Oil & Fuel TC35D Bad Fuel Sender Cover Stuck

[paccorti]

My fuel gauge says that my tank is always mostly empty (even when completely full). I ran the ohm checks on the gauge and it checks out fine. I also ran the ohm test on the fuel sender and even when very full (like you can't get another drop in) it reads greater than 160ohms (and it should be 33). So I have a bad fuel sender. Here's my problem; I can't the get the screws loose on the tank cover. In the attached link New Holland (TC35D) - 3 CYL COMPACT TRACTOR - NORTH AMERICA (1/-) Parts Diagrams I can't get screws labelled as #11 out to get part #10 off. The screws are machine screws so I assume that they screw into metal. I got one off be the other has backed out just slightly and now it just freewheels. I could just cut the cover (so I could get a better grip on the screw to get it out) and get a new one but I'd like to avoid that if possible. Anybody have ideas to get this freewheeling screw loose?

Thanks,

Peter

 

[Btown]

Can you grab the screw with a pair of pliers? If you can pull up and turn the pliers. If not I would cut or drill out the head of the screw then remove the screw after taking off that plate.

 

[paccorti]

I tried grabbing it with visegrips but not enough of the screw was exposed to get a good grip. I ultimately cut the cover off so I can get at the screw. I can see now that the screw threads into a nut shaped piece of metal buried in the tank plastic. When I turn the screw now I can see that the metal nut turns too. I think the screw recesses in the cover basically funnel rain water onto the screw which then seizes to the nut. I hadn't tried to remove this cover in the 16+ years that I've had the tractor so I guess it's not surprising that it's seized. Now that I can get at everything I'm going to cut the head off the screw and thread a nut down against the metal buried in the plastic. If I hold the nut still (with a wrench) while I turn the screw with visegrips I'm hoping the nut will prevent the other piece from turning and ultimately allow me to back the screw out. For sure I'm going to use anti-seize when I put this back together.