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Need to remove fuel pick-up screen

200 Views 2 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  EuroboyDC
i want to remove the fuel pick-up tube from the aluminum diesel tank on our Island Packet 31.

Does this look like a Moeller, and should I be able to unscrew it from the top of the tank? Just want to make sure it's not welded on there and me taking a breaker bar to get it loose...permanently. I already disconnected the fuel line, as you can probably see.

Thanks much!
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Moeller ? As in the guys who make a lot of plastic gas tanks?

Brand seems of limited importance to me. From the picture it looks like a welded aluminum tank, or possibly stainless. It looks like a bung is welded into the tank, possibly tapered pipe thread. Often fuel fittings that are screwed together have some sort of fuel rated pipe dope on them. Some paste dopes are non hardening, others harden like a rock & become difficult to remove. Dissimilar metal corrosion also causes issues sometimes. Some aluminum tanks & aluminum fuel filter housings come with aluminum fittings now, to prevent that issue.

Bottom line, you can probably unscrew it, but there is no guarantee. I see no evidence of salt build up, so I see no need to start with warm soapy water, but a few drops of penetrating oil, about a half hour before you start trying to turn it, may be helpful.

Keep your eyes open for a check valve. They get hidden in strange places sometimes & can plug up solid.
Thanks for your reply! I'll start with some WD-40 or similar.
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