new member: need help with fuel tank removal

[RWilson2526]

I've had an almost new replacement tank in my garage for 3 years now. My tank is not leaking and I havent wanted to go through the ordeal that seems to give everyone trouble.

I think you are on the right track and you're just going to have to keep at it....I think a sawzall with a long blade down the sides of the tank while pulling on it is the way I'm going to go about it when the time comes....Also you might get more pulling power with a come along rather than the ratchet strap...probably have to double or triple up on the 2 x 4's too.

Being that Jason has done it and I havent I'd take this with a grain of salt but I would figure that pulling up from one end would be better as you are more peeling the bottom of the tank away rather than than pulling against the adhesion on the bottom of the tank spread out across the whole bottom surface .

Good luck and dont give up.

[jasoncooperpcola]

A handsaw works good around the edges to help break the seal. In the 18 Fisherman i pulled the tank from i used one strap choked on the filler neck and the other end stuck thru the sending unit opening with a jack handle in the loop. When i lifted up i was using a 3200# Warn winch chained to the garage rafters. You might need two 2x4s turned on their edges to lift from. If you have a small bottle jack you can use a BIG ratchet strap going over your 2x4s from each end of the tank. You have to block one end of your 2x4s up on the gunnel the height of your jack. Then put the jack on the other gunnel and tighten the ratchet strap down tight. Then jack up on your jack. There are tons of ways to do it depending on what you have in your arsenal.

RWilson, i had a half inch on each end of the tank. I really couldnot get the foam out. I did not want to **** the tank and jam it. So thats why i suggested lifting both ends. If you got an inch or so then go for it! Try lifting one end first.

[jasoncooperpcola]

Really? The word c-ock is censored? What i was trying to say is try lifting one end and it may break the seal.

[RWilson2526]

Originally Posted by jasoncooperpcola

RWilson, i had a half inch on each end of the tank. I really couldnot get the foam out. I did not want to **** the tank and jam it. So thats why i suggested lifting both ends. If you got an inch or so then go for it! Try lifting one end first.

Good point....

[Brettnrs423]

Well it took quite the effort but i got the tank out with the come along. The sad part is there appears to be no obvious leak and the tank is in decent shape. I dont get it! Either way the pvc pipe under the tank was cracked and the foam under the tank is waterlogged so i guess it was worth it regardless. I cant imagine where else the fuel came from as it was in the keel and i noticed it after the boat had been sitting in the water a few days. Either way thanks to all who helped. Ill follow up with some more details and pics as well as my rebuild so people can use this thread as reference in the future.

-Brett

[macojoe]

This new gas is eating everything!! Have you checked the fill hoses, clamps and other things?? This is a good time to replace all that stuff while it out!

[Brettnrs423]

Macojoe maybe i didnt check them as well as i should have but all the hoses and clamps seem to be in decent shape. I cant imagine any gas leaking out the fill or vent as the boat was in the water for several days untouched after running it before i noticed a strong gas smell and then a film of gas in the keel. I cant imagine with half a tank that any fuel would travel up and out the vent and fill hoses but maybe im wrong. Maybe the sending hose leaked a little bit after use but i syphoned quite a bit of gas out of the tank and didnt notice leaking then. I guess ill be preventative and just replace everything anyways. Ill post some pics later today.

-Brett

[Destroyer]

For exactly the reasons just mentioned by MJ I completely replaced all the hoses on my tank when I refoamed my hull a few months ago. It's cheap insurance against present and future leaks. Since you have your tank out I'd take it to a tank shop and have it pressure tested to make sure there are no leaks along seams or pinholes. I wouldn't put it back in unless I was 100% sure it was sound.

[awthacker]

Originally Posted by Brettnrs423

Well it took quite the effort but i got the tank out with the come along. The sad part is there appears to be no obvious leak and the tank is in decent shape. I dont get it! Either way the pvc pipe under the tank was cracked and the foam under the tank is waterlogged so i guess it was worth it regardless. I cant imagine where else the fuel came from as it was in the keel and i noticed it after the boat had been sitting in the water a few days. Either way thanks to all who helped. Ill follow up with some more details and pics as well as my rebuild so people can use this thread as reference in the future.

-Brett

Inspect the barbed fitting that the fill hose connects to. Mine was corroded through on the underside, so that it leaked while it was filling. My tank apd had alot of deep pitting, so I'm glad its out. Still haven't replaced it yet, though.

[tartuffe]

My tank leaked quite a bit of fuel from the sending unit gasket. It was not an obvious leak and I never would have thought that much fuel would come out of that gasket, I had leprechauns following me whenever I flipped the bilge on. Turns out a small amount of fuel goes a long way in smell and rainbows.