GAs tank removal/inspection

Decided I couldn't do much of anything else (smelling gas fumes in the anchor locker) but
pull the gas tank and do a complete inspection/repair/replacement of hoses/fittings etc, etc....
So far it looks kinda OK, did have a slight litty bitty bit of gas on the pickup fitting but not
anything that would cause the fumes I smelled = Gas tank is located two feet away from
anchor locker.
Here's pics of tank/anchor locker = will be pulling it out tomorrow .........
The liquid you see in the pic is water, not gas etc, etc ....... (fiberglass tank)
The second smaller hose is the tank breather hose, goes back up to gas cap, but, cap doesn't
have any holes in it for fresh air........ It's (cap) got a couple small holes but they don't go all the
way through the cap ........
Investigation ongoing .........................

Had the same thing happen Capt. Ended up with a small hole in the very bottom of the tank. Pricy fix because I had to cut the tank out to replace...

Check the capacitor!

Here is my thoughts. Where did the water standing on gas tank come from? Could be leaking from that point past gasket into tank at sending unit or the other port in center. Next suggestion is when you take the glass tank out go get a nice new aluminum tank to go back in. Maverick/Hewes did a recall on their skiffs with glass tanks due to the glass being softened by gasoline and leaking/causing fumes/allowing water in. The fuel vapor line going to gas cap probably vents by pressure on outside edges of cap not directly through cap. Might need to replace that piece due to age. But post up the pics and problems on thehulltruth and I bet them guys get ya steered in right direction. And yes always check the Flux Capacitor!

good luck in locating the problem

Quote:

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Originally Posted by huntinslabs

Here is my thoughts. Where did the water standing on gas tank come from? Could be leaking from that point past gasket into tank at sending unit or the other port in center. Next suggestion is when you take the glass tank out go get a nice new aluminum tank to go back in. Maverick/Hewes did a recall on their skiffs with glass tanks due to the glass being softened by gasoline and leaking/causing fumes/allowing water in. The fuel vapor line going to gas cap probably vents by pressure on outside edges of cap not directly through cap. Might need to replace that piece due to age. But post up the pics and problems on thehulltruth and I bet them guys get ya steered in right direction. And yes always check the Flux Capacitor!

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I had sprayed the inside with water to pre-clean the area etc ......
Plus, I found two tie-up ropes (down in bildge) that I had figured somebody stole out of my anchor locker = lost one,
bought another, lost that one, bought a third = it has stayed in there. Apparently the first two slipped into the bildge
and disappeared (I'll bet it has been 4-5 years ago) etc, etc, lol ......

I used to have a job welding aluminum gas tanks for boats (hidden types), so, am right at home making an aluminum replacement ....
Still haven't gone out there and gotten to work on it this morning, will do in a bit ............

Finally got that bugger out, didn't want to come, had to do a little whittling on the sides of the cavity to get it .......
Gonna be fishin tomorrow mornin so will be running late on cleaning up, then the inspecting etc, etc, etc .........

Still can't get the gas filler cap off, the two hoses are connected right up below it but can't get in there to see how
to get em off, and don't look like it (cap) is coming out with hoses attached etc, etc, etc ......................

Basically, even though tank looks pretty dirty, don't see anything wrong with it ......
Will look closer when I get it cleaned up .................
Have a nice day ............

Did pressure test on tank today, only put in 1.75 lbs, it got pretty rounded. Started out covering intake hole with prophylactic but it balloned too much.
Had to tape it off etc..... Found one screw on the fuel sensing unit leaking (see pic), sprayed the rest of tank with soapy water and everything looks
great......
FYI = If you test a tank be very carfull with pressure, use low pressure pump for sure. (pic of guage is after I let pressure off) ...
The tank is not fiberglass but that blowmolded plastic and is pretty solid .....
Went out and taped off the bottom of the fill/vent hoses on the gas filler cap and filled with water, let sit for awhile (looking for leaking from just under cap = no leakage.
Taped rope to long 3/8th fuel hose running back through bildge to motor, pulled hose out = it looked in great shape = pulled it back through ....

So ========= I fixed screw = I'm calling everything good and can only formulate a theory as to the sending unit screw leaking = cause of everything
Gas smell due to topping off tank = gas level above top of tank (up in fill hose) = sending unit screw leaking gas ....
And, possibly, taking in water when running (water in bildge splashing up on it) = far fetched possibility ....
Going to hook up portable gas tank that Speck Detector loaned me and run her for awhile and see if I still have water in fuel/water separater..
That will tell me whether it's the tank or motor etc, etc ..........
Have a nice day .....

Process of elimination....all you can do....you'll get to the bottom of it I'm sure....

Be sure to replace the gasket under the sender unit.
Water may have accumulated around the sender and the vacuum created while using gas may have drawn water in. :dono :juggle :twocents

Hope you find the problem and fix it, good luck.

Pretty much finished up with tank inspection.
Decided to replace fitting on top of tank with a brass one,went to three different places, and,
while at the third place discovered a ball bearing within the fitting (hadn't noticed that before).
So, it is a check valve coming out of the tank = keeps tank from siphoning out if damage happens to hose down the way etc, etc ......
Got it back on and re-installed tank and sewed her up ....
Put Speck Detector's portable tank in and ran engine awhile = all good.
You can see where red washer is in the water/fuel separator (on bottom), if it gets water in it the red washer floats on water
but not in gas .........
Next good weather day will take her out for a fishin/runnin trip and see if any water winds up in the fuel/water separator etc, etc .....

I like that separator. I have to get some new clamps on my fuel line, it spit on me Saturday morning.

Actually, it's not a separator per-se but just a fuel filter (as referred to in the book)....
But, as one can see, it does allow for inspection/extraction of water existing in fuel etc, etc, etc ......

Good post Danny.I'm late to the party but it is a good learning post. I have puled my tank a couple times but was to get to the livewell. Reworked the livewell. Straight pump in,aerate and drain now. Had problems breaking 3 way valve. Not a problem anymore, its gone. Anyway that is a job getting out those tanks. "D"