28 Fuel pick-up tubes

[Patriot]

Lost an engine coming off plane after a nast 2 hour ride in 4-5 footers. After changing filters and trying to re-prime the port Racor, no joy- nothing but air. Pulled the pickup tube out on that side and it was cracked 300 degrees around the attachment to the 90 degree fitting it is attached too and was barely hanging on. I changed out both side tubes this weekend and in doing so noticed a lot of aluminum drill shavings and some small weld splatter stuck and holding open the two anti-siphon (check valves) that are attached to the fuel barb. Took the valves apart and cleaned out at least a thimble full of shavings on the port side. Obviously the tank mfg in 2001 drilled, welded the boss and tapped the top plate after tank assembly leaving no way to clean the chips out. The pick-up tube design is very poor where the tube is attached to the 90. There is so little wall thickness left on the tube after the threads are cut for the NPT threads that it is an accident waiitng to happen.

Word to the wise. New tubes cost about $18 a piece, cleaning the check valve is free. The whole job will take you maybe an hour.

[Bullish]

Good information.

Please tell where you got the tubes. If local, then please tell the size/manufacturer of the tubes so I can order new one's on-line somewhere.

[Patriot]

Fuel Tubes

Bullish-

I got mine here:

Luther's Welding (they are a large tank manufacturer)
500 Wood St
Bristol RI
02809
(401) 253-5550

The fittings are 1/2" NPT with the tube (thermoplastic?) already attached and much longer than you need. Simply cut them with a sharp knife to length using the old ones as guidance. They have them with the 90 degree fitting in aluminum (CC used aluminum) or Stainless. I went with the stainless as the check valves are bronze and mixing bronze and aluminum without a dielectric barrier is not recommended and against ABYC standards. As a tank mfg, these guys know their stuff and were not impressed with the CC pick-up tube quality and were very direct in stating that the anti-siphon valves (bronze) were directly screwed into an aluminum fitting is bogus. Luther's told me that hundreds of broken aluminum pick up tubes have come through their door and none replaced with the plastic tubes (good for diesel or gas) have ever failed.

[Bullish]

Thanks a lot. This is the second post I have read on this problem so I will proactively change them.

Jason

[TwinFin]

Good post Patriot!

I wonder if this is the same design you have on your 2001 model? These pics were taken during my factory tour in November 2003.

[Patriot]

Pick-up Tubes

Steve-

I saved your first pic and blew it up to see better. I would say those are the exact same tubes that were in my tank. Note where the tube itself has pipe threads cut into it to screw into the 90 degree fitting. That is the weak point and also the exact point that can see the most leverage when the force of fuel acts on the tube, tank baffles aside that really happens. When I pulled out the cracked tube it was hanging by a thread and had cracked around the circumference substantially allowing air to be sucked by that engine.

The next problem I found was all the shavings and weld splatter chunks stuck in the check valves which kept them jammed open. The check valves are easy to take a part and cleaned up well. I can only imagine however how much **** was caught in the initial Racor on this boat.

The check valves crossed to Apollo Co. and are the bronze, soft seated style 61-500 I beleive but I never went so far as calling Apollo to verify the stamped numbers on the valves as I felt comfortable with them after cleaning.

http://www.conbraco.com/products/marine/marinevalfit1.asp?section=A

[TwinFin]

Thanks Patriot

I'll have to save this thread and keep it in mind. I've never opened my service hatch above the tank but you are making me think maybe I should.

[Little Dandy]

Has anyone pointed this out to Mac and the folks at CC? Reason I ask is because I believe they would correct the probelm at the factory on future boats they build. Just curious.

[Over Billin]

Just spoke to Luthers, they state 3/8 tube is largest they carry?
Ay one else have a source for 1/2" or 5/8"?

[Split Decision]

here is the manufacturer of the tanks they put in my boat. Give them a shout.

[Over Billin]

tank decal.jpg
Thanks Tom, just hung the phone with them. New ones shipping out Tuesday.
Your tank is much cleaner than my 12 yr old one.

[Bluefin 32]

here is the manufacturer of the tanks they put in my boat. Give them a shout.

Tom -- Where on the tank was that sticker? Someplace that gets closed up after the deck is on?

[Split Decision]

They were right by the sending unit. You should be able to see them if you pop the round deck plate in the cockpit assuming yours are in the same place

[Bluefin 32]

No deck plate on my boat. Access to the tank fittings and sender is through the lazarette -- pretty tight reach in through a notch in the bulkhead where it meets the underside of the deck. Probably your boat will be done the same way unless you ask for the deck plate access.

[Pescadora]

No deck plate on my boat. Access to the tank fittings and sender is through the lazarette -- pretty tight reach in through a notch in the bulkhead where it meets the underside of the deck. Probably your boat will be done the same way unless you ask for the deck plate access.

If you do ask for deck plate access, have solid fiberglass blocks installed between the skins where the plates will go. Otherwise there could be a core-rot problem around that plate down the road. Mushrooms even. Truly.