Help please will guessing ID of this pipe.

[DAKA]

I have a balance pipe between port and starboard tanks with fuel cock at either end.

It would be ideal to saw the pipe in half and join it with a solid 4 inch long pipe and jubilee clips so I could drain a few gallons out the bottom of each tank every year or two (just maintenance, no problems so far touch wood).

Does anyone recognise the pipe and care to guess at the size of pipe I need to join it (after I saw it in half).

Its the black one.

 

[DAKA]

second photo

 

[DAKA]

3rd photo

 

[alruss]

Daka, from pictures I would not hazard a guess at size, because there is no reference to judge by. I can tell you that that pipe is a manufactured pipe with a swivel at each end so by undoing the nut at the end it will come off the valve. With it removed, you can do your worst to it.

 

[PCUK]

As it's a 25mm valve perhaps the pipe is 25mm or 1 inch. If not, once it is off you could have a tee welded into it and add another valve as a drain-off.

 

[jfm]

I have no idea about the size becuase there is no reference in the pictures but I wouldn't do this job with jubilee clips. I'd want proper swaged fittings

 

[DAKA]

Thanks to everyone for your input.

I didnt know it would swivel thanks, although the photo is clear access isnt easy and I dont think I can easily get a large adjustable in to undo it from the tank, hence I want a mid access point.

25mm sounds good

I had been put off 25mm as I thought there was a converter attached which I now understand is a swivel .

I appreciate your concern jfm thanks but I think jubilee clips are safe as the pipe isnt permanently charged and its only for emergency use of diesel transfer. it is safely tucked away and shouldnt have any force to deal with.

I wish to add a join and T off the join , once a year I can then attach a drill pump to through a filter head straight back into the filler.

being tight the plan is

when changing the pre filter (fs1000, separates water including emulsified water) I screw the old one onto a drill pump filter head and filter my tank bottoms getting rid of water and c r a p while putting the diesel back into the tank.

I just need to know the size of pipe I need before I start with the saw.

 

[scej]

If it where me I would take the pipe off and take it to my local hydraulic hose repair shop and ask them to cut it and put proper swaged fittings on it buy a tee and a ball valve to drain as and when.

That hose has steel reinforcing in it so it will be difficult to get a decent seal using jubilee clips. If it leaks when you open the valves to balance tanks the cost of swaged fittings and a decent job will be less than the cost of the fuel going into the bilge!

 

[DAKA]

Thanks for the extra details, understood now.

I'll think again.

 

[PaulGooch]

Thanks for the extra details, understood now.

I'll think again.

I'd definitely agree with JFM and scej Pete. Get the pipe cut and fit swaged ends and a proper tee.

You could go a step farther than your drill plan though. From the Tee, connect a new swaged pipe and run this to a conveniently situated valve (if the valves on the bottom of the tanks are normally closed, you could leave the valve out) and filter head. After the filter head, fit an inline pump, that returns the fuel to the tank.

You could open a valve at the bottom of a tank, switch the pump on and "polish" some fuel anytime you want with minimum fuss.

 

[DAKA]

My current thoughts to be honest are that this plan has sunk at an early stage.

I may resurrect if I ever get a diesel problem.

Some plans work and some dont.

The help and advice my forum buddies have afforded me has allowed me to start the project virtually before I actually got into a real mess .

If I hadnt of asked I would have bought one of these , bought a 8 inch x 1inch (+ 1.5.inch) pipe 2 x jubilee clips and got stuck in with the hack saw...........


I didnt initially understand jfm's post but do following scej's input.

I cant take the pipe off in case the valves arnt 100% and access isnt great.

Plan has sunk but I am pleased I asked and grateful to all who contributed .