Gas Tank Siphon 1993 Sea Ray Sundancer 270

[USMMCaptJeff]

I'd like to siphon the gas (about 90 gallons) out of my tank and into my truck, it's been sitting while I have been away. I tried the siphon tube down the gas tank fill line only to find there must be an anti-siphon ball in the tank, tried to put a smaller tube down the tank vent line and was not successful on that one either.

When I look at where the fill line goes into the tank, I don't see any threads (that would indicate a removable siphon valve), just a welded fitting...does anyone have any experience with this anti-siphon valve? Any ideas on how to get the gas out?

It's a 1993 Sundancer 270 with a 7.4.

Thanks for your time...

Jeff

 

[Sal A]

I have an electric fuel pump I took the hose from the fuel pump to carb off put it in a gas can then jumped the fuel pump out. Just make sure no sparks !!!

 

[DaFish]

I cannot answer your question, but I can thank you for your service to our great country.

 

[Lazy Daze]

An anti-siphon valve would be located in the fitting on the tank that has the engine feed line, not the fill hose. However, there may be (or may not - I've seen it both ways over the years) a restriction in the fill hose that would prevent someone from sticking a hose in to siphon the gas out.

You could just remove any of the screw-out fittings on the tank and stick a hose in that way, or even remove the sending unit - whichever is easier for you. The fuel pump method would also work.

 

[USMMCaptJeff]

Many thanks for the information gents, it's most appreciated.

Dennis...I started to take one of the screw out fittings out, it's REALLY in there, I got a socket on it but it takes to so much pressure to turn it I'm afraid I'll snap it off....are those plugs put in with locktight or something? Should I continue with the "Brute Strength and Ignorance" method with the socket to get the plug out?

Again, all the advice is most appreciated!


V/R Jeff

 

[Lazy Daze]

They can sometimes be a real bear. I assume you're tackling one of the unused fittings (which is the right idea). I've never had one break on me (but it's not as though I've done this dozens and dozens of time, either), but I also don't want to say "just go for it" since 13 years of time/moisture/whatever can certainly make things difficult. You could try tightening/loosening/tightening/loosening a bit and see if that helps. A little penetrating fluid might help, too. Once you get past that "stuck" phase, it should turn easily, but if it's causing you to second guess yourself, try another one - or just remove the sending unit - that is usually much easier. Don't mess with the fuel-pickup fitting, since it has a dip tube attached. If you can't reach the sending unit from the bilge, then there should be an access plate directly above it (possibly in the midcabin).

 

[USMMCaptJeff]

Dennis

You are absolutely my hero for today, thanks so much for the quick and informative response. I'm going to work on the unused fitting pretty much exactly like you recommend, it's not so scary now that you have confirmed my thoughts....

V/R Jeff

 

[Lazy Daze]

Dennis
You are absolutely my hero for today,

Hardly a hero, but I appreciate the sentiment. You, and the other men & women like you, are our real-life heroes EVERYDAY. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have a forum like the one we are on right now.

Good luck with it, Jeff!

Sometimes a few firm, well placed whacks (with a handheld sledge hammer) on the end of a wrench (less "play" than a socket) can help. Sort of like an impact gun. But take note that it's hard to convey this process with out being there, so be careful.

Oops - just realized - I thought your boat was a model year 2000. I guess it's more like "20 years" of time/moisture/whatever!

 

[USMMCaptJeff]

Hi Dennis

Just wanted to give you a follow-up and to once again say "Thanks".

All's well that ends well, siphoned a bunch of old gas out of the boat into the truck yesterday, I'll repeat that procedure until I'm empty and then fill up on some fresh stuff....

The aluminum plug in the unused port on the tank stripped out while I was removing it, looks like it was installed poorly, the bottom two threads were just wiped clean and it was being held in by one thread on the top. The good news is the threads in the aluminum tank look good, I got a bronze pipe plug and used that cut/clean up the tank threads and it will work well as a plug....so...on to bigger and better things.

V/R Jeff

 

[Lazy Daze]

Thanks for following up, Jeff. I'm glad you got it out. You don't need to do this immediately, but get rid of that bronze plug and put a new aluminum in - it's best to keep dissimilar metals away from each other to cut down on corrosion.

 

[USMMCaptJeff]

Ah, great advice about the dissimiliar metals Dennis, thanks, I'm searching the internet now for aluminum plugs, West Marine, Home Depot and Ace all looked at me like I was crazy when I showed them the half inch aluminum plug I took out....