Should I go Plasma?!?

[John316]

I wondered what a plasma cutter can cut? I am working on removing the original tank that was in the original bus bathroom. I am having a hard time finding out what fastens that tank in.

My thought was, use a plasma cutter to cut the bottom of the tank off, and then I can see much better as to what holds it up there, and remove that stuff.

What do you all think?

BTW, we are going to be getting Jakes on our bus, and our local DD dealer is going to install them. Jakes are expensive enough that we didn't want to do the half set, that is designed for buses. Yesterday I cut the floor out to allow a full set, since the bed will be over there anyways. So, we will finally be getting jakes!!! We will bring the bus in tomorrow.

Thanks,

God bless,

John

[Don Fairchild]

John;

Good news about the jakes, You will like what they do for you going down hill. They save the brakes.

Don

[John316]

Don,

Great to hear from you. If that is okay with you, I will PM you with the serial # on our engine. Would you mind checking to see what the price for all of the parts would be, so we can double check our guys to make sure that they are giving us the right price? We would love to have you guys install them, and everything, but we live half a continent away, in the Midwest.

God bless,

John

[Tom Y]

John, The plasma cutter will cut stainless, steel, alumium. Tom Y

[Lin]

Plasma cutter will cut anything that conducts electricity.  I bought one recently, and it is amazing to see how fast you can destroy stuff.  Of course, use good UV eye protection.  Beyond that, I find I do not need a lens any darker than one equal to some dark sunglasses.

[busshawg]

The plasma will work but I  don't think you will find your fasteners from inside the tank. There are 2 near the back of the tank on each side that are visable and then 2 near the front of the tank that are mounted on the exterior but are extremely hard to get at or even see. Your bus may be different than my 9 but it wouldn't surprise me if they are similiar. I'm not sure if I want to admit how I got mine out , haha it was quite primitive. Anyway I was able to get the bolts out of the rear mounts and remove any other wiring     (fan) or clamps and then bent the tank down so I could see where it was attached , was was near the front. I actually welded a chisel onto an 6ft pry bar I had and went to town. I didn't chisel teh bolts away but rather the mounting strips that the bolts go through. My thinking was a sharp chisel will cut this long before I would break a bolt or maybe something else.   Gumpy has a page on this that is much more civil, haha.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi John,

I found that a 12" sawzall blade worked better then anything else.. There are 2 SS straps in the rear "as busshawg states" that you need to get to.

I wouldn't put my plazma cutter that close to greese that I can not see.

Be safe
Nick-

[NewbeeMC9]

Seems like it would not be a good Idea to be under the tank when you cut hole in it

[orfunauto/Darrell]

Please keep in mind what the tank was used for.  If it is not thoroughly flushed it could harbor methane gas.  Not likely, but why take a chance when a thorough flush would prevent it.  My father was severely burned from a former sewage holding tank when he attempted to cut a hole in it with a torch and it blew up.  The tank supposedly had been sitting empty for several years.  His back and legs were scar tissue until the day he passed.

I wouldn't part with my plasma cutter for anything!

[John316]

Thanks a lot guys.

I was just going to take the main part of the tank down, so I could see better to take the rest out. We have used that "tank", so I know that it is well flushed (believe me, have you smelled a tank that is open and not cleaned  YYUUUUKKKK).

Anyways, you all have given me some good ideas. I wonder if I can get it out tommorrow?!? I will give it a good stab. I will also check out Gumpy's page.

So I guess that a plasma cutter would work to drop the main tank, but it isn't worth it, and there are better ways.

Thanks a lot guys!!!

God bless,

John

[Chopper Scott]

I own a welding business and I hit this thread thinking it was about TV's!!!      I was going to recommend LCD's!!

[Barn Owl]

I hit this thread thinking it was about TV's!!!   

Second that.

[John316]

Chopper, and BarnO, Sorry .

I got the tank out today. I didn't have to cut much of anything. I first ripped off the fiberglass cover that was on the tank. Then I was able to access the to bolt that held the strap on, that in turn held the tank in. I got my trusty IR thundergun, a 16" extension and a 9/16 socket. Then I just buzzed them out, pivoted the straps out of the way, and bingo!!!

It was easier than I thought. I did get some 12" metal wrecking blades, but didn't need them.

Thanks for all of your help.

God bless,

John

[Jerry32]

Good job John , It took me several days to find that darn bolt and band that holds the tank together. Jerry