Major Stare
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 posted on 15/5/06 at 01:46 PM |
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Drilling fuel tank ?
Need to fit a union onto the top of the fuel tank for fuel return on my MegaSquirt install.
My plan is to remove the sender unit and drill a hole about an inch away to enable me to fit a nut on the union.
Will drilling cause a BOOM ?
Tank does have some fuel inside !!
Jon "FISH"
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 02:03 PM |
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Yes...... It's a possiblity.. Could you not put the hole in the sender you remove? This should avoid the problem?
Dan
[Edited on 15/5/06 by Bluemoon]
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 02:05 PM |
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What's your tank made of?
If it's aluminium then it won't spark - but the fumes may get ignited by a spark from an electric drill. You could try a hand drill.
You certainly should drain the fuel, as you will have to get swarf out anyway.
David
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Major Stare
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 02:05 PM |
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I dont like possibilities !
Jon "FISH"
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Major Stare
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 02:11 PM |
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Tank is aluminium and i would be using a hand drill (not mains/battery powered).
I would also place a cloth under where i was drilling to catch anything falling in.
Jon "FISH"
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MikeR
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 02:12 PM |
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if you have to do it, drill by hand, slowly!
How are you going to get the swarf out?
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Macbeast
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 02:13 PM |
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Draining's not enough, fumes hang around for ever. Maybe drain and fill to brim with water ? (remember to drain out water afterwards  )
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Bryan Sears
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 02:40 PM |
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Believe it or nor you get a bigger boom from a half empty tank than a full one.
If you fill with water it will be ok to drill, grind, weld.
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Major Stare
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 02:50 PM |
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Bu$$er, i was affraid i'd have to take the tank out 
Jon "FISH"
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emsfactory
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 03:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Bryan Sears
Believe it or nor you get a bigger boom from a half empty tank than a full one.
If you fill with water it will be ok to drill, grind, weld.
Believe it or not, you get a bigger boom form an empty tank than a half empty tank.
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nitram38
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 03:25 PM |
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Do you want me to tell you how to save your life?
I guess your answer is yes!
First wash the tank out with hot soapy water (fairy liquid etc).
Then run a car engine and place the open tank onto the car exhaust for about 20 minutes.
Then at the end of a length of rod, light some newspaper and hold it against the tank opening. No ca-boom and it will be safe to cut/weld etc.
[Edited on 15/5/2006 by nitram38]
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02GF74
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 03:50 PM |
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yeah but he doesn't want to take the tank out.....
filling up with water would do it but then how do you drain the water out afterwards?
what about cusing C02 from a MIG to purge oxygen fomr the tank - then seal it.
Drill it with CO2 connected ... but needs to be done in a well ventialated area preferable on a very windy day.
dodgey stuff really.
I wonder if filling it with another combustible liquid that is harder to ignite e.g. diesel or paraffin - then won't matter about draining it
all as it will mix with the petrol and be burnt off?
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 04:02 PM |
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I think Robin hood so sender that has a flow and return in the sender... Might be worth a look if it's a driect replacement?
Cheers
Dan
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muzchap
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 04:10 PM |
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You cant make an omellete without breaking eggs.
A fuel tank is about 3-4 hours job
It's a fuel tank - so do it properly - half assed efforts and lazyness are what cause bigger problems down the line.
Just follow some of the good advice given on here and do the job properly.
The sense of achievement when doing something properly is great and not to mention reduces the risk to your own life in trying to bodge it
together.
Good luck
------------------------------------
If you believe you're not crazy, whilst everybody is telling you, you are - then they are definitely wrong!
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nitram38
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 05:50 PM |
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It will take a lot longer to bury you than take the tank out, so do the right thing.
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indykid
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 05:56 PM |
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if there's anything to bury.
take the tank out ffs!
tom
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BKLOCO
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 06:51 PM |
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IMHO most of this post is BS.
There should be no problen at all drilling a hole in an ally tank that has had fuel in it. Especially with a hand drill.
Drain the tank and drill it.
You will never draw a spark from ally except from static. so earth it and just drill the bugger.
If your close to the sender hole you should be able to catch any swarf that falls inside the tank. (which will be minimal). Your strainer/filter will
catch any that does get in.
And by the way as long as you are in open free air the chances of a battery drill OUTSIDE THE TANK causing an explosion in this circumstance are
probably about the same as winning the lottery.
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want!!! 
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MikeR
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 07:21 PM |
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except don't forget that someone wins the lottery most weeks - just never me
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nitram38
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 07:53 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by BKLOCO
IMHO most of this post is BS.
There should be no problen at all drilling a hole in an ally tank that has had fuel in it. Especially with a hand drill.
Drain the tank and drill it.
You will never draw a spark from ally except from static. so earth it and just drill the bugger.
If your close to the sender hole you should be able to catch any swarf that falls inside the tank. (which will be minimal). Your strainer/filter will
catch any that does get in.
And by the way as long as you are in open free air the chances of a battery drill OUTSIDE THE TANK causing an explosion in this circumstance are
probably about the same as winning the lottery.
This is the dumbest advice I have ever heard in this forum.
I am an electrician who has worked in the petroleum industry.
I just hope that I never get to work along side you!
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Major Stare
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 08:10 PM |
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Come on guys, dont want an argument
I personnaly cant see that drilling a 6mm hole into the tank with a hand drill through aluminium would cause a spark to ignite petrol vapours. ? ?
Jon "FISH"
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nitram38
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 08:28 PM |
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No arguements, just good advice.
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jono_misfit
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 08:45 PM |
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Dont take risks if you dont have to!
Im sure what BKLOCO says is true, but theres no point taking risks. What if you dropped a spanner near it and it causes a spark. What if you forget
something walk about come back and cause a static spark. What if.... What if... What if...
If you want to be blazay (SP?) rember it only takes a spark of 0.25 milliJoules to ignite petrol vapour. This isnt very much and can be easily
exceeded.
Rember its sparks that are the problem with petrol vapour not heat (within reason).
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MikeR
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 08:48 PM |
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so drill the hole naked - skin doesn't create static 
just make sure its a warm day or the police man is very understanding 
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paulf
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 09:06 PM |
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Can you fit the return line to the tank filler neck somewhere? , if you have a seperate cap and neck connected with hose then just remove that and fit
the return to it.
Paul.
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BKLOCO
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| posted on 15/5/06 at 09:26 PM |
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This is the dumbest advice I have ever heard in this forum.
I am an electrician who has worked in the petroleum industry.
I just hope that I never get to work along side you!
And I'm an electro mechanical engineer who has worked with flamable liquids AND EXPLOSIVES for more years than I care to confess to. This is why
I have a collection of hard brass screwdrivers and spanners etc.(they wont draw a spark)
I would like you to explain (in detail) how the hell you are going to draw a spark from alluminium to steel contact?
How you are going to draw a static spark on the INSIDE of a conductive enclosure? (ever heard of Faradays cage?)
This is just scaremongering for the sake of it.
If I were nearer I would go and drill the bl00dy thing for the guy.
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want!!!
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