fuel tanks..... removal...

Robg71

Robg71

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 Jun 2012
Messages
2,503
Location
Yorkshire/Aberdeen/Jersey
Visit site
Im on the ferry to Jersey, with a truck full of service items, oil, filters etc etc etc, with the un enviable task of pulling out my fuel tanks to clean. The diesel bug and sludge has to go.
The real pain I feel, is I have to cut open the access hatch in the aft cabin to get them out. I am really not looking forward to this. The tanks will not fit through the cabin door. Hopefully, I can transfer the fuel from one tank to the other.. (if I have less than half tanks, I may have to do a lap of Jersey to burn some off....

30 years worth of sludge to come out....
 
Only access I have is the fuel filler, and the vdo gauge sender flange.
Not much.
I have brought a couple of pumps to empty them, hope I can do the job without removal.
Jetwash a distinct possibility with a water trap fuel sock to dry out and a couple of heaters.
Also depends on what baffles are in their.
I've been putting this job off for long enough.
New battery charger and shore power inlet to fit first.
 
any idea how bad the insides are?
if they are not too bad, empty all the diesel into one tank via a filter then pump it back into the empty tank through a length of copper pipe with a squished end so you get a jet of diesel to swill the insides. Any room above the tanks to get a hole cutter or jigsaw to make some inspection holes?
good luck - horrible job
 
Start in earnest on tanks tomorrow. Fitted new shore power socket.
Other was water logged. New cable as well.
Proper industrial 32a connector not usual Marinco stuff.
Battery charger cables to run and new charger fitted.
 
scrap working on the tanks. had other issues. I had a chap out who says they are not dirty enough, and a good fuel polisher will clean most of it.
Had heaps of other jobs to do, and my filters are enormous for the size of the engines.
Re wired all the dc system from batteries to busbar. replace cross over cables and the cross connect solenoid, which had packed in. It was new 4 months ago!!

Replaced the cold start system, as a fuel pipe had sheared off.
fitted new battery charger
serviced the two sabres. Think my suction pump does not reach the bottom of the sump, as they don't pull a great deal out. will look in to another down the dipstick type pump in future.
Eberspacher has decidied to seize its bearings, so its now removed...
will service at home.
fault find all the dash board misbehaving lights.... that took some fiddling.
Fitted new VDO sender for the stbd turbo pressure. Result... all my work trying to get the engines to perform has payed off. Now they are both showing identical boost pressure at the same rpm... just shy of 33 knots with a mucky hull, so am very very happy :) the recon turbos and fuel pumps have done the job...
clean up day today.....
 
has been flat calm out here, with just a big lazy swell coming through. cold out on the water with your head over the top. But my week of winter maintenance is done... Think I deserve a beer tonight :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top