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Icebox500
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2021
Posts: 184
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 7:43 am Post subject: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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I did some searching but didn’t find anything.
Discovered last night that my lowest sensor gasket seems to have failed. I haven’t dug in yet. Curious, are these just flat rubber washers or is there a special gasket?
I should say, my tank simply has the 4 sensor screws, no sliding sensor.
Thanks
_________________
87 Westy 2WD
2.2 Rebuilt WB
AZ Transaxle + Peloquin Manual Transmission
GW lift springs, solar, Burley front disc, etc...
Littleton, CO
Moving to NOLA 6/25 (anyone around?)
Past
87, 90 Westys
64, 65 splittys + various air cooled |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 18578
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 8:42 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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Check the RV industry. I was looking at new sensors and they seem pretty standard. I don’t believe it’s a washer, more of a grommet that compresses.
Search google for Rv tank level sensors. |
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Icebox500
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2021
Posts: 184
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 9:47 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
Check the RV industry. I was looking at new sensors and they seem pretty standard. I don’t believe it’s a washer, more of a grommet that compresses.
Search google for Rv tank level sensors. |
I think you are correct about their form.
Off to Google I go!
_________________
87 Westy 2WD
2.2 Rebuilt WB
AZ Transaxle + Peloquin Manual Transmission
GW lift springs, solar, Burley front disc, etc...
Littleton, CO
Moving to NOLA 6/25 (anyone around?)
Past
87, 90 Westys
64, 65 splittys + various air cooled |
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Icebox500
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2021
Posts: 184
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 9:55 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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This might be the trick.
https://a.co/d/9D7R08F
_________________
87 Westy 2WD
2.2 Rebuilt WB
AZ Transaxle + Peloquin Manual Transmission
GW lift springs, solar, Burley front disc, etc...
Littleton, CO
Moving to NOLA 6/25 (anyone around?)
Past
87, 90 Westys
64, 65 splittys + various air cooled |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4085
Location: Maine
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Chootrain470
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2023
Posts: 140
Location: Simi Valley, CA
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| Having just replaced my water level sensor this week, I can confirm that it is some sort of foam gasket. Though, the original was rubber from what I remember. I'm sure either will work as long as it is compressible. |
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Icebox500
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2021
Posts: 184
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 2:30 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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Hey I didn't know that was a thing, thanks!
_________________
87 Westy 2WD
2.2 Rebuilt WB
AZ Transaxle + Peloquin Manual Transmission
GW lift springs, solar, Burley front disc, etc...
Littleton, CO
Moving to NOLA 6/25 (anyone around?)
Past
87, 90 Westys
64, 65 splittys + various air cooled |
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Icebox500
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2021
Posts: 184
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| Chootrain470 wrote: |
| Having just replaced my water level sensor this week, I can confirm that it is some sort of foam gasket. Though, the original was rubber from what I remember. I'm sure either will work as long as it is compressible. |
Cool. I removed one today and compared it to Amazon and I think it's a direct swap for about $10 for all 4. Hardest part was cutting the hardened rubber to remove it... so far. That bottom sensor will be tricky!
_________________
87 Westy 2WD
2.2 Rebuilt WB
AZ Transaxle + Peloquin Manual Transmission
GW lift springs, solar, Burley front disc, etc...
Littleton, CO
Moving to NOLA 6/25 (anyone around?)
Past
87, 90 Westys
64, 65 splittys + various air cooled |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 18578
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| Chootrain470 wrote: |
| Having just replaced my water level sensor this week, I can confirm that it is some sort of foam gasket. Though, the original was rubber from what I remember. I'm sure either will work as long as it is compressible. |
Was yours the float type? The early campers had metal contacts fitted to the side of the water tank. My testing found they aren’t resistors, just metal connection paths through the water. |
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Icebox500
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2021
Posts: 184
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2025 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
| Chootrain470 wrote: |
| Having just replaced my water level sensor this week, I can confirm that it is some sort of foam gasket. Though, the original was rubber from what I remember. I'm sure either will work as long as it is compressible. |
Was yours the float type? The early campers had metal contacts fitted to the side of the water tank. My testing found they aren’t resistors, just metal connection paths through the water. |
.
This is what I have in my 87. No reed switch float. I assume resistance is measured in the control board.
_________________
87 Westy 2WD
2.2 Rebuilt WB
AZ Transaxle + Peloquin Manual Transmission
GW lift springs, solar, Burley front disc, etc...
Littleton, CO
Moving to NOLA 6/25 (anyone around?)
Past
87, 90 Westys
64, 65 splittys + various air cooled |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 18578
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 11:48 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| Icebox500 wrote: |
| MarkWard wrote: |
| Chootrain470 wrote: |
| Having just replaced my water level sensor this week, I can confirm that it is some sort of foam gasket. Though, the original was rubber from what I remember. I'm sure either will work as long as it is compressible. |
Was yours the float type? The early campers had metal contacts fitted to the side of the water tank. My testing found they aren’t resistors, just metal connection paths through the water. |
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This is what I have in my 87. No reed switch float. I assume resistance is measured in the control board. |
I spent an afternoon trying to figure out why my full light wasn't working through process of elimination. It was a realtively new GW Display and had worked. I did some experimenting with an ohm meter. I always thought that water would be a good conductor, but was actually surprised how much resistance there is even in a glass of water. I believe the magic happens in the tiny little black box next to the tank. As the level lowers, the top connector is exposed and the loop is through the remaining. As the water drops below the second sensor, the loop is through the bottom sensor. I believe it's resistance to ground. Anyhow the display was defective and GW warrantied it without question. But, I wanted to be sure it wasn't the van before contacting them. |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4085
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
I spent an afternoon trying to figure out why my full light wasn't working through process of elimination. It was a realtively new GW Display and had worked. I did some experimenting with an ohm meter. I always thought that water would be a good conductor, but was actually surprised how much resistance there is even in a glass of water. I believe the magic happens in the tiny little black box next to the tank. As the level lowers, the top connector is exposed and the loop is through the remaining. As the water drops below the second sensor, the loop is through the bottom sensor. I believe it's resistance to ground. Anyhow the display was defective and GW warrantied it without question. But, I wanted to be sure it wasn't the van before contacting them. |
Put some salt in the tank and see if it changes results?
_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary
http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 18578
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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Already in the rear view mirror.  |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 5595
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
I spent an afternoon trying to figure out why my full light wasn't working |
take a ScotchBrite pad and buff the little sensor buttons on the water side of the tank. they get an oxide coating on them that doesn't respond to the water conductivity.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com
Last edited by DanHoug on Sun May 25, 2025 6:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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fxr
Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 2609
Location: Bay area CA
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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Water conductivity can vary by many orders of magnitude:
https://alpha-measure.com/water-conductivity-range/
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 18578
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Sun May 25, 2025 5:01 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| It was more of a learning expedition. Seems every accidental electrocution you read about has water involved. When I was testing with my ohm meter I was surprised how much resistance there was even with both probes in the water next to each other. I’d never actually measured before, but was expecting very little resistance. I have less resistance across my body. The vans measuring of the 3 loops, full, half, and empty and lighting the 3 different LEDs is pretty advanced for the day. |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23006
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sun May 25, 2025 7:12 am Post subject: Re: Westfalia fresh water sensor gaskets |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
| It was more of a learning expedition. Seems every accidental electrocution you read about has water involved. When I was testing with my ohm meter I was surprised how much resistance there was even with both probes in the water next to each other. I’d never actually measured before, but was expecting very little resistance. I have less resistance across my body. The vans measuring of the 3 loops, full, half, and empty and lighting the 3 different LEDs is pretty advanced for the day. |
Water is such a poor conductor that many consider it a non-conductor.
In reality it is a very poor ground because of its poor conductivity. Yes, salts and minerals help because you are creating an electrolyte.
Electrons zig zag their way through water from conductive point to point looking for the path of least resistance.
If you have ever seen someone who was in water like a lake or pool when lightning struck very close by, they look like they were beaten all over because the current zig zagging through the water looking for the path of least resistance hits their body in numerous places.
Ray |
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