Remove vent pipe from gas tank

Energy One

Jones

Member
I will go into particulars here . This should save you some time. I have the tank removed already. I ordered the “lock key” for JP cycle to remove the paint saver. I did not want to wait a week for it to get delivered so I started the project.
I could not get out all off the gas so I used a “dip stick oil pump” that I use on my boat to remove the remaining gas from the tank. Next you need to get out any residual fumes from the tank. Simple way is to fill and flush with water. I didn’t want water in my tank. I used compressed air and exchanged the air in the tank a dozen times. When I could not smell gas I was comfortable to drill. Next pull the plug from the rear of the tank. When you look inside you will see the end of the tubing attached to the bung via a fitting. Use a 9/64 drill bit. . Wrap duct tape around the bit shank leaving ¾” exposed. This will help you to not damage the female threads in the bung. If you screw the threads up you will more then likely need to repaint the tank after the new bung is welded in. The bit will self center. The bit will “bite and twist the tank… hold tight and make sure the tank is stable (ill get to that). You will hear the tube break free. What I did to secure the tank for drilling…I wrapped the tank in a clean blanket and then I wrapped a packing quilt around that. I placed the tank on its side and just shimmed it up where needed to tilt the bung towards the floor a bit in order to let gravity pull the shavings out of the tank instead of into the tank. Would have been easier to drill straight down and hold the tank between my legs. Then all the shavings would go in the tank. If you screw up the threads try using a “bottoming tap” to chase the threads. Now I’m ready to get the tubing out. It will be a bit easier with the paint saver out. I had time so I decided to try to get her out. Use thin long needle nose pliers and a 12” section of coat hanger to work the end of the tub to the filler neck. This is difficult. The curve 3-4 inches from the end makes it hard to get the end “up” roll the tubing one way hold with the needle nose and roll it again. I got stuck rolling towards me and then I rolled the other way and the end popped up for me to grab. You can pull out about 3 inches. Now this tubing…is super tough stainless steel might be Manel stainless. You will need lineman pliers or channel locks. Bend the tube and pull out more…you get about 1” more with each bend. Did this three times then I had to break the pipe because the end was going to hit the tank with the radius I was putting in with the bending. If you bend the pipe back and forth 2-3 times it will break. I had to break twice. After that, 2 more “bend and pulls” got the tube out. I’m sure if you remove the paint saver it would be easier. Took a pen magnet and put it in the bung and pulled out a few more shavings. Put a pint of gas in the tank, shook the tank as it drained thru the bung to keep any shavings in suspension. Then I put another pint in shook it well and sucked it out with my oil pump…gas was clean.
Installed the plug in the bung with a gas/oil rated pipe dope (don’t use locktite)
Installed the tank, not one scratch, I’m happy.
Hope this helps when you gotta tackle this job. I was surprised that the tubing was not bent to fit perfectly from the drain bung to the tank filler neck attachment point. When the tack weld broke at the filler neck the end of the tube was 4 inches away from the tack point. I tried to bend it back to the original position before I drilled out the other end. I could not get it to that point (and I’m strong) The tubing was under a lot of tension as it sat “tacked on” to the filler neck. It’s no wonder it broke off. If the tubing lined up and was tack welded with no forced tension the weld probably would have held…..Im getting long winded…anyway Hope this helps….Anyone has any questions just reply on this thread or PM me.

Regards to all JUICE
 

what?

Active Member
maybe a dumb question but why would this need to be done.:job:
i hope this is not another design flaw that i'm going to be forced to address.:rant:

if it is i'll be sure to look up this post. i don't suppose you got any pics of this.
 

Jones

Member
Hope this helps

maybe a dumb question but why would this need to be done.:job:
i hope this is not another design flaw that i'm going to be forced to address.:rant:

if it is i'll be sure to look up this post. i don't suppose you got any pics of this.


Well to start....the broken end that was attached to the filler neck was vibrating LOUDLY against the inside top of the tank. Had to stop that. Options were to 1. try to screw the pipe to the vent hole in the filler neck. and 2. Remove the pipe entirely. Feedback to me on this problem informed me that eventually the pipe will eventually break on the bung end and rattle around inside the tank. As I stated in the previous post the broken end of the pipe at the filler neck was a good 3 -4 inches from the original weld point (small hole in the filler neck at the 6 oclock position. If I forced the tube back to that position and put a screw through the hole into the filler neck hole and into the vent pipe the pipe would be under a lot of tension and break again sooner then later. This metal is a good grade of stainless steel and doesnot bend like copper tubing. I had to use A LOT of streangth and mechanical leverage (tools) to get the pipe lined up with the hole. If the broken pipe lined up nicely with thefiller neck hole a screw would probable hold it...maybe for a long time. I had the tank off and my choice was to remove the pipe. Hope that clears it up a bit.

Regards Juice
 

Jones

Member
Not comfortable...DONT DO IT



I did this job perfectly with two sentences of good instruction from KaptainAmerica. This site is home to a lot of good wrenches and many will take this job on and complete it with just my text instruction. If you are not comfortable doing the procedure without pictures please don’t attempt it.
Regards Juice
 

PaulHart

Well-Known Member

There are plenty of pics of this already you just need to search. I believe Raywood posted some in another thread. Thanks for the write up Juice. You convinced me to do it myself and not send the tank off to BDM. I'll take on my rattle soon and let you know how it goes. :up:
 

wyatt580

Well-Known Member
ok trying to get vent tube out but no luck tried 9/64 no luck so went to next size and 2 more next will f### up the threads any help thanxxx I know I drilled threw the bend in the pipe cause I can stick a piece of wire threw any help thanx
 
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Jones

Member
Dont have pics

ok trying to get vent tube out but no luck tried 9/64 no luck so went to next size and 2 more next will f### up the threads any help thanxxx I know I drilled threw the bend in the pipe cause I can stick a piece of wire threw any help thanx
You might have drilled through the vent pipe but it needs to be seveared totally or it wont pull through the filller port.

When i drilled mine out It seperated right at the tube/bung junction.

Juice
 

wyatt580

Well-Known Member
You might have drilled through the vent pipe but it needs to be seveared totally or it wont pull through the filller port.

When i drilled mine out It seperated right at the tube/bung junction.

Juice
Thank you but finished this long time ago.....made a little gadget to move vent pipe up and down...the fricktion/heat broke it off then just pulled it out.....thanxxxx for the reply tho....
 

moughrider

New Member
Is the vent tube necessary? From what I've read so far I can just remove the vent tube and be done? Obviously with some work!
 

Bee

New Member
Not trying to resurrect an old thread but I've drilled with the 9/64 bit and can't feel the vent tube break free. The bit doesn't bite and twist the tank like you stated so I think I'm doing it wrong. I've got the top of the vent tube in the top if the fill hole and when I pull on it, it feels like there is still tension on it so I know it has broken free at the drain plug. I feel like if I get a longer bit or keep drilling I'll drill a hole out of the top of the tank. Any advice? Thanks a bunch
 

Jones

Member
Hey Bee. You don't want to have the tip of the bit drill through the tube
at the bend as it bends towards the gas tank. You want it to separate at
the base where it meets the fitting. That's where mine broke off. If you
try a slightly larger bit try not to damage the threads on the bung.
OR...you can use the exiting bit and apply pressure side to side (360
degree) to scrape off the last bit of metal holding the pipe. Me? I'd try a
slightly larger bit. With a variable speed drill. Run the bit very slow
until you get the feel of it and then apply a bit of pressure. It should cut
through the remaining metal on the sides.

Cheers Jones
 

mittens

Well-Known Member
SO, I found out I have this problem. It looks like I could screw it to the neck filler.

OR why not just tack weld it right there? just a little bump of the stick, and it wont move around any more? Need to get the gas out I know but one little tack weld would not get hot enought to hurt paint or anything?
 

BBChopper

Supports 2 Disabled Vets
Troop Supporter
If your vent tube broke that requires a full top end rebuild,,,,,,
Well that's what Ray did to fix it.:D
Sorry,
 

mittens

Well-Known Member
If your vent tube broke that requires a full top end rebuild,,,,,,
Well that's what Ray did to fix it.:D
Sorry,
yes I am very aware of the top end needing to be rebuilt haha EVERY thread mentions it.

maybe try a bolt? but a tack weld seems the easist.. wish there was a way to make sure I dont catch that shit on fire haha.
 
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Jones

Member
SO, I found out I have this problem. It looks like I could screw it to the neck filler.

OR why not just tack weld it right there? just a little bump of the stick, and it wont move around any more? Need to get the gas out I know but one little tack weld would not get hot enought to hurt paint or anything?
Mine snapped off...I did not see a thread at the filler assembly. Tack it? kinda tight, let us know how you make out.
Cheers
 
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