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OLDSON · 20-07-2011, 15:16

I have a 1970 Buchan with a bilge issue. I order to fix it I have to remove this fuel tank. Has anyone had the opportunity to have to remove the fuel tank? My fuel cabin/box is full of gunk and water cause the bilge isn't draining efficiently. It is a large steel tank, located on centerline forward of the diesel. there is foam in-between the cabin/box wall and the tank. I can't find where the bolts are (another bolt mystery) about to cut out my floor to get the tank out. any other suggestions?

DeepFrz · 20-07-2011, 16:56

It probably isn't bolted in but held in by the foam and the floors. Foaming a tank like that is sentencing it to an early death.

Pump the crud in the tank out into some barrels and then pump the bilge out into the barrels as well.

captainKJ · 20-07-2011, 17:09

why an early death,,do tell please have not heard of that before,,is it because of air flow

OLDSON · 20-07-2011, 17:13

I'd like to, but so far have not been able to get the stuff to suck up in my pump. I couldn't find a "suck-up" tool ie the big pink canister with a pump, so instead we used an oil extraction pump, the hoses aren't big enough to deal with the thickness of the gunk/water. I might try and use a long drill bit and route out the foam suck up the pieces with a shop-vac while I am doing that?

DeepFrz · 20-07-2011, 17:13

The foam gets wet and holds the water against the tank. Wet stagnant water and it will rust an iron/steel tank very quickly. The longevity of any metal tank is largely dependent on installation.

Same for aluminum.

DeepFrz · 20-07-2011, 17:15

You will probably have to chop up the foam to get the tank out. I that what you were asking?

OLDSON · 20-07-2011, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

The foam gets wet and holds the water against the tank. Wet stagnant water and it will rust an iron/steel tank very quickly. The longevity of any metal tank is largely dependent on installation.

Agreed. She sure was holding on to the "fuel" if you could call it that, stuff looked like a foamy cream stout, but it was still in there'd.

OLDSON · 20-08-2011, 10:55

Here us a pic of the fueltank box

OLDSON · 20-08-2011, 10:57

Here's another one. Its been cleaned out with a solvent now

DeepFrz · 20-08-2011, 10:59

Oh, pretty picture...hahahaha

Isn't that an awful job? Good work so far.

OLDSON · 20-08-2011, 11:00

They must have been really concerned about it moving around. Had a metal track in the box with a slot in the tank. They took it out with a forklift, now I don't feel so whimpy

OLDSON · 20-08-2011, 11:04

Well after the incident at Fishermans, We had it hauled out at Dunatos's for the repair in the middle of the night. So I only got to pay for the work. I can't claim any bragging rights