Gas tank issue

[keepinitreel]

I have an 82 gallon plastic fuel tank in my boat. I think that the threads to the fittings have been damaged due to an over-aggressive and mis- aligned turn of the wrench. The fix was done on open water with high seas...it was a quick fix that got us home.

Problem is I can not get the fittings off. It feels stripped and the innermost fitting which I think is called the molded insert, needs replaced.

Can I replace the innermost fitting? I'm waiting on an email from Moeller.


Thank You

[STL170]

Hello keepinitreel,

I had a problem with the anti-siphon valve and also the down tube into the tank had a crack in it. I had to add an "access" fitting to my motor well to get a bigger wrench in to crank out the elbow fitting. Nothing pretty about it, the two aluminum parts (elbow and molded-in bushing) were galled together and I lost about 50% of the threads from the elbow. Fortunately, this left extra material welded to the bushing. I was able to re-tap the pipe threads in the bushing. Old pipe dope caught most of the shavings in the tap and only a few were lost in the tank. If you have room, someone could hold a vacuum hose near the tap that might suck up the chips.

Anyway, after all that, I went back in with a new fitting but used never seize rather than pipe dope. I replaced the anti-siphon check valve with a brass quarter-turn valve.

Moeller was helpful in that they gave me the part number that I was supposed to have for the replacement fitting and down tube. I think I also got a sketch of the assembly, but the only you don't see is the barb on the elbow, poly tube pressed on the barb and a stainless screen on the end of the tube.

Triumph originally sent me a 4" too short tube assembly. I gave the part number to my dealer who forwarded it to the factory. They then sent me a part about 8" longer than Moeller had described. When I got the part out, It was between the length of the two parts from the factory. Rather than risk damaging the barb/tube connection (location of my original crack) I trimmed the tube, removed the screen and put it on the end of the trimmed tube. I heated the tube with a heat gun (just to soften the poly) and pushed the screen on. The plastic molds into the mesh of the screen and should never come out.

My tank is only 21 gallons, but the fitting picture looks the same.

Good luck with the repairs.

Bob

[keepinitreel]

STL,

Thank You for your response.

I still need to hear from Moeller about parts and other issues like replacement of the rusted fuel sender assembly. Illogical Al posted some pics of his replacement.

I am not as brave as you as far as the tapping goes. I am paranoid the shavings will go in the tank and cause problems. I would just love to "somehow"?? replace the molded-in bushing.

Interesting about the brass turn valve. I might do that replacement as well.

I've got some big plans for Lake Erie next month so hopefully I can get them done.

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

Go Ahead And Move The S S Bar Back There Near That Angled Fitting Once Replaced So The Rear Deck Plate Doesnt Break It Off When It Gets Soft From The Heat Of The Sun And The Fishermen Stand Back There.

[keepinitreel]

Illogical,

I did do that(thank you for your efforts) but I am unable to turn the fuel elbow due to the stripped threads, therefore it is still too close for comfort to the floor board. I even placed the stainless steel bar slightly higher than factory. It is a no walk zone at this point.

[STL170]

Replacing the molded insert would involve cutting out the plastic around the bushing. Before I tried re-tapping the threads, I had made a stainless plate with a stainless coupling to go back in place of the bushing. It would have required measuring and trimming a pickup tube to go on the bottom of the stainless plate, mounting the plate over the hole where the molded insert had been (gasket and ss screws) and then attaching all the top-side fittings. It was a very frustating time, especially since it was summer and the dealer I bought it from was a 9 hour drive. GOOD LUCK!!

Is Lake Erie your lake of choice? We used to live in Sandusky and go back for a week every summer. Take the little boat back to it's home state.

Once again, good luck,

Bob

[k9reno]

keepinitreel if your concerned about that part of your fuel system being broken by walking on the deck I suppose you could try making like a protective sleeve to fit around 3 sides of it.. I will try to describe. Please bare with me. take like a block of wood as tall as the part you want to protect or a smidge taller. cut a slot in it wide enough to slide the remaining 3 sides around the part, and use rule elastomeric on the bottom to stick it in place. that way any pressure from the deck being stepped on will be supported by the block around the part and the part will remain untouched.....I hope I described it well enough. I could draw it better