I got the leakin fuel tank blues...

[knot smart]

this is... the funniest thread title ive seen for a while.. leakin fuel tank blues...thats great

[hpeer]

You might want to give this thread a once over and/or do a search on threads containing "flame master"

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-118942-2.html

[Suijin]

I would definitely try and clean and seal the tank in place before pulling it out. Usually there is one place crud collects and causes corrosion and a leak, so you're basically tossing a whole good tank and cutting up your boat for the sake of one very small problem.

You want MIL-S-8802. It is a MnO2 cured polysulfide manufactured by a couple manufacturers including ProSeal (PR-1440) and Flame Master. One distributor I know of:

National Sealants & Lubricant
33110 Old Hempstead Rd
Magnolia, TX 77355-1641

Phone: (281) 356-2233
http://www.nationalsealants.com

A good article on sealing tanks:

http://www.vansairforce.net/articles/tank_sealant.pdf

[Winf]

Again, thanks for the pointers and suggestions.

A problem with not removing the tank is that the foam and some of the surrounding timber is saturated with diesel and I'm not likin what I'm smellin? If I do get it out I can then assess how bad the leak is.

On the positive side, managed to hack foam away from one end completely today. It cut easily with just a hacksaw blade and I could praise it off with a paint scraper/screwdriver. There were no other attachments holding the tank in and it looks to be sitting on about 1-1.5 inches of foam base. With some framing timber removal, I may be able to at least cut each side of the tank away from the foam which then just leaves the bottom to free up.

On the end where I have cleared out foam I have about 6-8 inches of space and can get to the tank bottom/foam line. What I need is a long flexible blade that I can slide in under and cut and cut and cut to weaken up the bond. I'm thinking of making my own giant size hacksaw blade out of paper clips and duct tape (sorry, been reading the Mguyver thread) or even just try an elcheapo timber saw or pruning saw.

If I can free up that bottom bond, I can sit a car jack on a beam placed across two bulkheads and with bit of a Mguverised custom bracket to slot in under two ends of the tank just jack that sucker out of there. Maybe.

Originally Posted by knot smart

this is... the funniest thread title ive seen for a while.. leakin fuel tank blues...thats great

Any of you talented folk play a decent 12 bar...

Woke up this mornin,
Fumes all round my head.
Yes I, woke up this morning,
Fumes all around my head.
Stuck my head in yonder bilge,
Now wishin I were dead.

I got them, leakin fuel tank blues.
Oh yeah my baby got them,
Leakin fuel tank blues.
If'n you, ever see that PO,
Be sure to light up his shoes.

Lyin here a sleepin,
Fumes all round my head.
Sleepin an a weepin,
Fumes all around my head.
My baby says "When you go'na fix it,"
"When you go'na make it right."

I got them, leakin fuel tank blues.
Oh yeah baby got the,
Leakin fuel tank blues.
If'n you, ever see that PO,
Be sure an light up his shoes.

Etc etc.

(C) Winf

[Terra Nova]

Ask your local woodworker for a length of one of his old bandsaw blades.

And re: the blues, don't forget to add, after
"Welllll...I woke up one mornin'.

Mmmm. Mmm."

[Igotnuthin]

Whoa, whoa ,whoa.......BACKUP
WHY shouldn't a diesel tank be stainless steel????

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by Igotnuthin

Whoa, whoa ,whoa.......BACKUP
WHY shouldn't a diesel tank be stainless steel????

http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/pdf/recalls/BSC79.pdf

Read the section on stainless.


[sabray]

"Welllll...I woke up one mornin'.
My fuel tank was leakin,
My baby done left me
cause my bilges were a stinkin
my fuel tank was leaken
my baby done left me
my bilges are ahh stinkin
all happened one morning.
I went and found a surveyor I said
I got the fuel tank bluesssss.
The officials they are amassing gathering around rejoicing.
Cant wait to start the lawsuit while my bank account is dwindling.
I aint got no money I dont have no girl my bilges are stinky I dont have any fuel
.......

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Igotnuthin

Whoa, whoa ,whoa.......BACKUP
WHY shouldn't a diesel tank be stainless steel????

No reason it shouldnt be, but will corrode as fast or faster than aluminum or black iron if it's sitting in a damp wet environment or on wet timbers etc. I had one under the floor boards corrode through in 7 years from new.
a plastic or fiberglass tank would have lasted probably nearly the life of the boat.

[Cheechako]

Find a flexible serrated bread knife. They are long bladed and cut foam well. Might be able to use an electic carving knife in some spots.... your second hand store probably has one for $4.

[Orion Jim]

A local tool shop or wood shop should have a broken bandsaw blade they've been meaning to toss out. Just fish it under the tank and you'll be golden. If your replacement is an aluminum tank be sure it has an air space to keep condensation (corrosion) from forming beneath it. Ventilation is the key to a long tank life.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Jim Walsh

A local tool shop or wood shop should have a broken bandsaw blade they've been meaning to toss out. Just fish it under the tank and you'll be golden. If your replacement is an aluminum tank be sure it has an air space to keep condensation (corrosion) from forming beneath it. Ventilation is the key to a long tank life.

This works good but requires two people. Cut the band saw blade to the right length and wrap the ends in duct tape to make handles. Then one person either side of the tank and work the blade like an old two man saw. A scrap of carbide abrasive blade works best and does the least damage to things other than the tank.

[boatpoker]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with aluminum or stainless steel fuel tanks as long as the proper grades are used and the installation is done properly. I know many 40 year old boats with leak free stainless and aluminum tanks (properly installed).

You leaking aluminum tank was doomed from the day the foam was poured around it. Most leaking tanks I've seen were similarly doomed from day one due to shoddy installation.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/pdf/recalls/BSC79.pdf

Read the section on stainless.


Originally Posted by boatpoker

There is absolutely nothing wrong with aluminum or stainless steel fuel tanks as long as the proper grades are used and the installation is done properly...

ABYC says NO stainless tanks over 20 gallons, and all must be cylindrical with domed ends. And then, 316L ONLY.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

ABYC says NO stainless tanks over 20 gallons, and all must be cylindrical with domed ends. And then, 316L ONLY.

That's not quite what the standard says. 316L and 317L are approved at a minimum thickness of 1.9mm.

Table IV, "NOTE 2" restricting the size to 20g refers only to the lighter approved gauge of 0.79mm.