FUEL TANK REMOVAL

[ltdan]

IN A 23CC, ONCE YOU'VE GOT THE CONSOLE AND FLOOR SECTION OUT, IT CAN BE DONE IN A HALF AN HOUR!! STARTED MINE AT 11 A.M. SUNDAY AND HAD IT STANDING UPRIGHT WAY BEFORE LUNCH. DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CHANCE TO CRACK A MICH LIGHT! TILL I WAS DONE THAT IS [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] . IF ANYONE NEED'S TO KNOW HOW I'LL BE GLAD TO POST. LT DAN

[ocuyler]

LtDan.

What did you use to cut out the foam, Sawsall? Was it fastened? Is yours about 28" wide x almost 8' long? How deep is the tank?

Whad ya find down in there?

Otto

[ltdan]

HEY OTTO, GET THIS- A CHAINSAW! I USED AN ELECTRIC CHAINSAW,IT'S EASYER TO CONTROLL THE ELECTRIC THAN GAS. ONCE THE TANK IS EXPOSED,YOU RUN THE SAW CAREFULLY BETWEEN THE STRINGER AND TANK. IT GO'S THROUGH THE FOAM LIKE A HOT KNIFE THROUGH BUTTER. PUT A CROW BAR ON ONE END, AND POP , OUT SHE COME'S. I SWEAR IT ONLY TOOK 15 MINUTE'S AND THE TANK WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. 99"L X 28"W X 12"HIGH. LT

[FELLOW-SHIP]

BOY I WISH I THOUGHT OF THAT WHEN I DID MINE. I USED A ROUND NARROW STEAL SHAFTS AND A OLD THICK FIBERGLASS FISHING POLE TO BREAD OFF SMALL PIECES ABOUT 1-2” THICK IT TOOK 4 + HRS OF HARD WORK AND 3 BUD’S TO DO IT.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[Matt1121]

Otto-

Just be careful that they aren't any fuel of fuel vapors that have soaked into the foam, especially if the tank was leaking. A friend of mine was removing a fuel tank from a boat and a spark from a saw ignited the vapors in the foam and it flashed over. He suffered some burns on his arms and hands and spent about 10 days in the hospital.

It was a freak accident, not extremely common.Just be sure to sniff around and be extra careful when working around a fuel tank.

-Ed-

[Matt1121]

Otto-

Just be careful that they aren't any fuel of fuel vapors that have soaked into the foam, especially if the tank was leaking. A friend of mine was removing a fuel tank from a boat and a spark from a saw ignited the vapors in the foam and it flashed over. He suffered some burns on his arms and hands and spent about 10 days in the hospital.

It was a freak accident, not extremely common.Just be sure to sniff around and be extra careful when working around a fuel tank.

-Ed-

[Briguy]

Holy CRAP! A chain saw? I would rather do it slowly and be around to talk about it. If you just had a little fuel on the foam and there just happened to be an exposed screw head. KAAABBAMMMMMMM! A guy here in Bradenton just blew himself and his assistant to Kingdom Come.

Did you also check if the fuel tank was empty by looking in the little hole and holding a bic up for light? Just kidding, be careful.

I removed a tank from my 20 robalo about 8 years ago. Did it the old fationed way. Slow and easy.

[Finster]

I did the chainsaw thing on a deck once and went through the side of the boat [img]images/icons/blush.gif[/img] I will say this, it is fast [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ltdan]

HOLY CRAP YOU GUY'S,, NEXT THING YOU KNOW IS, THEY'LL BE AN AMBULANCE CHASER AFTER ME THREATENING A LAWSUIT. KAAAAABLAAAM, 10 DAY'S IN THE HOSPITAL,THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE HULL [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] AND EVERYTHING ELSE [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] . SOMEWHERE IN MY POST I THINK I SAID "VERY CAREFULLY". WHAT I DIDN'T SAY WAS TO BE SURE TO CONNECT THE FILL TUBE ON YOUR TANK TO THE EXHAUST PIPE OF YOUR CAR(START IT). THE CARBON MONOXIDE WILL ELIMINATE OXOGEN. THEN TAKE ANY OLD HIGH SPEED FAN AND POINT IT AT THE AREA OF SURGURY. DOING THIS IN A WELL VENTALATED AREA'S A GOOD IDEA TOO! IT'S A WELL KNOWN FACT YOU NEED THEE PART'S TO CREATE FIRE/EXPLOSION,,,FUEL-OXOGEN-SPARK. ELIMINATE ONE,AND NOTHING CAN HAPPEN. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT VERY CAREFULLY????? THESE PRECAUTION'S SHOULD ALL BE USED REGUARDLESS OF WHICH METHEOD YOU USE,, OLD FASHION-4 TO 8 HOUR'S USING A HAND SAW,CHISEL,HAMMER, AND OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN CAUSE A SPARK,,,, OR 15 MINUTE'S WITH AN ELECTRIC CHAINSAW. COME TO THINK OF IT???? DO YOUR PERCENTAGES OF A MISHAP GO UP OVER A 4 TO 8 HOUR PERIOD????? OR IS THE RISK HIGHER IN 15 MINUTE'S.THE PLAIN FACT IS,,,,, ONLY AN IDIOT COULD BLOW HIMSELF UP PULLING A FUEL TANK [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] BETTER OFF MAYBY TO PAY A PRO TO REMOVE THE TANK OTTO,, LABOR SHOULD RUN BETWEEN $300-$500. OH YEA,,,GUESS WHAT THEY USE TO CUT THE FOAM [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] WHERE DO YA THINK I GOT THE IDEA. BOOM! LT DAN

[ocuyler]

LtDan,

Thanks for the tips. I really wasn't worried about it, just procrastinating. Now I'm paranoid. We have EMT's in town.

Slow and easy, baby.

Otto