It looks like the replacement uses some kind of plastic and possibly a stainless steel rod but don't know for sure - https://www.messicks.com/images/parts/55/ku_k2771-613700.png
CONFIRMED!
Rusted and flakey sender.
I ripped the float assembly off and cleaned the base off and sprayed it with epoxy spray paint and was going to install it without the sender but I found a cheap replacement that works somewhat. The gauge goes to over half.
I'm happy I found the issue but...
OK so I got home from work and siphoned some fuel out and not to my surprise after seeing all the similar symptoms I'm having it was filled with rusty metal ( magnet picked it up out of the diesel ) and some what likes to be tank plastic.
I am going to see if I can just pull the float level...
I'm glad I found this post. I just purchased a used BX 2350 and it ran great for a while and it started to sputter and stall and not run at times.
The first time I thought it was water in the lines so after blowing out and checking the filters I didn't see much water coming out so I ordered...