Gas gauge woes..

I dont have the factory clip thing. I use two small hose clamps and a copper wire. Thats the way I did it before and worked fine. I didnt get a chance to go in the garage today. I put exactly 7 gallons of fuel in it. It holds 16. I even pulled on tge copper wires. The clamps are holding the wire ends really tight. I guess I will take them off and maybe inspect them. My fuel line is even new. I am lost.