Deano1988 Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 Hi all I am quite new to boating I have been doing my canal boat up and gone to start the engine and wouldn't start. ( I have had it started a few times in last 6 months) I had a friend look at it with me who is a bit more mechanically minded than myself. The fuel filters were totally blocked with slime and looked rusty colour. We also blead fuel directly out the tank and rust particles come out I have ordered the fuel filters and think I will be able to get the engine started with a temp tank. The problem I am looking to solve with this post is the fuel tank is built into the boat with no inspection hatch. Is there any solutions to get the tank rust free again? Thanks in advance Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bod Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 The Slime is most likely "Diesel Bug" and needs fully cleaning out before trying to use the engine. There are various fuel additives that will help keep the Bug under control, in the future. But for now "Fuel Polishing" is about the only cure. Search for Fuel polishing company's near you. It's quite a common problem with the newer Bio fuels, and bad storage. Bod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 And as for rust - a full tank of diesel will stop that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 Best thing is to make a project out of this and do it properly. Where is the tank? If it is possible then cut a 6" dia. hole or so , drill a ring of small holes, enlarge them and with a cold chisel (Not a wood chisel) bash the disc out. then you can drain the gunge out and swab the rust and crap out and start again. Fix a plate over the hole, drill and tap bolt holes and with a decent gasket fix the whole lot back together. That is what I did. Its a horrible job but I can check every year now. If that is impossible then all you can do is flush it many times and do the best you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 10 minutes ago, Bee said: Best thing is to make a project out of this and do it properly. Where is the tank? If it is possible then cut a 6" dia. hole or so , drill a ring of small holes, enlarge them and with a cold chisel (Not a wood chisel) bash the disc out. then you can drain the gunge out and swab the rust and crap out and start again. Fix a plate over the hole, drill and tap bolt holes and with a decent gasket fix the whole lot back together. That is what I did. Its a horrible job but I can check every year now. If that is impossible then all you can do is flush it many times and do the best you can. Or even cut it out with a jig saw, much neater than hammer and chisel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano1988 Posted January 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 Thanks for the info. I have thought about the idea of making a trap in it but just wont have time. Looked into the fuel polishing and just been given a quote of £250. Does this sound reasonable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 19 minutes ago, Bee said: If it is possible then cut a 6" dia. hole or so , drill a ring of small holes, enlarge them and with a cold chisel (Not a wood chisel) bash the disc out. Or buy / hire a 4" or 6" 'Tank-Cutter" and make a proper, tidy, hole. https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-bi-metal-holesaw-102mm/42986? https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-bi-metal-holesaw-152mm/89872 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 5 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: Or buy / hire a 4" or 6" 'Tank-Cutter" and make a proper, tidy, hole. https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-bi-metal-holesaw-102mm/42986? https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-bi-metal-holesaw-152mm/89872 Note that those saws also require an arbor: https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-11mm-holesaw-arbor-32-152mm/1779h Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 (edited) 1 minute ago, WotEver said: Note that those saws also require an arbor: https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-11mm-holesaw-arbor-32-152mm/1779h Don't all boaters already have a tank-cutter kit ? Running pipes, cables, flue etc Edited January 2, 2020 by Alan de Enfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nb Innisfree Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 2 minutes ago, WotEver said: Note that those saws also require an arbor: https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-11mm-holesaw-arbor-32-152mm/1779h And a big drill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 1 minute ago, nb Innisfree said: And a big drill! And strong wrists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 4 minutes ago, nb Innisfree said: And a big drill! 2 minutes ago, WotEver said: And strong wrists. or, a slow speed drill and a few squirts of oil. I managed to cut a hole for the flue with a standard drill without any serious effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 13 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: or, a slow speed drill and a few squirts of oil. I managed to cut a hole for the flue with a standard drill without any serious effort. Well it definitely needs to cut slowly whatever size of drill. Otherwise it’ll work harden in seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDS Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 Balance £250 against how much fuel is in the tank. You can either drain the tank from a drain point (if fitted), or just pump it out with a drill pump and a short length of hose, and send it to the tip for disposal. Large plastic containers are sometimes available from garages or boat yards for this (empty bulk oil delivery containers). Then put in some fresh fuel with a double dose of your chosen biocide additive. It worked for me. Rust flakes and larger particulates usually settle on the bottom of the tank, where they stay unless shaken up. The fuel delivery pipes usually draw from an inch or more above the bottom of the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 2, 2020 Report Share Posted January 2, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 2 hours ago, WotEver said: And strong wrists. Yes, have you ever tried to hang onto a drill with a 4" or 6" hole cutter? The torque on your wrists as soon as that cutter touches the steel is very difficult to control even with a side handle on the drill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 6 hours ago, blackrose said: Yes, have you ever tried to hang onto a drill with a 4" or 6" hole cutter? Yes - fitting a flue thru a roof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boater Sam Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 7 hours ago, IDS said: Balance £250 against how much fuel is in the tank. You can either drain the tank from a drain point (if fitted), or just pump it out with a drill pump and a short length of hose, and send it to the tip for disposal. Large plastic containers are sometimes available from garages or boat yards for this (empty bulk oil delivery containers). Then put in some fresh fuel with a double dose of your chosen biocide additive. It worked for me. Rust flakes and larger particulates usually settle on the bottom of the tank, where they stay unless shaken up. The fuel delivery pipes usually draw from an inch or more above the bottom of the tank. I use a wet and dry vax with a thin extension tube through the filler to suck out the bottom of the tank where the muck is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 10 hours ago, blackrose said: Yes, have you ever tried to hang onto a drill with a 4" or 6" hole cutter? The torque on your wrists as soon as that cutter touches the steel is very difficult to control even with a side handle on the drill. Yup, hence my post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 10 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said: Yes - fitting a flue thru a roof. Same here for 4 mushroom vents, I used a jigsaw for the stove flue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 7 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said: Same here for 4 mushroom vents, I used a jigsaw for the stove flue. Maybe regular 'use' has made our wrists stronger ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 (edited) I use this weapon to suck fuel and muck out of fuel tanks. Its really a fuel transfer pump for use on 40 gallon drums. It pumps like anything. Note the pump handle on to which you w--k up and down. The pick up tube is long and pretty flexible and will bend around corners. Its called a Marksman pump bought it on Ebay for £6 something. Edited January 3, 2020 by bizzard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 (edited) Edited January 3, 2020 by WotEver 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boater Sam Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 5 hours ago, WotEver said: Who hung the pussy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano1988 Posted January 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 This is the tank area in engine bay. Just making sure the 1 with the handle on is for the lubricant for the propeller? Do you all think fuel polishing will do the trick? Thanks dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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