Harpoon Mod- Bed Lifting/Bolts
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Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,337
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From: Breckenridge, TX
Harpoon Mod- Bed Lifting/Bolts
In preparation to do my harpoon mod I got a T50 bit and decided to see if my bed bolts can be taken out. I want to do it by jacking up the bed instead of dropping the tank. I was all ready to have big issues, but the first four bolts came free with nothing more than a tug on 3/8th drive ratchet. No mess, no effort, probably could have used a a 12V drill to break them loose. Guess I just 'really' lucky.
But about the actual Mod. The write up I saw said "use an appropriate length of lumber to reach the cross member." Where is the best place to put a bottle jack to be able to reach a cross member? I was up under there and I couldn't quickly find a space big enough the get my jack up in there with a crib under it. Suggestions about where to jack it from and how exactly to jack it up? I was planning on using an 18" lift bottle jack on a crib of 4X4s I use under my tractor, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm going to be doing this alone/maybe one other person, so I can't just take the whole bed off, because that would be the easy way.
But about the actual Mod. The write up I saw said "use an appropriate length of lumber to reach the cross member." Where is the best place to put a bottle jack to be able to reach a cross member? I was up under there and I couldn't quickly find a space big enough the get my jack up in there with a crib under it. Suggestions about where to jack it from and how exactly to jack it up? I was planning on using an 18" lift bottle jack on a crib of 4X4s I use under my tractor, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm going to be doing this alone/maybe one other person, so I can't just take the whole bed off, because that would be the easy way.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 487
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From: CT
If your talking about jacking the bed id use a cherry picker and pick it up from the top. Also your very lucky you were able to remove the bolts in the bed, I broke 4 T50 bits trying to get mine off. I just droped the tank after the 4th bit broke.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
In preparation to do my harpoon mod I got a T50 bit and decided to see if my bed bolts can be taken out. I want to do it by jacking up the bed instead of dropping the tank. I was all ready to have big issues, but the first four bolts came free with nothing more than a tug on 3/8th drive ratchet. No mess, no effort, probably could have used a a 12V drill to break them loose. Guess I just 'really' lucky.
But about the actual Mod. The write up I saw said "use an appropriate length of lumber to reach the cross member." Where is the best place to put a bottle jack to be able to reach a cross member? I was up under there and I couldn't quickly find a space big enough the get my jack up in there with a crib under it. Suggestions about where to jack it from and how exactly to jack it up? I was planning on using an 18" lift bottle jack on a crib of 4X4s I use under my tractor, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm going to be doing this alone/maybe one other person, so I can't just take the whole bed off, because that would be the easy way.
But about the actual Mod. The write up I saw said "use an appropriate length of lumber to reach the cross member." Where is the best place to put a bottle jack to be able to reach a cross member? I was up under there and I couldn't quickly find a space big enough the get my jack up in there with a crib under it. Suggestions about where to jack it from and how exactly to jack it up? I was planning on using an 18" lift bottle jack on a crib of 4X4s I use under my tractor, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm going to be doing this alone/maybe one other person, so I can't just take the whole bed off, because that would be the easy way.
Powerstroke Fuel Tank Modification
If so, that's my writing. So I can speak for the author - me.
I would not recommend a bottle jack, but if it's an 18" travel then you can probably make it work. What you want to do is put your jack on the ground, just in front of the rear differential, and next to the drive shaft. You would like to be on center, but the drive shaft is in the way, so just place it to the side a little bit. It will be close enough to center. Then with the bottle jack fully down, measure up from the jack to the bottom of the bed. Cut a piece of 2 x 4 an inch shorter than that and just use it as an extension of your jack. Yes, it's wobbly, so go a little bit, place cribbing under the bed on each side, then go a little more, and so on. Two guys will make it safer to balance the thing.
If you have a cherry picker to lift the whole bed, that works too. We just did two trucks today and used a fork lift. I must say it was really nice having the bed totally out of the way. We did an Excursion as well, and dropped the tank on that one.
Good luck,
Bill
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Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,337
Likes: 346
From: Breckenridge, TX
bpounds: yep that's your page I have bookmarked. Thanks for the better shot of the cribbing and underside of the lifted bed. I was thinking I had to jack it up from the very front of the bed, but I should be able to get my crib up under if I can do it that far back. Just a thought: what if I took a 4X4 and used a large bit to cut maybe a 2 inch deep hold big enough around to fit down over the top part of the bottle jack. Should make it less wobbly, given the smaller surface area to lift with.
Yeah a lift would be easier.... but I don't have one at my house and I don't think Home Depot will rent me one, at least on the budget that I'm on for this
Yeah a lift would be easier.... but I don't have one at my house and I don't think Home Depot will rent me one, at least on the budget that I'm on for this
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
I think it is much faster to drop the tank than to mess with the bed. I can have my tank out in a few minutes if it isn't full. Getting the sender retainer off and back on is the hardest part.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I was thinking I had to jack it up from the very front of the bed, but I should be able to get my crib up under if I can do it that far back. Just a thought: what if I took a 4X4 and used a large bit to cut maybe a 2 inch deep hold big enough around to fit down over the top part of the bottle jack. Should make it less wobbly, given the smaller surface area to lift with.
Hey, whichever way you choose, just make sure to have fun.
Bill
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,391
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From: NorCal
I used a floorjack with a 2x4 standing up on top of it close to the front of the bed and it worked great.
It is very easy to get the bed lifted enough to do the mod, and some of the benefits of doing it this way are:
You don't have to drop the tank,
You don't have to unhook the fuel hoses,
With the tank still bolted in, you can apply more leverage to the sending unit lock ring when taking it off and putting it back on,
It's a one person job.
Here's a pic with the bed lifted:
Here's a pic showing the inside of the tank showing the vent and fill tubes:
Here's a pic after cutting the vent tube (you don't have to cut the fill tube at all):
It is very easy to get the bed lifted enough to do the mod, and some of the benefits of doing it this way are:
You don't have to drop the tank,
You don't have to unhook the fuel hoses,
With the tank still bolted in, you can apply more leverage to the sending unit lock ring when taking it off and putting it back on,
It's a one person job.
Here's a pic with the bed lifted:
Here's a pic showing the inside of the tank showing the vent and fill tubes:
Here's a pic after cutting the vent tube (you don't have to cut the fill tube at all):
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Interesting thing about that one. When I did mine, I tried to pull the unit out of the tank without removing the fuel lines, but they were not long enough to allow that. So I made a quick trip to the store for the tools to remove the fuel lines. I knew that others had done it without disconnecting the lines, but it was not going to work on my long bed.
Now that I've seen the short bed tank I realize that the float arm is shorter on the small tank. Probably about half as long as in the big tank. That's the difference.
I would remove them anyway and get the pick-up/sending unit out of harms way. For less than $10 you can get the disconnect tools. But the difference between small and large tanks is worth noting.
Bill
Now that I've seen the short bed tank I realize that the float arm is shorter on the small tank. Probably about half as long as in the big tank. That's the difference.
I would remove them anyway and get the pick-up/sending unit out of harms way. For less than $10 you can get the disconnect tools. But the difference between small and large tanks is worth noting.
Bill
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
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GregsSD,
Good photos.
When you jacked the bed, did you have all the bed bolts removed or did you leave the rear ones in? Maybe loose or something? Guess the real q is - what keeps the bed from sliding off the back with your method?
Your method looks more optimal for me but I will get a buddy to help anyway so it may not matter much for dropping the tank.
Thanks,
John
Good photos.
When you jacked the bed, did you have all the bed bolts removed or did you leave the rear ones in? Maybe loose or something? Guess the real q is - what keeps the bed from sliding off the back with your method?
Your method looks more optimal for me but I will get a buddy to help anyway so it may not matter much for dropping the tank.
Thanks,
John
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Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,337
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From: Breckenridge, TX
GregsSD- Good pic of the short bed being jacked up. Did the lift and tires make it easier or harder or jsut not matter? Seems like the larger tire would make it harder to get up in there
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: NorCal
When I jacked up the bed, I loosened the 2 rear bolts most of the way but I did leave them in so the bed wouldn't shift.
The job would have been easier with smaller tires or if I would have taken the wheel off, but I had enough room to get in there without much problem. The lift kit helped make it easier to squeeze in there.
The job would have been easier with smaller tires or if I would have taken the wheel off, but I had enough room to get in there without much problem. The lift kit helped make it easier to squeeze in there.
Thread Starter
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Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,337
Likes: 346
From: Breckenridge, TX
Would be it a bad idea to remove the left rear wheel? A jackstand might be kind of an unstable support when the bed is being moved, with the possibility of the frame rocking or shifting.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,391
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From: NorCal
As long as you block the tires and use a sturdy jackstand there would be no problem.
The bed is not really that heavy so the truck won't be rocking around.