andy59
Well-Known Member
Can the fuel tanks be removed through the floor after taking out furniture or must the engines come out , may have a bit of a weep on the starboard tank , hope not but cant get close enough to see properly 
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F36 fuel tanks
- Thread starter andy59
- Start date
Wiggo
Well-Known Member
Not wishing to be the bearer of bad news, but...
I'm sure there was thread on this a year or two back, and the general consensus was that it might be easier to cut a hole in the hull, take the tank out through the side, and then re-glass the hole than get it out any other way.
Because the F36 hull is so similar to the F37, I'm pretty sure the only way to get the starboard tank out is to remove the patio doors and probably the aft part of the sofa, then take out the engine.
Update: I have a thought. Do you have plastic tanks? We had a slight leak on the port tank, and I tracked it down to a poorly fitting pick-up pipe for the Eberspacher. Whenever we had full tanks and started to climb up onto the plane, fuel surged to the aft end of the tank and was forced out where the pick-up wasn't sealing properly.
On the F37 (and I'm guessing the F36), there's a removable panel in the base of the aft section of the sofa (the bit that runs across the doors) that lets you get to the starboard pick-up and return pipes.
I'm sure there was thread on this a year or two back, and the general consensus was that it might be easier to cut a hole in the hull, take the tank out through the side, and then re-glass the hole than get it out any other way.
Because the F36 hull is so similar to the F37, I'm pretty sure the only way to get the starboard tank out is to remove the patio doors and probably the aft part of the sofa, then take out the engine.
Update: I have a thought. Do you have plastic tanks? We had a slight leak on the port tank, and I tracked it down to a poorly fitting pick-up pipe for the Eberspacher. Whenever we had full tanks and started to climb up onto the plane, fuel surged to the aft end of the tank and was forced out where the pick-up wasn't sealing properly.
On the F37 (and I'm guessing the F36), there's a removable panel in the base of the aft section of the sofa (the bit that runs across the doors) that lets you get to the starboard pick-up and return pipes.
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andy59
Well-Known Member
Thanks Wiggo , im going to pull out the sofa at the weekend and see if i can get a better view . She has got to come out at some point for hull cleaning and seacock changing so if the fuel tanks are borderline i may as well just take out engines and do everything at once , ie , engine service , belts heat exchangers , change shaft seals , renew stinky pump out hose and repaint bilge etc . then i can start next season without spending half the time upside down fixing stuff 
Wiggo
Well-Known Member
You can see bugger all in there, to be honest. Pulling the sofa out doesn't help a huge amount, though on ours we have a panel under the centre section of sofa to get access to the tank inspection hatch, and one under the aft section to access the pick-up/return pipes. You can get better access to the tank through the lazarette (for the aft end) and through the mid-cabin for the forward end.
andy59
Well-Known Member
Yep , ive got into that space in front of the engines from the mid cabin , but the bit that i`m concerned about is at the rear starboard side underneath where there is a bed of plywood holding the tank , it has got what looks like old diesel residue on it but feels dry ( perhaps an old leak ) I want to get at it to try and clean it up because A - it smells and B - if it comes back then its get the wallet out time .
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
Andy did the surveyor not pick up the leak or what used to be a leak due to the stains on the hull grp, im afraid the tanks were fitted to the boat before the superstructure was fitted, so yes the engines have to come out before you can slacken off the tank straps and slide the tanks into the engine bay. Getting the engines out requires some grp cutting and reglassing, remember th early day of the kad 44 when thy dropped valves, some engines were replaced under warranty, RK marine have knowledge of engine removal, but before you do all this you need to be 100% sure where the leaks are. Good luck.
andy59
Well-Known Member
Paul here are some photos for your info - -
this plug is not connected to anything on both engines ?
Space to stand up in ,
notch cut out of floor beam to clear rocker covers ,
this plug is not connected to anything on both engines ?
Space to stand up in ,
notch cut out of floor beam to clear rocker covers ,
Renegade_Master
Well-Known Member
We took the port tank out of my F36, involved removing port furniture, (fridge stayed in if I recall) so did the engine. Cut out floor supports then refix em
andy59
Well-Known Member
Thanks Clive , I have been crawling all over it for the last few days and it seems that both tanks will come out through the floor , thr staining i am looking at is bone dry so im not worrying about it anymore . I know that these ally tanks dont last forever so if one goes we will bite the bullet and replace them both .
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
Hi Andy, the engines are kad 44A prefix which means the plug you mention is spare as your engines dont have the stupid TDC sensor on no 1 injector, makes it easier when removing the valve covers, also it looks good for removal as the grp has been doctored before.
See you Thursday morning, thanks for pics.
See you Thursday morning, thanks for pics.
andy59
Well-Known Member
What does the TDC sensor do then Paul ?
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
TDC sensor Top dead centre sensor sends a signal the engines ecu when no 1 cylider fires to tell the engine where it is on its rotation, the kad 44b model has this sensor it helps with timing and fuel delivery, but the engine was developed at first to run without it so dont worry.