Need help with my 170 fuel tank, fuel lines, oh my!

[Fishhyren11]

I was leaking a lot of gas into the bildge at the end of this last season (a couple gallons).

So right then I said it was time to put it up until I could find the problem so I don't blow up!

I noticed that when I filled the tank to the top, the filler vent wouldn't overflow, the gas came right to the top of the fill-line.

I figured the vent hose had come undone, so I opened the little portal on the backside of the filler and everything looked good there, so I figured it broke off at the tank.

I'm recently the new owner and I don't have much history on the boat.  The boat was in fairly good condition with the exception that the previous owner had put in a t-top and then removed it, filling the holes with silicone.
Of course the silicone shrank and let water in, and held it there.  So I had a little rot in a couple areas, but I seem to have caught it early.
I dried it out and treated it with CPES and filled the holes with filler expoxy.

So now I'm on to the tank.
I removed the center console and got to the tank yesterday.  
It was dirty, but suprisingly good condition.  It looked like some work had been done, but was probably the original tank.
Mostly dirty, with a little pitting.
 Everything looked sound except the filler hose was slightly clogged and when I went to remove it, snapped with corrosion.

I will probably just get the tank cleaned up and repaired but I had a few questions.

• Should I paint the tank w/rustoleum or something similiar?
• Should I drill a hole in the tank coffin to allow water to drain out into the hull??
  I noticed some standing water in the coffin, but there is no hole for it to drain!??
• HOW, OH HOW am I going to replace the filler and vent tubing that appears to be foamed in???

I'm probably going to try to find someone who can do this part for me that doesn't know better before quoting me...

Any pictures or suggestions on how to do this myself are GREATLY appreciated!
Has any ever tried running a second hose through the inside of the old ones (obviously a slightly smaller diameter)??
Thank you!

[MarshMarlowe196]

I drilled holes in the coffin that held my tank in place for that same reason.  I would suggest that after you drill the holes, put some kind of sealant around the holes (5200 would probably work , or glass em' , but that's such a pain ) to prevent the wood from rotting.

I would think that trying to find hoses that would fit inside of your existing vent hose would be close to impossible, and the smaller hose probably wouldn't fit around the fittings on your tank.  I would try attaching a new hose to the older one via lots of duct tape and pull the new one into place by pulling the older one out through the outside of the boat... does that make sense?  That's what I did, and it worked well.

Painting the tank couldn't hurt

[Fishhyren11]

I don't think I'm going to be able to move the tubes- they feel completely foamed in-
Was yours foamed in? If so, how did you get it out!?

I was going to use a reducer on both ends with the smaller diameter inside the other hose- this would allow me to fit over the the filler and the nipple on the tank.


There was one other person on here a while back with a 170 that did manage to get the old ones out and the new ones in, but I can't seem to find the thread!
You're help is really appreciated, this is such a pain!

[MarshMarlowe196]

No, mine weren't foamed in, but I think it's worth a shot.  I would try pulling the vent off the outside of the hull and see if you can get the hose to budge at all from the outside... or try pulling from the inside...  probably someone with a 170 would know the set up better than me.

[Asport-Rog]

I replaced the tank and hoses in my 77' 170 this year. The good news was my hoses were not foamed in.

I first drilled a hole for a 4" inch deck plate on the inside where the deck plate fuel filler and vent is. This allowed me access to the deck screws and hose clamps. I bought a plastic 1-1/2" hose connector and attached the new fuel filler hose to the old one (at the tank end) and taped it up heavily with black vinyl electrical tape. I then started pulling the old hose out and pulling the new hose behind it. It was not easy and took some strength. I repeated the procedure with the vent hose.

Sorry I didn't take any pictures. Hope this helps!

[Fishhyren11]

well, was able to get a light and look in there some, and sure enough, as far down as I could see on the filler hose it was foamed in.
The hose is QUITE stiff now from age, but I was able to push down some and free it from the foam I could see (it's out of reach)
But I can't see the vent hose or where it goes-
I'm going to cut out a portion of the tank's coffin where the lines come in and see if I can see/reach/free anything there.

I might be able to thread a new hose the route kinda used by the middle locker's drain hose to the middle of the coffin.

I looked into running a smaller hose though the old hose, but I can't find A1 USCG rated hose in 1"  and I'm leary of not putting A1 rated b/c of insurance and what not, though I know it'd be WAY safter than it is now, and probably better than original spec.

I'm going to take a look at it sometime this week and I'll let you know what I find.

[Miguel]

Guess what?  
Today I opened up the fuel tank coffin of my 1985 170.  I had been smelling gas every time I fill up the tank, so I suspect a leak somewhere on the top.  My goal is to remove the tank and have it either repaired or replaced.  
First thing I noticed is that the lid of the coffin (the deck part) was very soft.  Closer inspection revealed that the wooden core has completely turned to mulsh.  So an unexpected part of the project is born:  cleaning up the thing down to the upper skin and re-coring it.
Then I started looking at the tank.  I still don´t know where the leak is, but I know that most of you will suggest that the tank be pulled out.  It is held in place by some sort of SS straps.  I´m assuming the tank is not original, but probably is more that 15 yrs old.  Does anybody know if it is possible to remove the straps without cutting them?  Maybe before removal I´ll just coat it in soap suds and blow thru the fuel fill to see if I can find the leak.
I´ll try and post pics of my progress, but I´ve been very busy lately and don´t know how long this project will take me.
My guess is that the tank will need replacement, given that just making a local repair might be looking for trouble in the near future.

[Marcq]

Miguel , you shouldn't have to cut the straps, they're bolted together(one bolt each) on top of the tank, in the center, once you remove the tank you'll notice that they are also bolted on the side of the tub, mine was set up that way

Marc..

[Fishhyren11]

that's how my setup was too.  My tank was slightly pitted but overall ok...  There's no drain hole in the tank coffin, so that smell is probably from the hoses, like mine.

[Miguel]

Interesting......My straps are not bolted together on top of the tank.  The connection is sort of like a crimp.  I´ll try and get a pic for you.  There is a drain hole in the front of the tank.  That is why I think that the tanks is not original.  Most of you guys report no drain holes.....

[Miguel]

Here are the pics.

First a view of the tank with the strap and the fuel sender.  The console has already been lowered for the day:



Here´s a close up view of the strap connection.  No bolts or screws:

[Fishhyren11]

After the third day of pulling and pulling and trying to get out all the foam, I broke down and cut a hole in the floor over the hoses.
I ended up making a 4" hole that will end up being a deck lid, so it won't look horrible (i hope)

Here are a couple shots I took today- the foam was wet, some water and some fuel.  The floor was still solid, but I'll inject some CPES in the floor and coating the hole I cut in filler epoxy to seal it all up.

I didn't want to cut the hole, but it appears like it was the best idea I could have done (see all the foam I took out).
(here are links to the pics, it appears my pics were slightly too big to display).

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/fishhyren11/2b3edd22.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/fishhyren11/d80cd3d8.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t178/fishhyren11/2fca8818.jpg



I was able to get the vent hose free today, and I think the other will buge tomorrow, so I'm going to go get new hoses.  I'll update hopefully soon.

[Fishhyren11]

Going back over to work on more today, took the tank to get repaired, they refused to work on it.
SO, I have to order a new tank.

[Miguel]

I´ve heard about people encapsulating aluminum tanks in fiberglass.  I wonder how this forum feels about that......
In my part of the world, a new aluminum tank is very expensive :pirat:

[Fishhyren11]

I wish I could, I still need some repair on my vent bung.
They won't touch it.  Supposedly fiberglass resin isn't compatible with ethenol in the fuel.

The prices I've been quoted on tanks range from $270 - $720!!!  If you know someone who does a good job plz let me know. Finding a tank has been a bit frustrating!!!

In other news I manged to get my new fuel lines though today!!! This is HUGE news since it was fully foamed in! Woooooo!!