Espar question real quick

[lowrange]

To drill a hole in your tank, did they have to drain it, remove it and clean it!?

I'm at a shop that could do it but they are saying I need to come back with near empty tanks.

TIA

[mike3fan]

To drill a hole in your tank, did they have to drain it, remove it and clean it!?

I'm at a shop that could do it but they are saying I need to come back with near empty tanks.

TIA

I didn't have to come with empty tanks.but I can see why they may need to turn it to drill the hole. The hole goes in the top and make sure they have a way of collecting the shavings Walmart has had problems with fuel getting clogged from the shavings in the bottom of the tank.

[lowrange]

I didn't have to come with empty tanks.but I can see why they may need to turn it to drill the hole. The hole goes in the top and make sure they have a way of collecting the shavings Walmart has had problems with fuel getting clogged from the shavings in the bottom of the tank.

They want to remove the tank to clean it. They don't have a way to collect the shavings otherwise????

[fdmax]

they could drill the tank closer to the fill hole, and stick their arm inside, hold a rag where they drill to catch the shavings.

[lowrange]

they could drill the tank closer to the fill hole, and stick their arm inside, hold a rag where they drill to catch the shavings.

I really hope I don't have a unique problem, my fill hole is about 2" diameter.

I'm thinking draining and removing the tank, then washing it, that has to be a lot of extra labor.

[fdmax]

yeah, i just measured mine,
three inches,
and that would need a small arm,
my hand fits in snugly.

Me and my Dad had ours drilled for APU's
bad part was i was'nt there when they drilled
i do have some bits of shavings in my tank, but not very much.
but to think about the drilling, normally most of the aluminum is pulled up while drilling
and the fuel is not sucked at the bottom of tank
there is a tube that goes down thats a few inchs from the bottom.

I called tony at black rock apu
and he said 99% of the shavings come back up with the drill bit.

[lowrange]

yeah, i just measured mine,
three inches,
and that would need a small arm,
my hand fits in snugly.

Me and my Dad had ours drilled for APU's
bad part was i was'nt there when they drilled
i do have some bits of shavings in my tank, but not very much.
but to think about the drilling, normally most of the aluminum is pulled up while drilling
and the fuel is not sucked at the bottom of tank
there is a tube that goes down thats a few inchs from the bottom.

I called tony at black rock apu
and he said 99% of the shavings come back up with the drill bit.

Hey, I really appreciate you making that call. What you're saying makes sense and all, I was leaving it to the better judgment of the mechanics. They're still saying to bring it back in with low tanks (they'd actually pull the tanks, and I don't know how they'd wash them).

I guess I'm done here, it's a company shop. Low rates, but what good is that if you have to go someplace else anyway. They started taking apart my door to replace the hinge and got to a place where they couldn't get a part off. The solution? Put it back together like it was before and charge me for their efforts. I guess I'll just try to find someone else to do it.

Thanks, fdmax

[allan5oh]

If you're really concerned, tell them to put grease on the drill bit. This will suck up the shavings.

It's no big deal anyways.

[mike3fan]

It's no big deal anyways.

Unless you are stuck on the side of the road because you can't get fuel out of your tank. I have personal knowledge of it happening is all I'm saying.

[lowrange]

Whoa, glad you showed up, Allan5oh. I figured if anyone would know, you or maybe Splitshifter would.

I'll pause right now, perhaps you will comment on Mike's experience. Either way, I don't like paying for mechanics' training. I know they have to learn, I just don't like paying for it. I'll try to find someone who knows...I doubt all the guys on this board who had them installed had their fuel tanks removed.

[allan5oh]

I don't know enough about Mike's experience to comment.

My dad has installed 3 this way and has never had a problem.

[GrayBeard]

Whoa, glad you showed up, Allan5oh. I figured if anyone would know, you or maybe Splitshifter would.

I'll pause right now, perhaps you will comment on Mike's experience. Either way, I don't like paying for mechanics' training. I know they have to learn, I just don't like paying for it. I'll try to find someone who knows...I doubt all the guys on this board who had them installed had their fuel tanks removed.

I installed my Espar and had to drill the tank for the pick-up tube. I went to a pet supply store and got a small fish net with a long handle. I put the fish net inside the tank and grease on the drill bit. What didn't come up and out on the drill bit, was caught in the fish net inside the tank. I drilled the hole about 3 inches from the filler cap which simplified the process of drilling and getting the pick-up tube in without the need to drill a bigger hole or lose the pick-up tube in the tank.

Hope this helps.

[pdm]

I've put a shop vac next to the drill bit, seems to work ok. That fish net idea sounds good to.

[lowrange]

Ok good, thanks. I've just got to find someone to do it who feels confident they know what they are doing. I don't know how good these mechanics are, but they readily acknowledge they haven't done it before.