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Adeline
Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 985 City/Region: Vancouver
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Adeline
Photos: Adeline
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:20 pm Post subject: Installing sending units in upgraded fuel tanks. |
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I want to install sending units in my new Moeller 25 gallon polyethyline fuel tanks to serve my fuel gauge. I need to cut a 2 inch hole in them. A hole saw would seem like the way to go but I'm worried that instead of cutting, it may melt the material. I do'nt want to deform the S/U mating surface and risk leakage. Any suggestions? _________________ Pete
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rogerbum
Joined: 21 Nov 2004 Posts: 5922 City/Region: Kenmore
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Meant to be
Photos: SeaDNA
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject: Re: Installing sending units in upgraded fuel tanks. |
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Adeline wrote: | I want to install sending units in my new Moeller 25 gallon polyethyline fuel tanks to serve my fuel gauge. I need to cut a 2 inch hole in them. A hole saw would seem like the way to go but I'm worried that instead of cutting, it may melt the material. I do'nt want to deform the S/U mating surface and risk leakage. Any suggestions? |
Haven't done cutting through polyethyline but have done other plastics - just go slow and use a coolant - I'd probably use a rechargable drill and the water hose - cheap and close by.
Roger _________________ Roger on Meant to be |
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TyBoo
Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 5315 City/Region: Warrenton
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruise Ship
Vessel Name: TyBoo
Photos: TyBoo
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know if it is the same material as fuel tanks, but I recently relocated the filler spount on a molded freshwater tank. I used a thing called a HoleHawg, which is a fancy hole saw with carbide teeth. It cut thru quick and clean.
If you are using a hole saw, just cut for two seconds and bring it away from the material. Once your pilot is thru and there is a groove started for the hole, you should be able to keep it centered easily. The trick is to not let it get hot in the first place. It isn't the material getting hot so much as the tool getting hot and melting the chips of the material, which increases the friction and creates more heat. Once the hole is started, just push the saw down to touch, and lift it back up still running. If your hole saw is sharp, you'l probably be all the way through before it even has a chance to get warm. _________________ TyBoo Mike
Sold: 1996 25' Cruise Ship
Sold: 1987 22' Cruiser |
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CAVU
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 665 City/Region: Spokane
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2002
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: CAVU
Photos: CAVU
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Adeline,
I would be a little concerned with the small chips falling into the tank? Do you think you will be able to rinse them all out? Or maybe vacuum them up through the small hole? A trick I use for hole saws in wood is to drill a small clearance hole that would touch the perimeter of the larger hole saw. This gives the chips a place to go while the saw is cutting. Unlike a drill bit the hole saw has no means of clearing the chips from the kerf which is why it heats up and burns the wood. _________________ Ken Trease
22 CD Cruiser, CAVU
Twin 40HP Hondas |
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starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003 Posts: 7892 City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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try turning the tanks up side down and drill up. chips fall to the graounf not the tank. i assume that the new tanks are not in the boat yet. _________________ Thomas J Elliott
http://tomsfishinggear.blogspot.com/ |
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dogon dory
Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 1321
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: DogOnDory
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:49 am Post subject: |
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Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author
Last edited by dogon dory on Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:48 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Butch
Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 180 City/Region: Rising Sun
State or Province: MD
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:50 am Post subject: Drilling Polyethylene |
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Guys, I have drilled hole in polyethylene many times and the tricks are make sure you use the right size hole saw, the saw be sharp, and the saw mandril have a pilot bit to keep the saw from "walking" when you first start. Most of all keep the RPM son the drill slow.
One word of advice... measure twice or more and cut only once
Butch _________________ As Bartles and James said, "Thank you for your fine support!" |
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rogerbum
Joined: 21 Nov 2004 Posts: 5922 City/Region: Kenmore
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Meant to be
Photos: SeaDNA
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:42 am Post subject: Re: Drilling Polyethylene |
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Butch wrote: |
One word of advice... measure twice or more and cut only once
Butch |
And remember... If you drink, don't drill. |
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Adeline
Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 985 City/Region: Vancouver
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Adeline
Photos: Adeline
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the great replies, I'm more comfortable with the idea of using a hole saw now. However, I have another issue to address. The installation will require 5 small holes for the retaining screws. Moeller and Tempo tanks w/ senders have a metal retaining ring with threaded holes molded into them. My tanks lack this ring. Since I won't have access to the inside of the tank I won't be able to use washers and nuts. I'll either need to use self-tapping screws or some type of blind fastener such as a rivet or a rivet nut. http://www.rivetsplus.com/manufacture/avdel/dk_insert.asp Obviously, I want to ensure that fuel won't get by the fasteners or the sender. For liability reasons Tempo and Moeller don't endorse modifying their products. Opinions? |
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Adeline
Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 985 City/Region: Vancouver
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Adeline
Photos: Adeline
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Adeline
Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 985 City/Region: Vancouver
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1989
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Adeline
Photos: Adeline
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