Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:37:10 -0400
Reply-To: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: fuel tank reinstallation
In-Reply-To: <CAH3v19J3Q1FSys9sF1FCk_gmARuOVCF3sM3k+7zqoSqHyLJhNA@mail.gmail.com>
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I have actually gotten this complete job down to less than 2 hours now. I
use a floor jack in the center of the tank. I lift up the front of the van
on ramps or have another jack that is raising up the front until the front
wheels are off of the floor but at least a few inches. Jack stands can be
a problem since sometimes they don't allow enough room for you to get the
gas tank strap on the angle it needs to come out. You can bend and tweak
the end of the gas tank strap to get it out of the hole in the frame but it
is easier if you just have the van up in the air in the front as much as
you can. Follow the instructions I have on the site. When putting it back
together I install the cross over tube back up on the hook that is in the
frame above the tank. I install the lines on the two tank nipples along
with the plastic line. Install the three small grommets on the top of the
tank as well and put some vasoline in each one. Make sure they are seated
all the way in the hole. That means that if you look at the hole in the
center of the grommet it is round and not oblong. I then just stick the
two plastic lines into the grommet holes on each side temporarily. Center
the jack again (a little tricky when the tank is light and empty) and begin
to jack it up. At about halfway plus the sensor in then continue to jack
it up the rest of the way (I usually do this from the driver's side so I
can see that the wiring to the sensor is not going to be pinched). Once
the tank is almost home, move the front edge up above the ledge that it
needs to clear. Jack some more and seat the rear edge. Now you can
install the straps and the rest is just hooking the lines back up. The
last couple I have done went pretty smoothly. The only problem I had was
actually draining the gas from the tank as that can be dangerous, and
dirty. I would recommend waiting until you are low on fuel to do this job,
then have at least two 5 gallon gas cans sitting side by side under the van
that way if one is filled you can switch to the other one. Use a powerful
flashlight to shine through the tank so you can actually see the level
inside. Before you drop the tank, move the gas tanks out of the way so
that don't get knocked over by mistake. Yes a little gas may leak out onto
the floor when dropping the tank. I guess you could plug the feed and
return hoses with bolts to prevent this but usually it is a very small
amount.
I will updating my write up soon, but I am glad it is helping people!
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
On Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 11:10 PM, Craig Cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
> I do it without a floor jack to lift it into place. I just lift it up with
> the bus NOT on a jack or jackstands, rest it on my chest (I'm thin, so I
> have to actually flex up a bit to get it into place) and get the front edge
> up onto the lip of the frame rail. It then sits on its own on that lip, put
> the front edge of the tank straps into their respective holes, then work my
> way back, lifting the tank up by hand and starting a bolt into the tank
> strap.
>
> I've done well over a dozen of these in the past few years, but no longer
> assist with this job.
> I may be the first person to sustain a permenant injury doing this job, but
> I managed to completely dislocate my shoulder and do some damage while
> installing the cross over tube into a friend's bus. Apparently the motion
> required is EXACTLY what the worst motion for a shoulder is (according to
> my physical therapist).
>
> No more 2wd gas tanks for this guy.
>
> Good luck!
>
> -Craig
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 10:03 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > D
> >
> > 1st&4most be DarnSure that you have the CrossOverTube Above
> > ThePlumbing That ItIs SupposedToBe Above ~
> >
> > Them it should Go Up IntoPlace with a FloorJack or TranyJack QuiteEasily
> ~
> > HeSaid {:~) ~
> >
> >
> > ORR ~ DeanB
> >
> > On 18 Aug , 2014, at 1:16 PM, Dan Barrett wrote:
> >
> > > I dropped my (2WD) fuel tank in about ten minutes, following Ken
> > Wilford's excellent instructions.
> > >
> > > Now that it's time for reinstallation, I need some guidance. I can get
> > the front lip of the tank tucked up above the frame member, but can't
> > figure out how to get the straps in place -- there's not enough room to
> get
> > them in with the back end of the tank hanging down.
> > >
> > > The bus is up on four jack stands, but I am working alone, which
> > complicates things. Can anyone give me more explicit instructions?
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > d.
> >
>
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
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