Repair And Fix it

Water and fuel dont mix, so its never a good idea to put water into a cars gas tank. However, when water does get into a gas tank, either accidentally, or as the result of a malicious prank, the result is engine trouble.

Condensation

Water can get into a gas tank even if you didnt put it there. Sometimes water gets in through a badly sealed cap on the tank, or by natural condensation on the inside of the gas tank

Problems

Water in the gas tank may lead to the car bucking, stalling or not starting at all, or starting the car could be difficult. This is because the water and fuel separate, especially when the car has been sitting for a while, and the water sinks to the bottom with the fuel on top. Water can also get into other parts of the engine causing rust and corrosion.

Removal

The method you use to get rid of water in your cars gas tank depends on how much got in there in the first place. In the case of only a little water, an additive that dries up water could be used. The additive combines with the water as it goes through the running engine. If there is a lot of water, a mechanic will have to remove the gas. This may include removing the fuel tank from the car and putting in new filters. The tank is then put back and is filled with clean gas.

Cutting a gas tank in half isnt an overly difficult task if youre equipped with the right tools. Although you could use a grinder or oxyacetylene torch to accomplish the job, the safest and perhaps most efficient tool to use is a reciprocating saw. In order to cut the tank effectively, the saw will need to be fixed with a metal-cutting blade. A metal-cutting blade will utilize multiple teeth, usually numbering somewhere between 14 and 20 per inch. This is much more than a wood-cutting blade, which has only 6 to 8 teeth per inch.

Instructions

1

Rinse the gas tank out several times with water and let it drain. If you have time, you should also allow the tank to air out for roughly 3 to 5 days. Obviously, the gas should be removed from the vehicle.

2

Use marking chalk to draw a line around the middle of the gas tank. By following this line, youll be better equipped to make a clean, straight cut around the entire gas tank.

3

Attach a bit to your drill specifically designed for drilling in metal. Put on your safety glasses and drill a hole at some point along the line you drew with the marking chalk. The hole you drill will make it easier to insert the blade and start the cut with your reciprocating saw.

4

Grip the reciprocating saw firmly and pull the trigger to start the saw. Start the blade into the hole you drilled and begin sawing the gas tank in half. Follow your line and work slowly. If you rush or push too hard, you may dull or damage the saw blade. Continue cutting until youve successfully separated the gas tank into halves.

Removing the fuel tank from your 1989 Jeep for replacement of the tank, sender or other parts takes a few minutes and a little pre-planning. The tank should be as close to empty as possible to make removal safer and easier. The tank does not have a drain plug, so you will need to siphon the fuel from the tank into an approved storage container before you start or drive it until it is nearly empty. Replacement tanks, sending units and related parts are available at most major auto-parts stores.

Instructions

1

Remove the filler cap from the Jeep and set it aside. Position a jack under the Jeep and raise the rear off the ground, then place a set of jack stands under the rear axle to support the vehicle. Remove the jack for now.

2

Disconnect the fuel filler hose and vent line from the drivers side of the tank, using a flat screwdriver to loosen the hose clamps. Pull the hoses off the tank fitting and let them hang to one side.

3

Position a jack under the skid plate on the fuel tank, then remove the nuts around the edges of the skid plate, using a socket and ratchet. Lower the jack slowly, allowing the fuel tank and skid to drop down from the Jeep until you can reach the hoses and wiring harness connections on top of the tank.

4

Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the fuel sending unit and set it aside. Remove the clamps from the hoses on top of the fuel tank with a flat screwdriver, then disconnect the hoses and set them aside.

5

Lower the jack, dropping the fuel tank and skid plate out of the Jeep as a complete unit. Slide the tank out from under the truck so you can access any part of it required for the repair you are performing.

Compressed air is useful for many things. It can pump up flat tires, run a variety of air tools, or simply be used to clean a bit of dirt out of a crevice. In order to create and use compressed air you need to have a commercial air compressor or an air tank. If you have an air-tank equipped with a pressure gauge and Schrader valve you can easily fill it up with a bike pump.

Instructions

1

Press the bike pump connection onto the Schrader valve located near the top of the air tank. It will be an approximately 3/8 inch metal threaded tube with a small pin in the center.

2

Pump up the tank while keeping an eye on the tank air valve. After several dozen pumps you should start to see some air pressure registered. Continue this action until the tank reads about 20 pounds of pressure.

3

Remove the bike pump nozzle and use the tire gauge to verify the pressure for safety. Once it is verified, continue pumping to your desired pressure.

Changing the fuel tank on a recent Dyna Super Glide is much more difficult now that it was as recently as 2005. Since 2006, all Harley Dyna Models have been equipped with the closed loop, Delphi electronic fuel injection. This electronic black box system often confuses the diagnosis of engine problems and complicates what were once routine maintenance and repair chores. The good news is that you will not need a laptop to remove and replace your gas tank. The bad news is that the job is now considerably less intuitive than it used to be.

Instructions

Remove the Old Tank

1

Pull the electrical caddy cover off -- on the right side of the bike near the battery compartment -- with your hands. Put the blades of two, small flat-head screwdrivers on either side of the fuel pump fuse and pry out the fuse.

2

Shift the bike into neutral, start the engine and wait for the engine to die. Try to start the bike for another five seconds.

3

Remove the seat fender tab screw and washer with an Allen wrench. Pull the seat back and up to expose the battery. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery post with an open end wrench.

4

Reach under the tank and pull up on the fuel tank fitting and simultaneously pull down on the fuel line.

5

Unscrew the acorn nut in the middle of the instrument panel with an Allen wrench. Pull the panel up and pull apart the plug and socket ends of the fuel pump module connector.

6

Plug one end of a short section of 5/16-inch diameter hose with a 5/16-inch diameter bolt. Constrict a worm-style hose clamp around the bolt by turning the adjusting screw with a screwdriver.

7

Position a large gas can next to the left side of the motorcycle near the fuel tank. Cut off one of the two clamps from the ends of the crossover hose with tin snips.

8

Hold the open end of the short section of 5/16 hose next the crossover hose fitting that you just unclamped. In as close to one motion as possible, replace the unclamped end of the crossover hose with the short section of 5/16-inch hose and insert the free end of the crossover hose into the fill hole of the pre-positioned gas can.

9

Drain the gasoline into the gas can. Clean up any spillage with rags and immediately carry the rags to a well-ventilated location.

10

Loosen the remaining hose clamp on the crossover line and the clamp on the continuous vent line with a screwdriver. Pull both lines off their fittings.

11

Loosen and remove both the front and rear mounting bolts, washers and nuts under the tank with an open end wrench. Pull the male and female halves of the fuel gauge connector apart.

12

Remove the tank by lifting straight up. Carry the tank to a well-ventilated location and allow the tank to air out.

13

Remove the 10 top plate screws from the top plate of the old tank with a Torx socket and socket wrench. Remove the top plate and top plate gasket. Discard the gasket and the screws.

14

Reach into the tank and push down on the fuel pump to remove it from the fuel pump housing so it will fit through the hole. Remove the complete fuel pump assembly including the fuel pump, fuel pump housing, fuel filter screen, hose, fuel level sender and float from the old fuel tank.

Install the New Tank

15

Loosely attach the new fuel tank to the mounting brackets with the front and rear tank mounting bolts, washers and nuts using an open-end wrench. Install the old crossover line and vent line to the new tank using new hose clamps and a screwdriver. Tighten the front and rear mounting bolts with an open-end wrench.

16

Install the old fuel pump hose and a new fuel line hose clamp on the fuel filter fitting. Install the complete old fuel pump assembly in the new tank until the rubber spacer on the bottom of the assembly rests on the bottom of the new fuel tank.

17

Reconnect the fuel line. Reconnect the fuel pump module connector.

18

Replace the instrument panel and tighten the acorn nut with an Allen wrench.

19

Re-install the fuel pump fuse in the electrical caddy. Replace the electrical caddy cover.

20

Reconnect the loose cable to the negative battery post with an open-end wrench. Replace the seat. Refasten the seat mounting tab to the rear fender with an Allen wrench.

21

Refuel the motorcycle.

There are four likely causes that an oil gauge on a Harley might indicate high oil pressure. Two of the causes are literally connected to the oil tank. In order of probability from most to least, your oil pressure gauge is faulty or the electrical connection is loose; your crankcase vent line is clogged; either your oil return or your oil feeder line is kinked or blocked; or finally, your oil tank is overfilled. Work the problem in a few steps.

Instructions

1

Drain the oil from your oil tank into a drain pan by loosening the hose clamp on you drain line with a screwdriver and removing the oil drain plug with a pair of pliers. Replace the plug and drain line after the oil drains from the oil tank.

2

Remove the oil filter from the front of your bike with an oil filter wrench. Drain the oil from the filter into the drain pan.

3

Discard the old oil filter and install a new filter hand tight onto the oil filter stud.

4

Follow the wires from your oil pressure gauge top the crankcase and check for loose connections or an obviously defective wire.

5

Inspect the oil feeder and oil return line from the crankcase to the oil tank. Physically remove the lines by unfastening any hose clamps with a screwdriver and any permanent fittings with an open end wrench.

6

Stick a wire through the length of the hoses to ensure the hoses are not clogged. Replace the two oil lines.

7

Follow the oil vent line from the top of the oil tank next to the return line to the crankcase. Remove the line from the crankcase with an open end wrench. Pull the line out of the oil tank with your hands.

8

Sick a wire through the vent line to ensure it is not clogged. Replace the vent line with an open end wrench.

9

Add the appropriate amount of oil, either 3 or 4 quarts, to the oil tank as specified in the owners manual for your Harley. Turn over the motorcycle for about 15 seconds.

10

Remove the fill plug and read the dipstick to ensure the oil level reads full. Start the motorcycle and check the oil gauge. If the gauge still indicates that your oil pressure is too high the gauge is probably defective.