Help help - my tank is stuck...

[GKevinR]

trying to remove a belly tank from a 1974 center console. The tank was surrounded by foam, but I have cut out and remove all of the foam that I can possibly get too. There's still probably foam underneath the tank and I think that is what has the tank stuck in the box. anybody have any ideas for getting the tank unstuck? Chemicals that would dissolve the foam. Some trick with a tool that will get it out. We've already tried putting a hoist bolt through the sending unit hole. That did not work at all.

 

[alldodge]

Several have been where your at including myself, and in short there is no easy way. Need to get something under it and apply pressure. I managed to get a couple 2X on the deck and some others to keep stepping one.

Used some thick plumbers hanging straps and kept pushing then under the tank

If the tank is trash you can cut it up

 

[Bondo]

If the tank is trash you can cut it up

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... This, ^^^, is the easy way,......

 

[froggy1150]

If you can get under one side.. try a thin steel aircraft cable. Put handles on each end and saw back and forth while pulling to other side.

 

[tpenfield]

It takes about 1,000 lbs of force to break a foamed-in tank loose. If the tank is confined at the ends, your only hope would be to dig enough foam away from under one end so that you can get a lifting strap (5,000 +/- lb rating) and then put some 4x4 lumber across the opening to provide a support to lift the strap with either a hydraulic or scissor jack.

A cable is likely to cut into the tank.

Here is a picture of the tank on my Formula 242 being 'popped' out of the belly . . .


As I recall, I broke the strap shown in the picture and had to go with a stronger strap. Fortunately, there were the main stringers either side of the tank, so the 4x4 had good support either side of the tank.

 

[GKevinR]

Tried again today. No joy. The tank is so tight to the floor that all I could get under one corner was a piece of mig wire. No chance currently for a strap. I'm stumped...

 

[harringtondav]

Are you trying to remove your tank to replace it? Are you trying to repair it, or save it as part of a deeper repair?

If replace, butcher it with a sawzall and grub it out.

If save the tank, the only add I have is that solvents are effective, but potentially dangerous with their fumes. Acetone dissolves styrofoam/polystyrene, but keeps dissolving the foam beyond your intent. If you go this route you may have to replace some foam after you extract your tank.

 

[GKevinR]

Are you trying to remove your tank to replace it? Are you trying to repair it, or save it as part of a deeper repair?

If replace, butcher it with a sawzall and grub it out.

If save the tank, the only add I have is that solvents are effective, but potentially dangerous with their fumes. Acetone dissolves styrofoam/polystyrene, but keeps dissolving the foam beyond your intent. If you go this route you may have to replace some foam after you extract your tank.

remove to check, clean, paint and reinstall without any foam. i poured some acetone on a piece of the foam - it didnt seem to do anything. how long does it take to work? will it hurt the fiberglass coffin the tank is in?

 

[froggy1150]

Aluminum or plastic?

 

[tpenfield]

Maybe post some pictures, so we can see what you are seeing. I think it took about 2 weeks of fussing & cussing to get my fuel tank out of my F-242.

 

[Scott Danforth]

nothing will dissolve the foam. anything that would dissolve the foam would also dissolve the boat.

it needs to be mechanically removed, mechanically cut, or the tank needs to be mechanically brute-forced out.

 

[GKevinR]

Aluminum or plastic?

Aluminum - thick aluminum. I weight 280 and can walk on the tank top with barely any flex.

 

[GKevinR]

Maybe post some pictures, so we can see what you are seeing. I think it took about 2 weeks of fussing & cussing to get my fuel tank out of my F-242.

will do. I'm almost at the point of taking it to a professional so I don't tear up my "new" boat.

 

[alldodge]

Its probably not thick, the tank has baffles which gives it support

 

[GKevinR]

Its probably not thick, the tank has baffles which gives it support

I'm sure you are correct. Whatever it is, it is solid

 

[tpenfield]

100 gallon tanks are usually 0.125” thick aluminum. 150 gallon tanks are usually 0.190” thick.

 

[kcassells]

How's about some more pics and what foam you have removed. More than 1.

 

[GKevinR]

How's about some more pics and what foam you have removed. More than 1.

will get them posted this evening after work

 

[froggy1150]

This is a horrible phone sketch but this was my idea. I was going to try this on my tank but I was able to pull it out. I put a 4x6 across the gunnels and managed to dig down and get a choker around tank. Dug out as much foam as I could get and started pulling/prying and got it out. This was my backup idea. While pulling I was going to cut foam with cable.green is deck,Red is tank and black is cable. Never tried cuz I got tank out but if it's aluminum and you pull across botto. Of tank at that angle I don't see it hurting tank. Foam is soft

 

[GKevinR]

here are some pics. let me know what you think. the tank is so tight to the floor i was barely able to get a piece of MIG wire under it - and that took some doing. I had hoped to use it like a cheese cutter but it wont stand enough pressure to get it to "cut".