LRA55 tank fuel sender adjustment??

[jbe]

Question for the experts: I have a Defender 110 with a LRA55 long range tank (plus an auxiliary tank).
My fuel gage stays on full for the first 400km, but hits red at around 800km with between 35 and 55l of diesel left in the tank according to my calculations (I’ve done 1080km between refuelling).
A friend of mine had an identical setup, but his gauge was pretty accurate towards empty.
The LRA installation manual does not mention any adjustment of the fuel sender arm as far as I can see.
My question is: is there a sensible way to adjust the sender to give a more accurate reading towards empty?
Thanks
Joachim

[Michael2]

When I got my Defender the gauge indicated empty with the tank at about 1/2 full.

I removed and bent the float arm, now it reads full until it's at 1/2, then descends in a linear fashion for the 2nd half of the tank.

I bent the arm so that it stood floating up until the fuel level dropped to half way.

About 3 times over 10 years the gauge (sender float) has jammed after a big bump, but it's always righted with a subsequent bump, before I've had a chance to remove it to investigate.

I get about 600km before the gauge starts to move down and 1,250km is my safe limit. I could probably get another 100km under normal economy (tank capacity is 150 litres).

[Phil B]

You need to shorten the arm between the sender and the float
Check the VDO website
I think they have instructions on how to set up an adjustable sender unit on it.
You can use the same theory.

[DiscoMick]

Mine has a similar situation. Stays on full for 400 kms and then drops. I have done about 1000 kms before the light came on.

[jbe]

Thanks for your feedback guys. Just spoke to Long Ranger who were very helpful. The fuel sender does not need any adjustment, but can get bent easily during the installation of the pump unit.
I guess, I have to try to re-adjust it on the bench and see how I go.

Cheers J

[Phil B]

It is logical to work out the adjustment
The vertical travel at the float should be less than the total depth of the tank and the the centre of the travel should be half the total depth of the tank.
Bending the float shaft will only off set the reading one way or the other. You indicated that the float has too much travel because your "reserve" is large (35l) and the gauge starts to move late (400km)
This is fixed by reducing the length of the float arm to adjust the total vertical travel of the float
Good luck

[jbe]

It is logical to work out the adjustment
The vertical travel at the float should be less than the total depth of the tank and the the centre of the travel should be half the total depth of the tank.
Bending the float shaft will only off set the reading one way or the other. You indicated that the float has too much travel because your "reserve" is large (35l) and the gauge starts to move late (400km)
This is fixed by reducing the length of the float arm to adjust the total vertical travel of the float
Good luck

Makes sense. I'll have a close look at it when I pull it out on the weekend.