Rubber thing in fuel tank

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med2463

med2463

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Nov 6, 2009
353
Hunter 37 FL
Those who followed my recent cruise blog know that we had our engine die on us 4 times due to blocked fuel line. Now that we are home and opened up the fuel tank, found a soft rubber "thing" at the bottom of the fuel tank by the fuel pickup. Don't know how it got there or how long it has been there. We've had the boat year and half, and just started with fuel line problem during Feb. cruise. If anyone has a theory, would be interested in hearing it. Attached is picture of rubber "thing." It's little over inch long.
 

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woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
maryd33950 said:
Those who followed my recent cruise blog know that we had our engine die on us 4 times due to blocked fuel line. Now that we are home and opened up the fuel tank, found a soft rubber "thing" at the bottom of the fuel tank by the fuel pickup. Don't know how it got there or how long it has been there. We've had the boat year and half, and just started with fuel line problem during Feb. cruise. If anyone has a theory, would be interested in hearing it. Attached is picture of rubber "thing." It's little over inch long.
Click to expand
could be sloppy house keeping by the po ...its a shame a little thing like that can cause such aggravation when one is out haveing the time of there lives....

regards

woody
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Bill, do you have the standard aluminum tank with the gauge in the forward inside corner? If you were able to get down to the pickup tube then someone cut an access port. And is there a return fuel line from the engine? The original QM engines did not have a return line but a newer one would. Just trying to see how your tank is different from the original.
 
Bill1565

Bill1565

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Jan 22, 2008
1,483
Hunter 37 C sloop Punta Gorda FL
Don't know if tank is standard, or even original, but it fills the space under the quarter berth and the fuel gauge is in the forward inboard corner. No access. I cut a hole in the tank to the first baffle. Was surprised how close to the forward end that baffle was. Tank is stained brownish, but no gunk in the bottom or on the walls. Pickup is copper tube, maybe 3/8"id brazed? into inboard bottom corner of tank. No screen. Tube runs fwd to within 2-3 inches of forward wall, right at bottom of tank. Will suck up all but the last few ounces of whatever is in the tank.

When we bought the boat I pullled the fuel gauge and sucked up a quart or so from the bottom. No water no black goo.
 

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Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
What you described is original Bill. And if you were the first to cut an access then the only way into the tank was through the gauge hole. The fuel line hole and the vent hole would be too small for that rubber thingy to get in that way. The gauge itself had no parts like that. At least not the original one. I still have it, all metal except for the cork. And it still works! I added cleanout ports years ago and then had to add the return fuel line when I installed the 3YM30.
 
Snotter

Snotter

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Sep 25, 2008
615
Morgan 415 Out Island Rogersville, AL
Did you take a sabre saw to the tank? Did you have to do anything to get rid of the fumes before cutting or is diesel fumes just not an issue? Are you going to use machine screws when putting everything back together?
 
Johnb

Johnb

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Jan 22, 2008
1,505
Hunter 37-cutter Richmond CA
I wonder if it might have been introduced during tank filling. Do you take any precautions against that?
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Exacto knife

looks like a utility knife with retractabel blade. If so there was clearly some lack of attention to detail on a former maintenance person.
 
med2463

med2463

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Nov 6, 2009
353
Hunter 37 FL
Bill Roosa said:
looks like a utility knife with retractabel blade. If so there was clearly some lack of attention to detail on a former maintenance person.
Click to expand
I think you are joking, but just in case, the knife was there to show approx size of rubber thingy.
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
One problem is that the picture is so small. Could it be one of those flexible ends found on some funnels? Looks too small to be that. I use a water separator funnel when I fill the diesel but it has a solid end.
 
Bill Murray

Bill Murray

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Jun 2, 2004
241
Hunter 410 Charlevoix, MI
looks to me like part of an "O" ring that is usually used to create a seal at the tank fill cap?????
 
A

alexco38

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Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
Normally you don't want the engine to suck out the last oz of fuel. Fuel pickup should be a little off the bottom to avoid sediment. The fuel pickup on my tank is through the top with a tube into almost the bottom of the tank. There is also a fine mesh screen at the end.

You can just plug up the existing and put a new one in from the top.
 
Seattle Scott

Seattle Scott

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May 6, 2004
916
Hunter 37C Seattle
Ed said: "And if you were the first to cut an access then the only way into the tank was through the gauge hole."

Well I broke off the plastic nozzle from my jerry can while refuelling and the damn thing fell down the fuel fill hole. Luckly the tank wan't too full so iI could take the supply hose off the tank and run a fish tape down the hose to push out my nozzle before it made its way into the tank. ( there were no witnesses - so maybe it didn't hapen)
 
Bill1565

Bill1565

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Jan 22, 2008
1,483
Hunter 37 C sloop Punta Gorda FL
Snotter said:
Did you take a sabre saw to the tank? Did you have to do anything to get rid of the fumes before cutting or is diesel fumes just not an issue? Are you going to use machine screws when putting everything back together?
Click to expand
Yes

No

Yes
 
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