No Explosion: Saddle Tank Cleanout, Part 3.
 

Hi Everyone,
After reading all the posts about dear late Uncle Ernie, and how he tried to vacuum out the gas tank, I just let 'em sit all winter. Then, recently, I opened the tanks, and with a rag screwed to a stick, mopped up the last few drops of sandy gas. Next step: put the shop-vac on BLOW (after cleaning out the vacuum and filter, so I didn't blow all that joint-compound sanding dust from the bathroom project back through the tanks), and wired the hose to the tank and went and did something else for a half an hour. No more fumes! But a couple days later, it still smelled like gas, so I blew 'em out again, before vacuuming. I attached http://picasaweb.google.com/mousaton...12332961673330 http://picasaweb.google.com/mousaton...12332961673330 three hoses together, and put the shop-vac about twenty feet away, justincase it DID decide to expand.

Attachment 1728

I used a 1" pvc tube, and sometimes a 1/4 " clear plastic tube to remove any crud and sand. So, sorry folks, but it looks like I lost my bid to win the Darwin this year. Can't wait to get the whole boat back together and bomb along without the motor starving and dying.
Dave

Would have been a much better story if you blew yourself up but we're glad you made it out ok. Better safe than sorry when dealing with that stuff.

I cut my last tank out of my 79' V-20 cuddy with a reciprocating saw. I drained all the old gas and filled the tank with water to purge the vapor. I used a battery powered saw and went to work, I gotta admit I was a little nervous making the first couple of cuts.

I knew your dark side would come thru sooner or later...:you:


and drabe...good work...nice and clean and no POOPH!!...