. 

That is a really good point! I do look at them in flight (for a cross-check on balance at least) but will pay closer attention to how they differ. 

 

[MikeOH]

2 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

@Patrick Horan I think you're already fully in the loop on the do-it-yourself marking discussion, but now that I'm at a computer I dug up the other thread for those maybe wanting to fab a temporary replacement :

Note that the scale markings vary from model to model; you can use my template for the appropriate 89/100 tanks, but if not the approach is generalizable. 

Maybe I'm missing something, but the OP's issue was the POINTER broke into pieces; not anything to do with the markings.

[LANCECASPER]

On 12/31/2024 at 6:53 PM, Patrick Horan said:

Well this was an interesting way for my Rochester wing gauge to break.

I just wished we can get new ones. I purchased general Rochester gauges and it works..sorta, but it's not like the real thing. 

 

Is it possible to go directly to Rochester and have some custom made? Since Mooney doesn't want to help us out. Or have more important things to do.

You will probably not find any of these in stock at Mooney or at an MSC. But, as with all other parts, order a couple through a Mooney Service Center. Mooney prioritizes purchased and manufactured parts on backorders. Once they reach the amount on back order that exceeds the minimum level they need to order from the manufacturer then it makes sense for them to order, since they’ll get their money back soon. 

The biggest issue is that so many people complain about no parts being available, yet most of them don’t order any parts. The people that are actually ordering parts are getting them in a reasonably decent timeframe. About the situation with ordering Cessna or Beechcraft parts - not many sitting on the shelf.

[dkkim73]

3 hours ago, MikeOH said:

Maybe I'm missing something, but the OP's issue was the POINTER broke into pieces; not anything to do with the markings.

Was assuming that replacement would be required, and supply is an issue. 

[Patrick Horan]

4 hours ago, MikeOH said:

Maybe I'm missing something, but the OP's issue was the POINTER broke into pieces; not anything to do with the markings.

I just installed two pseudo replacements. One for each wing. I used a same sized rochester dial fuel guage and marked the same spot with a sharpie. But i would love to get 2 official replacements

[Marc_B]

I figure these are sealed units? Wonder if there’s a way to open and reseal?

I figure the only difference from one to the next is the printed dial face card.

[Patrick Horan]

8 hours ago, Marc_B said:

I figure these are sealed units? Wonder if there’s a way to open and reseal?

I figure the only difference from one to the next is the printed dial face card.

I tried, but I wasn't successful