Tad and Toby Jackson
New member
I pulled the gas tanks out of the Comfy Dory this weekend without too much difficulty after siphon draining the fuel into 5 gallon containers. The tanks were made by Todd Industries in Cranston, RI in 1995. They are the model #X90-2148 and have a capacity of 19 gallons each. Their dimensions are: 26 1/2" long x 16 1/4" wide x 12" high. The dimension for the height of this same model # in the current catalogue is 2 inches higher than the tanks that I have and the capacity is shown as only 18 gallons.
The tops of my tanks have become concave over the years and that contributed to water, from rinsing primarily, standing on the tops of the tanks and leaking into the tanks around the fuel gauge float assembly. The rubber gaskets had deteriorated over time and allowed some of that standing water into the tanks. When I pulled the pick up tube fitting for the starboard tank, which I was having the problems with, I found the problem immediately. The rubber or soft plastic tube with the small filter on the bottom end had broken off just below where it was crimped onto the fitting and was laying in 2 pieces in the bottom of the tank. The fitting extends about 1 1/2" down into the tank, so when I filled the tank up full, I would pick up fuel through the fitting until I ran about 2 gallons out. Then I would start sucking up air and have to change over to the port side tank.
I used carbuerator cleaner to spray down into the tanks to break up the accumulated crap and then a small amount of gas sloshed around to rinse it out and then a de-greasing cleaner to finish off. The tanks are nice and clean now. Hopefully, the ethanol required to be added to fuel here in FL (as signed into law by our good Governor Charlie Christ a couple of weeks ago) will have nothing to break loose from the inside of the tanks and clog the filters.
I checked with West Marine and a local boat dealer that I know to try and find new pick up tubes, but had no luck. Could not even get recommendations for who could supply those parts. I Googled up Todd Industries and found a number to call. Todd has apparently been aquired by another company called Chemtainer I think. The number I called is (888) 228-7229 and I spoke with Donna @ extension 2500. She was very helpful and told me she would call her contact at the manufacturing plant to see if they were available. I spoke with her later in the day and she said her contact knew exactly what I needed. He said that the tubes were a 5 piece assembly (fitting, hose, screen and 2 crimped connectors each) and they would cost $12.49 each...hallelujah! Shipped out yesterday by UPS ground and should be here by Friday! I will spend evenings this week cleaning out, and opening up the screw holes into the cockpit floor where the tank mounting brackets were fastened and then Marine Tex repair. I'll re-install the tanks this weekend with new SS filler caps and vents and all new hoses and a new water/fuel separator. I bought an in-line filter with replaceable filter cartridges that I am going to install between the fuel pump bulb and the engine. It is clear and I can see if it is getting clogged before the fuel gets to the internal filter on the Honda 75. It's much easier to change out the in-line filter than the one in the engine.
Thanks for all the input and suggestions on working this problem out. Hopefully my solutions may help out some other Brats with a similar problem.
Tad
The tops of my tanks have become concave over the years and that contributed to water, from rinsing primarily, standing on the tops of the tanks and leaking into the tanks around the fuel gauge float assembly. The rubber gaskets had deteriorated over time and allowed some of that standing water into the tanks. When I pulled the pick up tube fitting for the starboard tank, which I was having the problems with, I found the problem immediately. The rubber or soft plastic tube with the small filter on the bottom end had broken off just below where it was crimped onto the fitting and was laying in 2 pieces in the bottom of the tank. The fitting extends about 1 1/2" down into the tank, so when I filled the tank up full, I would pick up fuel through the fitting until I ran about 2 gallons out. Then I would start sucking up air and have to change over to the port side tank.
I used carbuerator cleaner to spray down into the tanks to break up the accumulated crap and then a small amount of gas sloshed around to rinse it out and then a de-greasing cleaner to finish off. The tanks are nice and clean now. Hopefully, the ethanol required to be added to fuel here in FL (as signed into law by our good Governor Charlie Christ a couple of weeks ago) will have nothing to break loose from the inside of the tanks and clog the filters.
I checked with West Marine and a local boat dealer that I know to try and find new pick up tubes, but had no luck. Could not even get recommendations for who could supply those parts. I Googled up Todd Industries and found a number to call. Todd has apparently been aquired by another company called Chemtainer I think. The number I called is (888) 228-7229 and I spoke with Donna @ extension 2500. She was very helpful and told me she would call her contact at the manufacturing plant to see if they were available. I spoke with her later in the day and she said her contact knew exactly what I needed. He said that the tubes were a 5 piece assembly (fitting, hose, screen and 2 crimped connectors each) and they would cost $12.49 each...hallelujah! Shipped out yesterday by UPS ground and should be here by Friday! I will spend evenings this week cleaning out, and opening up the screw holes into the cockpit floor where the tank mounting brackets were fastened and then Marine Tex repair. I'll re-install the tanks this weekend with new SS filler caps and vents and all new hoses and a new water/fuel separator. I bought an in-line filter with replaceable filter cartridges that I am going to install between the fuel pump bulb and the engine. It is clear and I can see if it is getting clogged before the fuel gets to the internal filter on the Honda 75. It's much easier to change out the in-line filter than the one in the engine.
Thanks for all the input and suggestions on working this problem out. Hopefully my solutions may help out some other Brats with a similar problem.
Tad