V21 Fuel Tank Removal - questions

[Blue_Runner]

Back story - I have an occasional fuel restriction that sucks my primer ball flat. This happens intermittently maybe 1 - 2 times per year. The restriction is between the h2o separator and the fuel pickup inside the tank. I believe there is some debris inside the tank...possibly a plastic grocery bag (joking).

When and if it happens I can disconnect the fuel line from the h2o separator and blow the obstruction back into the tank, then all good.

So far I have:
1) removed, inspected pickup tube
2) pumped the tank last year - no smoking gun found
3) replaced all fuel lines tank to h2o and h2o sep to motor

Last trip out (this past Saturday) it happened in less than fair seas. I had trouble removing the (new) fuel line from the hose barb on the h2o sep. She was on there! Finally got it removed but I can't be dealing with this anymore b/c it just is not safe!!!!!

So unless you guys have other ideas I'm ready to cut the floor as the V21 does not have a removable hatch cover. Here again I break out Destroyers pics which have been invaluable to me (thanks again to D!!).

Notice on the middle round inspection hatch, while wellcraft did not make a removable hatch, they did make an indentation in the deck skin that is like a "cut here" pattern to access the fuel tank. So I'm guessing that is where I need to cut. My questions are what to cut it with and more importantly how to put it back! (top and bottom pix are inverted left to right)

[Blue_Runner]

Destroyer, you cut along the indented area right around the seat boxes....what did you cut your floor with?

Also wanted to add that the wood coring under my floor is all solid so I don't want to have to do any more cutting than I have to and do not want to have to put any type of durabek, rhino liner, coating of any kind on my deck as it is in good shape also.

I just want to take this tank out, get it cleaned out of whatever mystery obstruction is in there, and put the hatch cover back with minimal appearance issues.

[phatdaddy]

U sure the vent line to the tank is clear.

If you have to cut the deck, your gonna have to put cleats under the lip of the cut and reseal the old deck back in place. Should be glassed and the the deck repainted. I'd use a skill saw set 1/4 inch deeper than the deck.

[Blue_Runner]

Skill saw set to appropriate depth - can do that I think, my only concern was/is if enough clearance right there where the seat boxes are. It is right at 1.5 inches and I'm trying to stay in wellcrafts "cut here" lines, because I do not want to repaint my deck. Also would need to jigsaw the corners as not to overshoot the corners.

Cleats under lip, care to elaborate? Glass in some type of tabs from the underside? If it were beefy enough from the underside could I not just bed it in on the tabs with epoxy then 4200 or 5200 in wellcraft's "cut here" lines kinda like a removeable hatch cover?

This sux. Why the he!! isn't there a removeable hatch cover. !?#^@%$!

[bradford]

I would second what Phat said about the vent line. Would really suck to cut the deck, do all that work, and have the same thing happen again. Try to see if you can get it to "run down hill" to the tank with as few dips as possible. I know that will be hard without direct access to the tank. They say you should have a loop in it towards the vent, but I disagree, the loop traps fuel when you top her off and helps cause all the gurgling when you fill up and then sprays you in the face. I remember you saying a few years ago about fueling up and telling everyone "Shut the F^&H up!!!", Def know what you mean.

If it still doesn't work it's probably the plastic foil seal off a jug of 2 stroke oil getting sucked into the pick up.

Wellcraft didn't put a hatch in because they were being cheapasses.

[SkunkBoat]

Make sure the hose barb is not an anti-siphon type...they are crap.
You are sure the primer bulb is good and mounted correctly with arrow pointed up at motor?

The very last thing I would do is cut the deck. I doubt the tank is the problem.

Try cutting the pickup tube 1 inch. I can't imagine there being anything that big in there.


Oh, I had a problem with new tubing for a primer bulb. It had a clear liner that got pushed into the tubing by the hose barb. It blocked the line enough to prevent me from priming.

[13Echo70271]

Hi Blue,
The fill vent could be a problem, but if you have checked it already,
Does one or both of your round inspection ports/hatches access the fuel sending unit, fill hose and vent hose connections to the tank? In destroyers pics they are all on one end of the tank. My 88 has a plastic tank and the sending unit and fill hoses are at opposite ends of the tank.
I think if I could access them, I would check those fill hoses for rubber crud inside,
Tipp the boat so the sending unit is at the low end, drain the tank, using the boats fuel line or a siphon hose. If you can, use up most of the fuel first.
remove the sending unit and using the sending units opening in the tank inspect and remove any debris. Any debris left could be swabbed out with a small rag tied onto a stick through the sending unit opening. You may find you don't have to remove the tank.
Do NOT use a shop vac to remove debris, as fumes drawn into the vac can ignite(ask me how I know).
If you have to open it up bigger, I would consider cutting two 14" x 14" or so, openings around the current openings for a couple aftermarket floor hatches (ebay). That will give you more working room. Much easier, cheaper, faster with fishing season upon us.
Best of luck,
Tom (13Echo70271)

[Destroyer]

I used a combination of tools to cut the deck. As you can see in the pics several places I went further than the corners with the cuts. Those cuts were made using a circular saw. Then I wised up and started using my multi-tool (http://www.harborfreight.com/power-t...ool-61219.html) to make the cuts into the corners. Much neater without the overcut of using just my circular saw for the cutting.

Yes, the middle round hatch is right over the fuel tank sending unit. Not really sure how much room you would have with them removed or out of the way, but it's not a bad idea to empty the tank as much as possible, remove the fuel lines and sending unit and try with a HAND pump to suck out whatever debris may be in the tank. Orientate the boat so that it's slopping towards the bow so any debris will naturally flow/move towards the pick up sending unit holes.

Finally, are you SURE that your vent line is clear? An insect or something could built a nest in there. I recall somebody in these forums a few years back had a similar problem with their ball collapsing and it turned out to be a mud wasp nest in the vent line. Take a electricians snake and run if from the tank to the vent cover and make sure it's clear before you go into something deeper. K.I.S.S. it first.