1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

[catman123]

My father has Alzheimer's disease. His memory is gone.

He has a 1990 18 Ft 4" Champion bass boat with a 175 HP Merc on it. The boat has two fuel tanks. One under the passenger seat (18 gallons I believe) and a larger tank in front of the batteries that is thirty-something gallons (the boat is not located where I live and in another state). Their is a solenoid fuel valve mounted on the inside transom in the center. The fuel line with the squeeze bulb leaves that valve and their are two input lines leading to the solenoid valve.

For the life of me, I cannot locate the fuel switch that toggles the solenoid valve. There is one unlabeled toggle switch (DPDT with center off position) located below the throttle/gearshift but that has no effect on the fuel gauge. I got the boat running after sitting 6 years but really need to figure out how to switch fuel tanks when I'm out on the lake for obvious reasons.

Does anyone know where the fuel tank electric switch is located on this boat?

Thanks so much.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: 1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

maybe the switch only works the solinoid so there will not be a change on the fuel gauge. first thing to do is see if theres a fuel sender on both tanks.

 

[catman123]

Re: 1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

maybe the switch only works the solinoid so there will not be a change on the fuel gauge. first thing to do is see if theres a fuel sender on both tanks.

I see a sending unit on the top of each tank.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: 1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

time to play follow the wire unless you know someone who does electrical work and you can borrow a tracer

 

[NYBo]

Re: 1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

Welcome to iboats!:welcome:

I think you are going to have to become a contortionist and start tracing wires. Start by noting the color of the wires at the sending units. The usual color is pink for the signal wire to the gauge. Crawl under the instrument panel, and with luck, you'll find wires of the same color running to one of the switches.

 

[VegaSS]

Re: 1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

If you still have problems finding it, you could always call a local mechanic who is familier with working on Bass Boats. I know they stopped making Champions, but didn't Stratos buy them out? You could give them a call also.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: 1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

ive worked on a few bassboats and never seen dual tanks on them as they are normally go fast boats so 48 gallons is a lot of weight for a small boat to haul.

 

[catman123]

Re: 1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

ive worked on a few bassboats and never seen dual tanks on them as they are normally go fast boats so 48 gallons is a lot of weight for a small boat to haul.

It's no joke. The capacities of the tanks are on a metal sticker located on top of them. My dad was in to fuel capacity because he went for bass tournaments on rather large lakes.

As for "follow the wire" it must be done electrically vs. visually although it is correct about the color codes. The problem is the wire disappears quickly in to a large bundle and then goes in to a non-visible area of the boat along the side of the boat.

I was just hoping to find someone that actually owns one of these boats to see if I could "get lucky".
Picture of the boat is attached. If not, it's time to contort under the instrument panel (and other places).

I know what every switch is on the instrument panel because they are labeled (see image below) but there is one switch that I don't know about. It's the circled switch below. However changing it while running doesn't seem to switch the fuel gauge. It is very difficult to see the wires going to it but on my next trip out there I will see if they are pink for the sending units.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: 1990 Champion Bass Boat fuel tank switch location?

follow the wire from the fuel gauge as thats easier it should go to a switch or a relay under the dash. The common on the switch would be the fuel gauge and the other 2 wires will be the fuel floats. there may be more wires on the switch for changing the tanks