Fuel blockage on seafari - Page 2

eggsuckindog · #11 11-09-2009, 06:12 PM

blow back into tank - you should here bubbles if fuel is in there - that maybe an isolated piece of crap - its a big tank to have that get sucked in

McGillicuddy · #12 11-09-2009, 06:25 PM

Thanks. Exactly what I wanted to hear. I just changed one out just to see what was in it when I had carb floatissue. Drained it and found some particulate matter and some silicone no water to speak of (put it in a plastic bottle to see separation). Can I reuse it as a spare if necessary? It did its job but looks fine and it's only got about 30 hrs on it.

gofastsandman · #13 11-09-2009, 07:27 PM

Hey Gillie,
I saw the ethanol matinee a couple of times last year. Fortunately, it wasn`t a full length feature film, but a rather looonnnng matinee. So much fun I saw it twice...

My pickup collar was welded and threaded. Looked nasty. I was afraid. Blasted it w/ P.B. and a week later it turned right out. I feel the nylon pickups never should have been made. They crack,screens clog, get holes, fall off/apart etc. My pickup was alluminum 3/8 " id. You want all same same metals so you can use antisieze and avoid riots in the cell block. I also have a v notch in the bottom to release gremlins. It`s hard to get the bowl off the Racor sometimes ,so I carry a whole spare and a rubber strap wrench. Racor makes a vacuum guage for the outlet to monitor the filter.That`s about 19th for takeoff as La Guardia is stacked up again. Cooler flying weather is finally here, and time to hit the hanger for some love.
GFS

McGillicuddy · #14 11-09-2009, 08:36 PM

Hey Sandy,
My elbow unscrewed pretty easily also. I let a single drop of liquid wrench sit for about 20 mins. Probably didn't even need it as I later noticed it had some Teflon tape on it. I get the mixed metals corrosion issue, but should I change the brass fitting for aluminum or stick w/ the Teflon tape barrier?

Any thoughts on how to assess the pickup tube itself? I have to imagine there is one in place, or my motor wouldn't have been able to suck down 20 gallons or so...Is it possible that the tube was an integral part (welded in place to the fitting nut) of the tank?

Also, are there any tried and true ways to seal the tank cover other than the 4 corner screws; weatherstripping, silicone, what? I'd almost like to form a gasket around it lip of the cover and just just the screws clamp it down...

stumpie2 · #15 11-09-2009, 08:49 PM

sounds like you have a major problem with the pickup tube going MIA. It should have come out with the elbow. if it were mine i would drain the tank, clean it and possibly replace ALL fittings making sure to get the old tube out. thats just me, that way i KNOW there is no problem with the tank. it not the easy route but in my opinion the right route

McGillicuddy · #16 11-09-2009, 10:03 PM

Hi nuthinfancy,
I'm thinking there is a pick up tube present because I put a hose to the fitting and blew in and could hear it bubbling, maybe not quite Bob Marley bubbles, but bubbles nonetheless. There is no blockage in the tube at this time.

Also if the tube is simply absent, I would not be able to run 50 miles without a hiccup. It is possible the tube is cracked or broken or missing a screen (silicone got to the fitting somehow).
Obviously there may be more silicone and who knows what other crap, so I'm certainly going have to inspect the tank - just don't want to do it while tuna are still fairly close.

Thanks again.

Bushwacker · #17 11-09-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Also, are there any tried and true ways to seal the tank cover other than the 4 corner screws; weatherstripping, silicone, what? I'd almost like to form a gasket around it lip of the cover and just just the screws clamp it down...

Hey Gillie,

It sounds like your tank is original, as all fittings are same configuration and location as mine. I used to have a big watertight hatch cut into the splashwell and could access the fill and engine supply hoses and tank ground fitting from there. When enclosing the transom, Don Herman cut out the entire bottom surface of splashwell, which really opens up access to the bilge. The pickup tube is welded into tank and extends down to about 1/8" or less off the bottom; don't believe there is a screen on it. I believe my elbow is brass also, but never had a problem with it; I used the teflon liquid tape made by Permatex and have never had a problem with it. I suspect someone sealed your tank sending unit gasket with silicone, which won't stand up to gasoline, especially with the ethanol in it. Have to use something like the old No. 2 Permatex non-hardening stuff. There's probably more silicone in the tank, so I'd pull the tank and clean it; it's really easy to pull the tank on a Seafari. While you have it out it'd paint it with some coal-tar epoxy, which will eliminate any future corrosion issues. I installed a whistle in the vent hose, which helps to avoid overflows when refueling.

As for the hatch, it was originally sealed with silicone caulk in the gap between hatch and deck. If you need to pull hatch after it's been sealed, just cut thru the silicone with a sharp X-Acto knife in center of the gap, all the way around tank. As long as the silicone remains attached to the hatch and the deck, it'll remain relatively watertight when you put it back in, not perfect, but probably good enough. Denny

McGillicuddy · #18 11-10-2009, 02:23 AM

Thanks again, Denny. Exactly what I'd hoped to hear. My thoughts were the same regarding prior use of silicone on the sending unit. Shoot somebody even shot 18 ga. brads into the bulkhead glass just to attach some red oak trim...

Nice to know your configuration is the same. I'll probably run again this week and take a couple full auxiliary tanks in case I have a recurrence. Should be able to drain the balance of the tank in 20 miles or so, get me to the nearest banks and have a shot a some tune before the move back south.

Really like the vent whistle idea. I'll look into that. Not sure what coal tar epoxy is but I'll check with my epoxy guru.

As far as the silicone caulk are you referring to the home standard DAP or whatever caulk with silicone or 100% silicone. Thanks again.

gofastsandman · #19 11-10-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Hey Sandy,
should I change the brass fitting for aluminum or stick w/ the Teflon tape barrier?

Any thoughts on how to assess the pickup tube itself? I have to imagine there is one in place, or my motor wouldn't have been able to suck down 20 gallons or so...Is it possible that the tube was an integral part (welded in place to the fitting nut) of the tank?

Also, are there any tried and true ways to seal the tank cover other than the 4 corner screws; weatherstripping, silicone, what? I'd almost like to form a gasket around it lip of the cover and just just the screws clamp it down...

I`d go all alluminum.

Tack a piece of heavy mono with dabs of silicone in the coffin and let dry. Then caulk as normal. This way in the
future you can easily split the caulk to remove it by pulling the mono up.

Still scratching my head on the pickup.....

GFS

stumpie2 · #20 11-10-2009, 09:58 PM

sorry i didnt completely explain why i made the comment about the pick up tube going MIA, i was thinking along the lines of the tube having already been cracked/corroded and by trying to unscrew that elbow, it finally broke/rung the tube completely off. my reason for saying this is because i had a friend of mine that had similar problems with hole in the tube and sucking air and when we removed the fitting, the tube was MIA. just past experience.