Petrol Tank Removal

[shaky]

Hi all,
As can be seen from the photo it is time to get the welder out and fix the "ventilation" on the drivers wheel arch..... Not to mention fix the dodgy seatbelt anchorage point.



It is therefore petrol tank out time.... I've read the Wiki: I have an early (w-reg) tank so I need to be careful as it sounds like spares are hard to come by.

As a starting point do folk recommend trying to undo the Jubilees behind the filler neck (Very crusty as seen in the picture) or undo the three self tap screws behind the filler cap to remove the filler pipe.


Any other pieces of tank removal advice and wheel arch repair wisdom are also welcome.

No doubt I shall also be back to the forum for follow-on advice on repairing tanks, fuel senders and other jobs as this will inevitably escalate....

Best regards all,

Paul.

[faggie]

better of to replace tank with a newer tank and plastic filler pipe as its probably in a bad condition

[dugcati]

For the cost - renew all the robber grommets on the tank

Verify there are no holes in the top of the tank (dark room with a bright torch in the sender hole)

[shaky]

Thanks for the replies....

I know that a simple welding repair will snowball into a lot of other jobs!

[Cruz]

Also replace all the breather pipes to the tanks under the arches

And when the large metal ring that holds the filler neck in place crumbles away you can get a replacement from brickwerks in stainless

[billy739]

looking at the picture the filler neck has already been repaired! should be the same width all the way along!

[shaky]

Thanks for the comments,

I'm bracing myself for the repair.... Looks like next weekend now as I need the van to shift some stuff tomorrow.

I don't get any petrol smells from down there but I guess that doesn't mean that there isn't any leaks...

Cheers,

Paul

[shaky]

Got the tank off last weekend, thanks for the advice....

It is pretty manky!


Started cleaning it up last night and I've already found a dirty great fibreglass patch on it!... I'll have to delve a bit deeper to see if the tank is saveable.... All a bit frustrating, I've not started the wheel arch welding which was the original job that I had to do!

[Cruz]

Is it worth the faff when you can just put a new tank on, new breather hoses, grommets and a new filler neck and forget about ever having to drop it again?

Also whilst it's out check the integrity of the hydraulic clutch/brake pipes. They also rust above the tank

And the handbrake cable, and the radiator/heater matrix coolant pipes.

[Ian Hulley]

WHS ^^^

A good post.

Ian

[shaky]

Is it worth the faff when you can just put a new tank on, new breather hoses, grommets and a new filler neck and forget about ever having to drop it again?

Also whilst it's out check the integrity of the hydraulic clutch/brake pipes. They also rust above the tank

And the handbrake cable, and the radiator/heater matrix coolant pipes.

Yes I'm starting to come to that conclusion, I'll just have another go in daylight tomorrow and decide.... Daft thing is there wasn't anything wrong with the tank... I'm supossed to be welding the wheel arch!

Never mind fitting a new tank would just about double the value of the old bus

Paul.

[kevtherev]

Yes I'm starting to come to that conclusion, I'll just have another go in daylight tomorrow and decide.... Daft thing is there wasn't anything wrong with the tank... I'm supossed to be welding the wheel arch!

Thats a thing you're going to have to get used to Shaky.
I have lost count of the "while you're there" moments. When a £20 job turns into a £125 refit.

undoing years of neglect is a labour of love... and you need a pot of it

[shaky]

Hi all,

I finally found time to try and get the tank back in today.... Grr I've had to walk away from it for a while!! What a pig.

First mistake: I hooked the straps on, sat the tank on that and with two jacks one under each strap lifted the tank into place.... It wouldn't fit that way because of the crossmember at the front...

Start again. Fitted it front end first and put the straps on second... I'm glad that I jacked the front end up now).

Now how the hell do you plug the pipes back in!! I need longer arms, smaller hands and a hell of a lot more strength!... I finally got one in but on the other end the bl***** grommet came back out so it will be tank off again to put the grommet back in. I couldn't get the fuel filler drain into its grommet at all I just haven't the strength to force it in!! As for the flexible pipes to the expansion bottles.... I just dunno... Then there is the fuel filler!

So it is take break time. Walk away for an hour or two..

I wish I was twenty years younger.... At fifty I just haven't got the flexibliity to grovel around like I used to, and with no tank on I can hardly drive it to a garage and get someone else to do it.

Any advice welcomed from those who have been there..... (It is an early Aircooled tank BTW).

[tinman]

Fit the grommets to the tank. Smear a little grease around the inside of the grommet this will make it easier to push the plastic piece into it, be careful not to push the grommet through into the tank--Oh! you already know that don't you You have to rub all the skin off the back of your hand to make this possible

[shaky]

You have to rub all the skin off the back of your hand to make this possible

I've found this to be true as well!!

I'll have another go tomorrow following your advice.

Thanks.

Paul.