Fuel tank access/ Aquahot fuel line

[azrescue]

On our 95 BMC, at some point in the not too distant future, I need to replace the fuel line between the fuel tank and the AquaHot. From what I can tell (could be wrong) it's a rubber hose that goes to the top of the fuel tank and in the tank at the top. From what I can gather it likely means dropping the fuel tank down to access it. Does anyone have experience with this?

On a related note, we are about to pull the carpet out of the living area and replace it with wood floors. It got me wondering about pulling out some of the subfloor when the carpet is out (or cutting an access hole) to access that fuel line that way. Anyone have any experience with doing so in a BMC? I'm thinking it should be possible, but I'd rather not be doing exploratory surgery if I can avoid it.

Thanks.

[Lee Davis]

I am not sure what is prompting you to want to replace your AH fuel lines unless they have started rotting or something. Mine are 23 years old and are still fine. If you try to do it from the top, under the carpet there is about a 3x4 metal plate you will need to take up in the front part of the bus to get to the plywood floor.

You will also have to contend with the metal cross pieces supporting the floor, so be aware of that.

Good Luck!

[azrescue]

Originally Posted by Lee Davis

I am not sure what is prompting you to want to replace your AH fuel lines unless they have started rotting or something. Mine are 23 years old and are still fine. If you try to do it from the top, under the carpet there is about a 3x4 metal plate you will need to take up in the front part of the bus to get to the plywood floor.

You will also have to contend with the metal cross pieces supporting the floor, so be aware of that.

Good Luck!

Thanks Lee!

The fuel tank is back behind the axle, so I'm hoping behind the metal plate you mentioned.

As far as why I want to replace the the fuel hose-

The first picture is the outside of the the fuel supply hose within the AquaHot bay. The second picture is that same hose opened up. Just cause they look good on the outside doesn't mean they are good.

Aside from the fact that I seriously doubt the rest of that hose looks any better inside, the trouble is that the AquaHot sucks the fuel from the tank, and leaks can present themselves as the unit shutting down when it gets an air bubble.

It's not critical as it's working ok right now, but I am definitely going to have to replace the full rubber hose length sometime. As I'm pulling up the carpet anyway, I figured it was worth a try from the top. May very well be futile.

[Randy Dupree]

wow,thats a mess.

[Jim Brookshire]

I would take a look at the line at the tank end before changing out the whole line. The heat inside the Aquahot could be the reason for the deterioration at that end. The remainder of the lines could still be OK. Just a thought.

[azrescue]

Originally Posted by Jim Brookshire

I would take a look at the line at the tank end before changing out the whole line. The heat inside the Aquahot could be the reason for the deterioration at that end. The remainder of the lines could still be OK. Just a thought.

Yeah that's a good thought. I replaced it as far as I could get in the way, and looking at the end of the line, it didn't look great.

It occasionally does suck a bubble of air in from upstream though. It would likely be at the tank end. The good thing it it's not a very long line. The AquaHot is basically next to the tank.

[Lee Davis]

I don't think that metal plate is in front of the axle. It is under the center aisle and goes back 3-4 feet as I remember, I think it's there to quiet the generator noise inside the bus. But it's been a while, so I may be wrong.

Good Luck

[azrescue]

Ok so, like the saying goes, I'd rather be lucky than good.

Turns out someone before me cut an access hole to the top of the fuel tank.

[azrescue]

In other news, one of the hoses (no idea which one yet) was completely kinked.

[max hendrix]

That’s good news.


So do the rectangular plywood pieces go in first and get pulled up against bottom of the floor?? And then the plug sits on top of that. ???

Is that the way it works.

Hope you have room to work one handed down in there.

Max.