gas tank issue (buechler & Sons Inc. 89)

[richsbca]

Working on my 1989 sea ray 160 bowrider which has a 20 gal 1988 buechler & Sons Inc tank installed. I've been able to pump and start the engine for months now with no issues. Yesterday I was going to take her out and the pump bulb wouldn't pressurize. So, I pulled the whole fuel line off including the filter from the inlet off the outboard engine to the gastank and tested it using a gallon can of gas; works fine. So, next I put a fuel line on the end of the tank and blew into it and didn't hear any bubbles... It's like im blowing into an empty tank yet I just put 3 gallons on top of some gas that was in there from last time I took the boat out. Fuel guage reads over half tank and when I shake the boat the needle of the gauge rocks back and forth indicating that's reading the 'roll' of the gas in the tank. There is a black plastic elbow (see attached image) coming out of the tank that the fuel line hooks up to and it seems like a down hose or stem into the gas tank may have fallen/broke off, however I know nothing about the Buechler and sons tank setup and don't know how this elbow comes off. Looks like it may just unscrew, but I sure don't want to break it! Can anyone shed some light on this for me? This all seems to have started when I added the 3 gallons of fuel and I heard a suction sound like the tank was pressurized. I'd really like to take her out again soon.

Hope this is the correct froum for this...

 

[richsbca]

Re: gas tank issue (buechler & Sons Inc. 89)

Just to update: I've pulled the fill hose off the tank and can get a hose into the tank and actually pump fuel out into a can using the pump bulb that's for the fuel system. Seems like this dang black plastic elbow is the culprit, just wish I knew how to get it off. Seems like it'll break before it unscrews, but maybe that's part of the process of removing. Also wondering it this could be some type of shut-off system. Anyhow thanks for any assistance!

 

[sasto]

Re: gas tank issue (buechler & Sons Inc. 89)

Try priming with the fuel cap removed. Was there any vaccum when you removed the hose?

 

[richsbca]

Re: gas tank issue (buechler & Sons Inc. 89)

Try priming with the fuel cap removed. Was there any vaccum when you removed the hose?

Thanks for the reply: there was no vaccum loss when I removed the fill hose, but when I initially put fuel in the tank I did notice as suction sound. But I guess it well could have been the result of positive pressure in the tank.

At any rate would the prime process consist of hooking up the pump bulb and hoses up to the gas tank and putting the outlet end in a can of gas? Never been through the prime prosses. If you mean pump the bulb with the cap removed and the fuel line all hooked up, I've done that already.

Thanks again!

 

[j_martin]

Re: gas tank issue (buechler & Sons Inc. 89)

The primer bulb should just pull fuel out of the tank, unless the dip tube is broken or leaking. Likewise, air blown back should bubble, unless the dip tube is....... You have to get it out of the tank and repair it.

You don't have a detail of the fuel withdrawal fitting. If it's threaded, it will turn out, one way or another. If it's some sort of a crimped clamp on deal, you'll have to hunt for the parts, cross reference numbers, ask around at boat places, etc., or pull the tank, get it drained and dry, and have somebody with a plastic welding setup weld a threaded outlet to the tank so you can screw a commodity dip tube liquid withdrawal fitting in it.

Redneck alert.
In a pinch, you'd be amazed at how well Shoe Goo stands up against oil and fuel.

hope it helps
John

 

[richsbca]

Re: gas tank issue (buechler & Sons Inc. 89)

The primer bulb should just pull fuel out of the tank, unless the dip tube is broken or leaking. Likewise, air blown back should bubble, unless the dip tube is....... You have to get it out of the tank and repair it.

You don't have a detail of the fuel withdrawal fitting. If it's threaded, it will turn out, one way or another. If it's some sort of a crimped clamp on deal, you'll have to hunt for the parts, cross reference numbers, ask around at boat places, etc., or pull the tank, get it drained and dry, and have somebody with a plastic welding setup weld a threaded outlet to the tank so you can screw a commodity dip tube liquid withdrawal fitting in it.

Redneck alert.
In a pinch, you'd be amazed at how well Shoe Goo stands up against oil and fuel.

hope it helps
John

Thanks for the reply Sir. The black fitting is pictured in the image attached to the post. I agree that the dip tube has been compromised and will need to be repaired/replaced. Just need to figure how to get this fitting off. I may have to break it in doing so it seems.

Thanks again!

 

[sasto]

Re: gas tank issue (buechler & Sons Inc. 89)

Rich, you obviously have an understanding of your system. Someone will come along that has seen that fitting. New to me. I will be looking for the answer too, so if you find out on your own, please post.

 

[richsbca]

Re: gas tank issue (buechler & Sons Inc. 89)

Thanks everyone! I think I got it licked... I was able to get the fitting off the tank and it does in fact screw off. Mine was just stuck and I almost broke it using a pair of slip joint pliers to get it to unscrew. It streched to just about the breaking piont but slowly began to back out. WHAT A P.I.T.A! Looks like the old vinyl tube couldn't take the Ojai heat and just gave out and fell into the tank. Going to run some of this fuel out and try to fish that old tube out (what's left of it) and use some fuel line in it's place for now. Hopefully I'm not tempting fate to much by declearing this fixed!