F-32 Fuel Tank Leak

[TADTOOMUCH]

I have a 1978 F-32 with a minor fuel tank leak. No leak is minor with gas I know. The fitting that is threading into the top of the tank is brass and it is split. It is a 1/2 outside pipe thread with a 3/8 inner thread that the backflow preventer with elbo screws into. When I tried to remove it to replace it, it cracked right off at the top of the tank. Now I can't get it out. It is full of fuel as that is how I discovered the leak. What I did was just put a plug in the fitting that was left with enough threads in it so I could leave it for the week without it leaking. What I want to know is, does this fitting just go into the top of the tank or is this a long tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the tank? The fitting is brass so I hope that it just is screwed into the top of the uptake tube that goes to the bottom of the tank. Anyone deal with this yet? Any suggestions?

[rick1954]

Tadtoomuch, that would have to go to the bottom of the tank to pick up the gas. Dam that is going to be a bitch to fix. You may be able to use an easy-out on it to back it out.

[TADTOOMUCH]

What I am hoping is that the tank which is galvanized has a steel tube that is welded into the tank that goes to the bottom and this cracked fitting is screwed into that. Maybe a call to Beacon Marine or John at Marine Tech will give me some insight. What do you do with 120 gallons of fuel when it is in your tanks. I really don't want to remove them because they are in otherwise good shape. I really don't want to siphon and pour into my cars either. got about $500 bucks in fuel in them now.

[rick1954]

I had to remove my tank when I got the boat. The bottom had about three inch’s of oatmeal looking crap in it. I was redoing the back deck with teak, so it wasn’t bad and it only had about 60 gal of what I don’t know but you could not call it gas, in it. Good Luck, I hope you solve the prob easily and soon.

[TADTOOMUCH]

John at Marine Tech gave me a lot of information on the tank. It has a brass fitting in the top that has 1/2 pipe thread with a hex on top and a barbed hose fitting inside the tank with a special rubber hose that goes to the bottom. So I could get the fitting out possibly with an easy-out tool. problem is that the hose is no longer made anymore. What I have now is basically a 3/8 thread with a slight crack in in that is inside a 1/2 pipe with no external hex (that's what broke). So what I am going to try is to thread the fittings back into what is left with a fuel rated pipe sealant and let it sit a while and then monitor it to see if it leaks. Worse case is I have to try and pull the treaded part out and get a replacement and see if the hose portion in the tank can be reused without much trouble. Got to love these boats that are 30 years old.

[rick1954]

Oh yeah, you got to love them

[Stripermann2]

Is this a forward or rear tank? On my tanks, I have a couple of unused plugs on the top of the tank. With this in mind, can you remove those plugs, install a pipe bushing, flexible tubing (copper) with a compression fitting and run this as new supply line for your fuel to engine? Like they do when a generator is installed and they need to extend a pick-up line down into the tank...then just cap off the broken original fitting.

[TADTOOMUCH]

This is on both rear tanks. Looks like previous owner used teflon tape and just kept tightening until leak stopped but cracked the fitting. Only leaks when they are full. I am going to try a couple things this weekend. One is try and use the threads that are left with some Gasoila E-Seal thread sealer which is impervious to fuel. The other is to use an Easy-out tool to remove the fitting. John at Marine Tech said that the fitting is a 1/2" pipe thread with a hose barb end with rubber fuel hose that goes to the bottom of the tank. If I can get the fitting out I might be able to make another one and re-use the hose if it is in good shape. Then as a last resort. I can plug that opening like you said and use the mid tank fitting and install a new uptake tube and fitting.

I HATE WORKING ON GAS LINE LEAKS. SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME.

[Stripermann2]

"I HATE WORKING ON GAS LINE LEAKS. SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME."

...and rightfully so!

[David Kane]

Hope you plan on using non-sparking tools!!! If you don't have them, or can't get them, try contacting your local haz-mat team (probably the fire dept.) to see if they will let you borrow what you need.

[TADTOOMUCH]

This week I don't plan to do anything other than re-install fittings with joint sealant. If that doesn't work then the following week I will resort to pulling the fittings with the proper tools.

Thanks for the concern. I will let you all know how it works out. If you don't hear from me then you know how bad it went. hahahaha

[prowlersfish]

I installed a brass fitting in mine with a tube soildered to it . I use a 90% with a nipple in one end and pipe thread on the other . My pick up tube wass part of the tank and broke off . these where custo replacement tanks not oem .

[TADTOOMUCH]

I survived the fuel tank leak repair. I was able to thread the elbo and backflow preventer back into the top of the tank using Gasoila-E-Seal which is a pipe joint sealant made especially for E-10 and E-85 fuels. This stuff sticks to everything and sets up pretty quick. Once everything sat overnight, I took the boat out for a test run with the bow high in the air and so all the fuel should have been pressing on the joints at the top of the tank and everything was fine. I'll keep an eye on it for a while but I think it is fixed. Thanks to John at Marine Tech and everyone else for your advice. Now on to better things to fix.