fuel tank removal
- Thread starter wheelsteering27
- Start date
Don't know about 27 specifically, but I ran my tank down to 1/4 or less, used an outboard motor squeeze bulb to pump out the dregs. Took a while, but it was cheap and simple. Still have the rig with a short section of copper tube. test the bottom of the tank for water at the beginning of every season.
Same as what Bill has stated but I use a Pela oil extractor to really pull a vacuum when I vacuum the bottom of my tank.
thanks for the advice; i have 12 gallons to extract so will try to get a pump of some sort.
This sounds viable for my situation; where can I purchase a pela oil extractor?
They're available from Waste Marine but you'll have to rob a bank first to finance it.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--manual-oil-extractor-6-9-quart--11047123
Also, they are a necessity when changing your engine oil so perhaps you can go in with several others to cut the cost.
Disconnect the fuel line from the lift pump and attach an oil/fuel extractor vacuum pump. If the pick up tube inside the tank gets clogged you may need to blow back up the fuel line. Found it to be better than trying to insert a tube through the filler and removing the filler hose was not a convenient option.
Benny: thanks; Sounds like a good option and blowing back the line may keep the strainer on the end of the line clear.
The only problem with that is that you don't pick up the crud off the bottom of the tank, only the junk that's level with the fuel intake which is several inches off the bottom of the tank. You will get a steady supply of crud as the fuel sloshes around when the boat heels. Also, you don't want an internal screen in the tank as they're a real bear to clean when they plug, and they always plug exactly when you DON'T want them to plug
.What I did was to machine a 3/8" SS plate into a miniature blind flange as very, very, roughly shown below. The holes, of course, are much smaller. One could just as easy use 1/2" HDPE Starboard. The flange is about 2-1/2" dia. and has a 3/8" brass pipe plug lightly snugged in the middle. The flange is screwed to the top of the tank using Permatex #2 as a sealant.
Each time you want to vacuum out the tank, unscrew the brass plug and insert the vacuum pump tube to the bottom of the tank.
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If there's a strainer in the fuel tank, take it away forever. Let the fuel filter catch the dregs.
Ralph: you have a good point; the screen has to go; i think your application of a drain plug could also work on the side of the tank, as starboard locker gives access to the tank side. not much clearance between top of tank and cockpit floor to drill a hole.
thank you for sharing your handiwork.
thank you for sharing your handiwork.
I would think that everyone who owns an 83 h27 has a lot of experience trying to get the crud out of their fuel tank. I go through filters pretty fast. At my next haulout I plan to pull motor and everything else out of the engine compartment for a complete redo. That'll include the fuel tank.
Yes it is and there is a small 12x12 inspection door; the panel that is on the starboard side including the door is made of wood. The tank is fiberglass and has two straps holding it in place.
Apparently you have less room to work with than I do on the 31. Ican get down into the locker. I removed the exhaust hoses for replacement which gave me access to the tank which, as you note is held down only by two straps. I don't remember if the fiberglass 18 gal. tank would have fit up through the locker because I was rebuilding the galley cabinetry and was able to take it out through the galley. There was no inspection port, so I added one, a fuel tank gauge, and a pickup tube and return for my homemade fuel polishing system. The PO already converted to an electric fuel pump so I just added a second pump/filter for the polishing system. I removed the mechanical pump the PO by-passed and fabricated a block-off plate. I will rebuild it as an emergency item should all electrics fail. Turns out the tank was not really dirty enough to have merited removal had I not been doing the other projects.