Fuel Tank Cleaning/Removal

G

graceglenda1

.
Aug 16, 2011
35
I know I saw an article/diagram on how to remove the fuel tank ... but can't locate it again. Any advice/experience w/ removing the fuel tank for cleaning? I'm thinking of this in order to clean the bilge and coat it as well. Also, cleaning in-place? Remove the plate that has the fuel lines connect thru? Thanks ...
Tom
V1690
 
W

winslowbuoy

.
Jan 31, 2009
122
Point one. Boat needs to be out of water as water pressure squeezes in on sides of keel and holds tank.

Remove all fuel from tank, undo all the various pipes (filler,breather fuel supply and return line) you probably won't be able to get at filler tube so undo from deck filler end.

Get some flat packing/parcel tape ( like they put on heavy parcels) , slip a bight of the tape down into the bilge at the front end of the tank and manouvre beneath the foreward end of the tank and lift. The action needed is to tilt the fore end up while pulling the body of the tank foreward. It is not as easy as that unless you are very lucky but I have done it several times until eventually deciding to go for a tank in the port locker.
________________________________
From: graceglenda1 pilota@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 14 March 2012, 3:14
Subject: [AlbinVega] Fuel Tank Cleaning/Removal

I know I saw an article/diagram on how to remove the fuel tank ... but can't locate it again. Any advice/experience w/ removing the fuel tank for cleaning? I'm thinking of this in order to clean the bilge and coat it as well. Also, cleaning in-place? Remove the plate that has the fuel lines connect thru? Thanks ...
Tom
V1690
 
J

j.hunter9999

.
Oct 30, 2019
574
Hi Tom,

People have had varying degrees of success removing the tank. In my case, I could not get it to extricate itself from its shell (the bilge) no matter what I tried. So I eventually cut the front upper section out of it to remove it. However, others have easily removed the tank. There should be some instructions with photos in the files section. Just in case you have trouble finding them, here is the text:

I disconnected all the plumbing from the plumbing plate on the tank. There was a joint in the fill pipe underneath the cockpit. I disconnected the fill pipe there. Normally it would be disconnected at deck level. I rigged a block and tackle to a beam across the companionway.
I then attached a slip knot onto the neck of the plumbing plate. I then gently pulled the tank up with the block and tackle.

I moved the tank aft and put another lasso around the forward end of the tank and slipped it as far aft as I could. I did this by reaching under the tank and tugging the line forward.

I attached the block & tackle to the lasso. I pushed the tank as far aft as possible and hoisted the forward part of the tank up all the while pushing the aft part down. The fill pipe should pull forward.

Disconnect the fuel pipe and the tank is free. In my case the fuel fill pipe had broken. It was rotten. The picture was taken just after it cleared the sole. Notice that the hose clamp is missing as well. The sump needs to be cleaned out. A real mess.
 
T

tim_klynn

.
Feb 12, 2008
337
I haven't done this, but was wondering if anyone has tried emptying the tanks, removing the fuel lines from the tank, sealing most of the orifices, and then
applying vacuum to the tank to suck in the sides to make it easier to pull out. A small vacuum pump could be attached to one

of the smaller diesel ports or maybe use a shop vac on the fuel filler hose?

Lots of water added to the bilge might help float the tank up as well.

On my boat, the previous owner cut out the section of sole between the two sole plates, which makes it easier to get the tank out.
The section was backed up and reinstalled with screws.-Tim________________________________
From: MICHAEL FREEMAN mikeandv@...
To: "AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com" AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:59 AM
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Fuel Tank Cleaning/Removal



Point one. Boat needs to be out of water as water pressure squeezes in on sides of keel and holds tank.

Remove all fuel from tank, undo all the various pipes (filler,breather fuel supply and return line) you probably won't be able to get at filler tube so undo from deck filler end.

Get some flat packing/parcel tape ( like they put on heavy parcels) , slip a bight of the tape down into the bilge at the front end of the tank and manouvre beneath the foreward end of the tank and lift. The action needed is to tilt the fore end up while pulling the body of the tank foreward. It is not as easy as that unless you are very lucky but I have done it several times until eventually deciding to go for a tank in the port locker.

________________________________
From: graceglenda1 pilota@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 14 March 2012, 3:14
Subject: [AlbinVega] Fuel Tank Cleaning/Removal

I know I saw an article/diagram on how to remove the fuel tank ... but can't locate it again. Any advice/experience w/ removing the fuel tank for cleaning? I'm thinking of this in order to clean the bilge and coat it as well. Also, cleaning in-place? Remove the plate that has the fuel lines connect thru? Thanks ...
Tom
V1690
 
J

johnadenney

.
Oct 30, 2011
221
Is it possible to check the condition of the filler hose (where it
enters the tank) without removing the tank? All this has got me
worried!
 
G

groundhogyh

.
May 30, 2006
1,075
I did it without emptying the tank (it wasnt too filled) and the boat was in the water. It was easy. I posted a recipe at the time to this forum and if you go to the yahoo albin vega page, you can search the previous posts.

One key thing is, you need a shoehorn. The round top opening of the tank will try to get itself locked on the aft edge of the floor opening as you try to pull the tank up. this will frustrate the hell out of you.

Big piece of wood over the cockpit opening. Multi-turn block for lots of purchase to a loop under the forward end of the tank.

Pull really hard... and pop... it comes up.

groundhog
 
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