Cutting a Hole in My Fuel Tank!

[Michael In Tennessee]

I see you are almost done, but I might suggest enlarging the hole to a square or rectangle. Then, you can insert a inner plate on the diagonal and not have to cut the inside plate in half. Manhole covers are round so they can't fall in. In this case, you want something to fall in, so a square works better. Either way, the plate is better than the rubber bung.

 

[Wingsy]

SMACK! << That was the sound of me slapping my forehead. Michael where were you when I needed you? You are so very right - a rectangular hole would have been so much easier. Guess I got round in my head and never gave it another thought.

This project is done and hopefully I'll never have to deal with this again. Turned out to be way more than I bargained for. But still, I'd probably do it all over again to save 400 bucks for a 1-time fix. And at least if it does happen again, pumping out the fuel & debris will be a piece of cake.

After cutting the hole I pumped out the fuel, put in a gallon and pumped that out also, then went in with a shop vac and got whatever may have been left. With the borescope it looks clean as a whistle. I also finished up my little gas station, and with that filter after the pump I should get any water & trash that may get in the cans.

I just finished this up late today and haven't had a chance to go up a steep hill pulling the bush hog, and with the forecast calling for rain for the next SEVEN days I won't get a chance for a while. When I do I'll come back and let ya know if all this work paid off.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Sorry I was late to the party. I had read your thread earlier and was just checking for an update when the idea occurred to me. So, you didn't learn of this much later than me!

 

[whiteturbo]

I think it's time for extreme measures. Problem is trash in my fuel tank. I've replaced fuel filters and pumped out the tank, hoping to suck out whatever is clogging the line. The tank is such a weird shape I guess the end of the suction hose never got to the outlet, because it didn't help. This is on a Kubota BX25. Blowing air back up the line did dislodge the debris, as I had great flow out of the tank after that. It was just a trickle before. But then the first time I pulled a bush hog up a steep hill it choked again.

I suppose I COULD give the dealer $400 to remove and clean the tank but I'm not nearly ready to surrender. I read somewhere of a guy who cut a hole in his tank so he could get to the outlet area and clean it. He put an aluminum deck plate over the hole and I think glued it in with silicon rubber. I'm thinking of buying a large rubber plug (~1-2" dia) and cutting a hole to match the plug, right above the outlet port. I think the plug should stay put since the tank is never under pressure (correct?). I'm thinking the large hole in the tank would make it easy to suck out any trash that's collected around the outlet port. That outlet appears to be at the lowest point in the tank.

What do you think? Will I live to regret this?

I have John Deere and the outlet in the bottom of the tank screws out and it has a washable screen built in the fitting. You may want to check and see if yours is the same.

 

[WranglerX]

Cleaning you gas station was probably best move ever....

Dale

 

[muddstopper]

Had a d31 kamatsu loader once that I couldnt keep filters on. I finally drained the tank, filtering the fuel thru a Tshirt. I took a small copper pipe and hooked on the end of my air hose and put that down in the tank to keep a steady stream of air. I would pour the old fuel back in the tank and let it drain back into my tshirt filter over a bucket. I did this several times until the fuel ran clean. The air kept everything in the tank agitated so it would flush out with the fuel. Once I had the tank clean, I refilled with clean fuel. Never had another problem with clogged filters. The old fuel, I used to burn brush piles. I also once had a ballast regulator, those that work on the railroad wil know what they are, that would clog filters almost every day. finally took the top off the tank and took a shop vac and sucked the tank clean. Where the top had been glued on they had used silicon sealer. There where gobbs of the stuff down in the tank that kept clogging fuel lines and filters. Silicon is not gas or oil proof, and will soften and dissolve in a gas tank. If your going to use a sealer, get some yamabond or similar gasket glue. Blue glue or the red automotive sealer will fail.