[C320-list] My fuel tank leaks!

[jonvez at comcast.net]

Bruce,

I will probably see if I can save the old tank as a winter project, but in the meantime, the new one should be here by the end of the week. Yes, keeping other metal and moisture off of the tank is a priority. There's a great picture in the Calder book showing what a penny did to an aluminum tank! Apparently even metal particles from work being done around the tank is enough to start enough corrosion for a pinhole...these tanks supposedly only last 7-17 years depending on the conditions they are subjected to....

Regards,

Jon Vez

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: bruceheyman at cox.net 

> Jon, 
> I believe you are on the right track to remove the tank. I've heard that you 
> can take it to an automotive radiator repair place and they will steam clean all 
> the crud out of the inside. Then you can see what you have. Disimiar metal on 
> an aluminum tank is a big no-no. Also you don't want the tank siting on 
> anything that will hold moisture against the tank or you will get lots of pin 
> whole leaks. 
> Never done but came close on the old boat, seems aluminuim tanks usually start 
> to go after 20-30 years? 
> Bruce 
> Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: jonvez at comcast.net 
> Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:03:11 
> To:C320-List 
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] My fuel tank leaks! 
> 
> Thanks Barry, 
> 
> I will look for the pump mentioned. Unfortunately, it's not the connections as I 
> have eliminated these. It is coming from the bottom of the tank. Unfortunately, 
> Catalina was not very helpful in advice for removing the tank. They also think 
> that the strap is 'after market'. I told them it came this way when I boat the 
> boat new. They said they now use wood 'glassed' into the boat as a tie down?? I 
> will try and get a tie down with no metal parts at West. I also asked whether I 
> should put a sheet of neoprene down to protect the bottom of the tank--again not 
> much help. Does anyone have any idea if this is a good idea or not and where one 
> could purchase a sheet? 
> 
> Looks like a mainsheet article brewing... 
> 
> Thanks again for the help! 
> 
> Regards, 
> 
> Jon 
> 
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> From: Barry Fahrer 
> 
> > 
> > I purchased a fuel polisher at the Newport show last year and one of the 
> > recommendations was to use a pump to circulate the fuel through the polisher 
> > with an electric pump. This is the info from the company. "The part # for 
> > the Carter fuel pump is P-4389 and can be bought at Napa." The tank can be 
> > accessed via the Port lazerette. I think the tank can be removed, although 
> > I have never done it, but I have spent a bit of time working on the fuel 
> > polisher. You would have to remove the shelf in the starboard lazerette. 
> > The tank is held in place with a strap. As I remember there are 4 
> > connections to the tank. The fuel fill inlet, the inlet vent, the engine 
> > fuel feed, and the engine fuel return. Perhaps one of theese connections is 
> > leaking? 
> > Good luck. 
> > BARRY --... ...-- 
> > TRANSIT C-320 # 126 
> > 
> > 
> >