Pulling a fuel tank - preventative maintenance.

[Chaz]

Hey Guys,
  I've not read anything on this yet, so this may be a new subject, at least for us "newbies".

   I want to pull my fuel tank and do whatever it may need as preventative maintenance. I'm pretty sure it probably hasn't had anything done to it since 1973.  It's showing some signs of rust on the bottom (outside that I can see) and hard telling how much s**t is inside on the bottom.
   I was thinking it would probably be a good idea before something happens, as usual, at the most inopportune time!! 
  So what do ya think?? Any upgrades or ideas of things to do while I have it out? I do need to put a fuel gauge in, and was figuring on using one that Jerry Lieber has, which is a pretty cool little unit.
  Is the idea of using a tube sticking up from the bottom (as it is now) a good idea to keep the muck out or is there a better way to do it so can I have more fuel capacity? (I think I am losing about 25 gallons that won't come out) Fabrication of most any kind is no problem if there would be a *proven* method to filter the fuel.

  What cha think?
         Chaz

[Kristinsgrandpa]

Chaz, I took a long piece of pipe and attached it to an air hose, stuck it down to the bottom of my tank and turned 90PSI air loose in the bottom to stir up the sediment. Then drained it into a clean plastic barrel.

I pumped it back into the tank through a filter. When done I checked the filter and it was clean. 

   If you know of some one who has a remote filter base it is easy to do.

The whole process only took about a half an hour.

If you check yours and it comes out clean it would save you a lot of time in removal etc.

I was worried because mine had been sitting for about 3 years and I wanted to move it so I checked the fuel first.

Ed

[Chaz]

If you check yours and it comes out clean it would save you a lot of time in removal etc.

So are you saying to not pull the tank?? Just curious.
  Half of my reason to pull the tank was to check for crud in the bottom, the other half was to make sure the tanks integrity was good. I'd hate to spring a rust hole leak while on the road after a fill up, ya know?
Maybe I am being a little anal here in doing this, but I guess the Navy training (P.M.S.) is creeping back in on me.     
  Plus I need to drop a gauge in it also. Seems like a good opportunity to get it all done.
  By the way, has anyone heard of tanks rusting out being an issue??

  I'm kinda concerned about taking the lines off and loosing my "prime". Is that an issue?
    Thanx,
      Chaz

[Barn Owl]

Chaz,

When you have the tank out to install the fuel gauge (love mine, great idea) it will be very easy to see inside. At that time you will easily see if there is a need to clean it out. I will bet that your tank is cleaner than you might think. All of the sloshing fuel keeps most everything stirred up if there is anything in it. That is what the fuel filters are for, to catch all the crap that has become suspended in the fuel. I have only seen a few used empty tanks, but I have never seen one with a lot of junk in it unless it has sat outside under a tree for a year with the cap off. I have seen tanks rust. It has always been where road salt, dirt and moisture have been in contact with the tank and not cleaned off, usually under the saddle straps (which a bus doesn't have).

Just follow the procedures if you loose your prime and you should be OK. The only thing I might advise is to make sure your batteries are in good shape. I have a farm tractor that requires a re-prime when the secondary filter is changed. The first time I did it, I was going by the manual, but no matter what I did I couldn't get it to fire. I killed the old battery in the attempt. I broke down and finally called the dealer and spoke with a mechanic. He said that after all of the steps are followed give it a whiff of either and she should fire right up. Sure enough, either was the key, just one squirt was all it took and off she went. Just a thought if nothing else is working.

You mentioned in another post that you might be selling your bus. Are you discouraged with the way things are going? Anything we can do to help?

Laryn

[Barn Owl]

You know, I was thinking about what I wrote about not seeing junk in tanks and realized that now there are going to be a hundred post about all kinds of junky fuel tanks. To clarify, for the most part tanks don't get messed up unless they are allowed to. My father one time decided to use some old 55gal drums to store diesel fuel in. Wanting not to waste a drop he turned them upside down to empty them and in so doing the trash that collected in those barrels got transferred to his cars fuel tank. He didn't even make it out of the driveway before the car quit. To make matters worse, he tried to unclog the fuel lines by blowing them with an air hose. If only he had removed the fuel cap, he went from a 20gal tank to a 30gal tank in 0.5sec. He had to buy a replacement tank because the expanded model would scrape the road every time he hit a bump.

[cody]

OK, time for a dumb question, I've never lost prime but I know that sooner or later I will, what is the procedure for that?  Quit laughing Dallas lol.

[prevost82]

Cody ... the best way is to buy a electric fuel pump and "T" it into your fuel feed line before the primary filter. You'll never have to worry about losing prime. I have 2 / 1 for the Hydro-Hot and gen and 1 for the 8V92
Ron

[Chaz]

[/You mentioned in another post that you might be selling your bus. Are you discouraged with the way things are going? Anything we can do to help?

Laryn

Thanx for the concern Laryn. I appreciate it.
  Yeah, I have been wrestling with the idea.  I'm not discouraged with the bus....... heck, I LOVE it! And it is part of my long term plan in life. But doing what I love - my art- has not afforded me the luxury to pursue other things like this as I wanted to.
  For that matter, I have even given a short thought to selling everything else I own and just take off in the BUS!!! I guess I'm just a little discouraged in general.
  I have plenty of work to do, I just can't seem to get ahead. My friends tell me I'm too cheap, but I like giving people a good deal.
  Oh well............. I have a few other things I can sell first.
  Thanx for the ear. 

   Back to bussin...................
       Chaz