Fuel tank ARRRGGGHH

Post by **paulk** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 8:24 am

I have been following the haynes manual (I know stupid thing to do but)

Remove filler cap and drain tank - Easy

Disconnect hose clip and pull off filler tube - Easy

Disconnect petrol guage - V V easy

unscrew tank holding screws - not easy infact b. difficult but got them all in the end

Undo fuel outlet pipe - Found spanner to fit (funny size might even have been metric) and turned only for brass fitting to completely shear off and disintegrate But still leaving enough in the main tank to hold the pipe securely in place.

What do I do now?? Help

My ideas

1, cut fuel pipe (could do with a new one anyway) and drill out fitting but this could easily ruin tank.

2, Replace tank 2nd hand and get new fuel line

3, light newspaper stick in tank retire 200yds

Yours desperate,tired,skinned knuckles and with slight bruise from beating head against brick wall

Paulk

Post by **ColinP** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 8:31 am

Paulk,

A suggestion from some-one who's not done it (Yet!).

Is it possible to cut off the fuel pipe (as you say it's cheap enough to replace), then insert a stud extractor to unwind the offending bit? I understand that the pipe isn't held in place by the nut anymore?

The hard steel extractor will easily bite into the brass

Colin

Post by **paulk** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 8:41 am

I could try that.

Unfortuneatly me and stud extractors have a kind of hate - loathe relationship. I usuallly get a better job with a drill but in this case I can't drill all the way through because of the bit where the pipe seals against the tank fitting.

Thanks for the suggestion

Paulk

Post by **Alec** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 9:18 am

Hello Paul,

second hand tank is one option, the other is to get some good stud extractors such as sold by Snap On, they are much shorter than the conventional ones and grip very well. I would think you will need to dill part way into the broken union so as to grip the union rather than the pipe. The union, I would almost be certain is a whitworth size.

Alec

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:10 am

Why were you taking the tank out anyway - is it re-useable ? If so - then cut the pipe and deal with the problem on the bench. Drilling out/extractors should do it- but soak well in release oil first.

Post by **paulk** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:24 am

Cheers alec

Have cut pipe and removed tank.

Have drilled out the old fuel line union and now need to rethread the block

Any Ideas which thread?

I make the pump end Maybe 1/4" BSP (approx 1/2" o/D and 19tpi)

But I don't know if both ends are the same thread. I know they are one male and one female end.

Ta Paulk

Ps Removing tank to do more welding (rear spring hanger and boot repairs)

Post by **Alec** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:45 am

Hello Paul,
it could well be BSP, but parallel rather than taper. did you manage to drill out the union without going into the block thread? You will need to get a new union first to determine the thread unless someone here can confirm it.

Alec

Post by **paulk** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:59 am

I've drilled in far enough that I now appear to have a brass ,steel, brass, steel thread pattern within the block and need to cut the brass out

hang on a sec,

just called ESM and they think it's 1/2" -20 UNF

Paulk