Fuel Tank Removal...What a nightmare!
 

I've read all the threads about tank removal.

Tried cleaning it with no success. So I decided to take the fuel tank out of my 80 V20. I cut all the foam away from the top and sides. I've used a cherry picker (at several angles) with a strap under the front hoping to pop it out...not happening... started lifting the boat up. Bought an 18" auger bit to try cutting the foam underneath but am having a hard time with the angle and fear either rupturing the tank or sticking the bit through the fiberglass. Tried using a cable to saw the foam...couldn't get the cable to stay under the tank and it didn't have enough abrasive quality to it. Hmm... I'm going to start digging out more of the foam with a weed tool and a what ever I can find.

Whoever invented this foam was an evil genius!:fight:

I think I'm going to take a break for a few days to gain a better perspective .:beer:

Read it somewhere on the forum, but use a pressure cleaner all around the tank. Makes for a heck of a mess but removes the foam quite nicely.

I think I recall somebody saying you can take a piece of wire or or something like that to cut through the foam...

Tried the wire but it isn't very abrasive.

Thinking about the pressure washer. I have a 2500 PSI at home. I wonder if the stream will get under the tank? I've already removed the side foam. I wonder if I can get some fittings to angle the stream under the tank?

If you already have the side foam off, you may still benefit from the pressure washer to try to spray down closer to the bottom edge.

After that, I just pulled the tank. In my case i pulled it from one corner at a time to focus all the pulling power on a specific part instead of trying to pull the whole tank up at once.

I actually opened a 1" hole with a hole saw in each corner then passed a rope with a long bolt on the tip through. Crossed the bolt sideways in the hole and pulled on the roap between two of us. Wasn't easy but one corner at a time did it for us.

What about hacksaw blades? Maybe you could put two or three together end to end to make one long blade?

Didn't somebody also use an electric knife to do this?

Pressure washer got mine loose, though you'l have bits of foam stuck in every orfice of your body.

I'll try the pressure washer this afternoon when it's 102 degrees out. I'll let you all know the outcome.

I put about a tankful of gas through the pressure washer. It did real well on the remaining foam on the sides and created a nice mess. Yet the tank remains. I think if I get some fittings at Lowes I can shrink the wand small enough to start shooting underneath the front of the tank. Until then...:beer:

Got any help?

Hole on corner with roped bolt. Rope running to a 2X4 with 2 guys pulling on the 2x4 on the corner seemed to work.

I used a engine hoist and lifted mine right out, this was after the pressure washer failed etc.
Use a rod insert it in the hole and attach it to a chain hook it up to the hoist , at the time my hull lifted off the trailer before it pop ..Do one side either back or front ..

Success!!
 

tried again with a chain instead of straps. I tensioned it so the side would get the most attention. It popped up in no time. Noe the bad news is the plum size hole in the bottom and the numerous other places showing deap corrosion. Guess It's time to go shopping. Thanks for the assistance all.:beer::beer::beer:

Might be a stupid question, but still gonna ask. For everyone that has replaced there tanks and found holes, did you have a leaky tank before hand or what? I have the original tank still in the deck but don't seem to have any leaks. What has been the deciding factor to pull the tank out?

-Svence

Awesome!

I used http://www.sunshinemarinetanks.com/ for my tank after another forum member recommended them. They are local in Miami, but can ship tank to you. That is if you are interested in replacing with aluminum tank.

Their turnaround was about 1 week and they did a great job. Tank comes with sender unit and fittings.

I didn't have a real noticable leak. The PO filled it up with water trying to clean it out and after draining, I just couldn't get it clean. I was a bit surprized to see the hole.

Eww,thats pretty bad man. Glad ya found this out before some serious accident may have happened,AKA BOOM! When I did mine,I gave the dimesions(sp) of the hole to the fabricator and they gave me a tank with 10 more gallons added to it. Aluminum coated with coal tar epoxy is the way to go. Oh and go with the new sender they offer ya,believe me I know. Good luck man.

That tank looks new compared to my old one! I had a couple of fist sized holes plus a bunch of dime sized ones, so many I didn't even bother counting the small pin holes. The boat didn't have any smell of gas or leaks in the bilge. I had taken it out at least half a dozen times. It finally started to have just a slight bit of gas in the bilge. I figured it was a loose hose connection. I pulled the cover off and pushed down on the tank with my foot and gas shot up like a geyser from between the tank and the foam.

I got tired of cleaning the carbs and finding water deposits inside them. I started using two external ( red ) 6 gal tanks and the engine runs like new and no more problems. So, I will have to replace the old tank someday. THANKS for the thread, the pictures and the info.

This is exactly why the compartment is isolated and does NOT drain in to bilge area, the foam absorbs it and contain the smell, so yes you can have a hole and not know it ..

i've removed several that have had holes and never a leak the foam keep them sealed but the reason for the hole is the foam to begin with they say now do not foam in tanks due to that exact reason.

so the thing that causes the problem, also fixes the problem?
sounds like a wrinkle in the time-space continuem..

Went ahead and ordered the 40 gallon from fpmarine.com. Total including shipping to San Antonio was $255. They are shipping out tomorrow. Can't wait!

Nice , Be sure to check and replace or remove the check valve its in the nipple shown , they are know to restrict fuel. I remove mine because it seem to be a pita to deal with once installed ..