cleaning portable tanks

[sprouticus]

I have to find time to do this job this week, and was just sitting here wondering if anybody had any tips on what I would find. I tried a search with no luck.<br /><br />Basically my problem is this.<br /><br />Last year I used 2 older portable OMC tanks. (I just bought the boat last year). After a few outings I noticed that with one of the tanks the engine acted kind of funny......kind of skipped, hesitated, acted like water was in the gas, not sure how to explain it....but it only did it on the one tank.<br /><br />This year I have aquired 2 newer looking Yamaha tanks. I plan on mounting the tanks in the front of the boat to even out wieght distribution...plus it will allow me to carry almost 100L (20-25 Gallons) of gas. The tanks had fluid in them when I got them. I assume it was gasoline at one point, but it wasn't after I got to them. I emptied the old gas in an old paint can, and filled the tanks with fresh gas. The next trip out I wanted to try them out so I changed the fitting on my fuel hose to a yamaha one, and everything seemed to work great. The first tank ran out of gas while I was on the kneeboard, so I told my buddy to change tanks, and give the ball a couple of squeezes till it got hard. I think he might have squeezed a few times too many cause he said the ball never got hard, but my engine did flood. After waiting a while, we got the motor started, and proceeded to head back to dock, but suddenly RPMS went down to almost nil, My friend was driving so I raced to the back to squeeze the bulb, and it was flat. I opened the gas tank cap, which didn't help. <br /><br />We finally ended up having to siphon gas out of tank # 2 into tank # 1 to get home.<br /><br />SO here are my questions.<br /><br />I have never had one of these tanks open, but there are screws on the part that you hook the hose up to, I am assuming that there will be a hose attached to this on the inside that goes into the tank........I also assume there must be some sort of in-tank filter that is probably clogged up on one OMC tank, and really clogged up on #2 yamaha tank......is this correct??? Any special tricks to cleaning or replacing these??I appologize if I am not explaining this very well.<br /><br />Also.........will my fuel pump on my motor (1990 90hp evinrude) have any problems pumping gas the 16' or so that it will be when I mount the 2 tanks in the front???<br /><br />thanx for reading and for your input.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

I doubt there is a filter in the tank. May be a pickup tube in there that is clogged. When you put gasoline back into the other tank, did the bulb pump up at that point? Post a little more information. I used to have a 'rude on two portable tanks, and one of the tank fittings was a little tricky and would pull air if I didn't fool around with it just right.

 

[crazyray]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

I would think that with good quality new fitting that your motor would have no trouble pulling fuel really not an issue of straight distance but rather an difference in height<br />at least to an reasonable point. Now if you had big engine that would really suck it up maybe but don't think you will see this, if any problem can go bigger line and plumb straight to tank with no quick couple to see if makes an difference

 

[sprouticus]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

bulb pumped up perfectly when I changed back to tank # 1 Studly. (thanx for the feedback by the way) What other information would you like?? I am pretty sure that my problem is with these 2 tanks..because i do not have the problem with the other 2 tanks. I am not sure about the filter either but there must be a tube of some kind. HOw else would you get the gas at the bottom of the tank?<br /><br />And thankyou crazyray for your response. the front of the boat is higher than where they are currently stashed in the back. also I spent over 3.00 a foot on the fuel line.......it is pretty heavy duty stuff. Noticebly bigger than the stuff I am currently using.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

Why fool around with outdated tanks? Walmart has plastic tanks for 20 bucks. No headaches.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

If everything went fine switching back to the 1st tank, then there is definitely a problem with the tank or connection on the second. There is a check valve on the tank fitting, I would recommend a thorough inspection of the connector.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

open the tank, and inspect. could be rust in pick up tube, varnished old gas, etc. be sure to replace the gasket between the tank and pick assembly. we use to use inner tube for gaskets.

 

[sprouticus]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

thanx for the tips guys....especially the inner tube one. I'm gonna go work on it now. I'll tell you how it went.<br /><br />I have one of those wallmart plastic tanks. I hate it. it was in my boat full of pre-mixed gas on hot day last summer. I guess the vent was not fully closed or something cause it squirted gas/oil all over the carpet in my boat. Spent hours trying to clean it.....never did quite get it all. I will only use metal tanks now.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

There are 3 kinds of people: Those that can count, and those that can't.

Hey that's four!!!

 

[sprouticus]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

ok.....well the OMC and Yamaha tanks both have a screen on their pick-up. Different design, but both effective. I checked all 4 tanks and neither was overly dirty. I was able to blow air through all 4 quite easily when I pushed in on the coupler pin thingy (sorry I don't know the proper term but I hope you know what I am talking about.) I re-used the old gaskets.they seemed to be in decent shape and i'm sure they'll be fine. I don't think I actually fixed anything.....but I know gas will move through the lines now.......I hooked one end up to each tank and pumped the bulb..........the feeder tank was higher than the other one and it worked like a siphon. Good way to make 2 half full tanks into one empty/one full tank i guess. The gas wasn't moving very quickly..just barely more than what could be considered dripping. I hope that is fast enough. for the motor.<br /><br />new question.<br /><br />last year I bought a new to me motor. It came with another OMC tank . (yes.I have 6 portable gas tanks) I just decided I should clean this one up too while I was at it. It was half full with last falls gas. It smelled ok so I decided to save it for my old lawn mower. I poured a little in a cup.and the rest in 2 jerry cans. my question is.......why is this gas red?? I at first thought it might be a 2 stroke oil, but the motor had a VRO. Could this be stablizer??? Any guesses. Should I just throw this out?<br /><br />In any case...........thanx for reading...i gotta go eat something..........I did some siphoning while I was out there without the bulb..and I gotta get the taste of gas outta my mouth.

 

[sprouticus]

Re: cleaning portable tanks

lol.<br /><br />the red is from a dye that we use up here in Canada for gas that will not be burned in a vehicle driven on a road. The gas is cheaper because you do not have to pay a "road tax" on it. I only ever bought died gas once before as the only place in town that sells it is usually closed when I get off work, and is so far out of my way it is hardly worth it. I feel dumb for not realizing this right away..