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The 54 gas tank I bought on ebay from MCM Products arrived today, three days early. That's good but it was damaged. I emailed the seller about it. I was concerned as I saw one end was heavily taped. And the staples in that end of the cardboard did not seem to stapled into the cardboard flaps beneath it.
When I got the tank out of the box the first thing I noticed was that the paint was scuffed on two sides. Then I noticed the filler tube was dented. This is not good. It is dented inwards so that gas would leak out when filling my tank. Also, the seam near where the gas line goes is bent. See the pictures.
I really think I can take a pliers and bend the dent outwards on the filler tube. I'm not too concerned about the seam being bent, unless it has a leak, of course.
What do you think I should do? My buddy and I had planned on replacing it before Jan 7 when I go to the hospital for shoulder replacement surgery. If they send me another tank I'll have to wait until spring to put the tank in. If they offer me the tank for a reduced cost shall I take them up on the deal or should I demand a new one?
The damage most likely occurred during shipping and a claim or report should be made to the delivery company within a short period of time, some have to be made within 72 hours. What are the odds the new one if it was exchanged comes damaged? You could put an air test on it and check for leaks. I lean for getting the reduced price, the damage does not look that serious IMO. Stay on top of it Abe and hope all goes well with the shoulder.
Last edited by gerrymoe; Dec 27, 2019 at 02:37 PM.
Reason: grammar
I agree with Gerry abe but I'm also wondering where it is bent at the seam if that is there for the reason of installing the fitting. The filler tube would be an easy fix by inserting a pipe inside and gently prying it back to shape. I'd still try my best to get a reduced price on the tank rather than sending it back..
What company did the shipper use? I got an opened package last year (sound like what you got) from FedEx. When I questioned them, they said that they can open any package they desire to. When asked why the package was not sealed back up....no response.
Also check with the vendor.
Fedex delivered a radiator to me with a hole through the box and the core . Shipper said they are not responsible for damage after it leaves their shop , Fedex will only deal with the shipper . I did get a refund on the part after I shipped it back to parts geek , but I had to eat the $40 shipping fee
I would definitely let the vendor and the shipper know and haggle for some kind of discount. The neck appears to be relatively easy to repair and wouldn't keep me from using it.
They replied twice already. I give them credit for having someone working Friday night.
First email: they blamed it on UPS. Said I should take pics of the box. UPS may need to pick it up for inspection.
He said he can have a vendor drop ship another tank early next week. He send our vendor will typically open the box to inspect tank before shipping.
Second email: he said, " it is fine to bend the pipe back into shape. They will give me a $30 refund."
Questions: if they drop ship a new on next week, when will I get it? I've got family stuff New year's Eve, New year's Day (pork and sauerkraut), dentist appt Thurs.....
I'm leaning towards the $30 refund. I thought it would be more....
To get anything large shipped intact during Christmas week is a miracle in itself. This morning I was down on the shipping dock of the company I work for and stuff is arriving late and looking like it was used for varsity scrimmage practice. A lot of UPS/Fed-EX delivery folks are taking vacation after the holidays, so your replacement will likely take longer to arrive. If it were me, I'd accept the $30 credit and begin working it back into shape.
Hope you get a pretty physical therapist after the surgery. Not some hefty battleaxe with more moustache than you.
Tom
I would agree with the others. Take the $30 and run. Straighten the filler neck flange, slide the hose over the top, clamp it down and call it good. It will seal and no one will ever know the difference.
Update: I asked the seller if he could do a $50 refund. He said he would have to check with his vendor. Either way, $30 or $50 refund I was keeping it. My buddy, Bill, and i started putting the new tank on yesterday (Monday). Midway through the day I checked my email and the seller said he put $50 in my PayPal account. Very Nice.
So we started at 8:30 AM and finished around 8:00 PM with a half hour break to the hardware store and Wendy's restaurant.
had to use a Sawz-all to get rubber filler tube out.
when we pulled out filler tube noticed we cut into metal filler tube, but new rubber tube covers it up so no problem.
we removed the rear RB Support, only 3 of the 4 welded on nuts broke loose. So 3 new bolts on RB Bracket
both straps were broken.
we were able to slide tank out the rear without taking off front RB Support. Taking that off would have been very hard with Master Cylinder in the way.
at hardware store got pipe hanging strap (with holes in) to strap tank in place.
put bicycle inner tube over strap for insulation. also put it between tank and RB support. Probably not needed since old tank showed no sign of wear at this contact point.
I am now Dark Side since I didn't buy reproduction straps.
Discovered after many attempts to put new pre-bent fuel line in from the engine side that it is much easier to put it in above the frame from the rear and under the truck.
At this point I was ready to quit but Bill said lets keep going and put my new line in from pump to carb.
I bought a straight stick copper/nickel line at NAPA
I could not find a prebent line anywhere, they have them for flatheads and 6 cylinders but now Y-blocks. Y-not?
we bent the line and tried to follow examples I had pics of from other trucks.
Kept the fuel filter in place between pump and carb. I know many say it should go before pump...
truck started very quickly last night. I was surprised I didn't have to crank it very long (like I do after it sits for several days) since the line from tank to carb had no gas in it at all
Bill says it is because my old tank had a leak somewhere and therefore didn't have good suction
no visible leaks in any connections anywhere!
I bought Bill breakfast this morning at the Train Station Restaurant, which TS attendees know about
then went back to Bill's place to put on running board
Truck again started right up this morning
drove it home with no issue
parked in the alley and turned truck off to move wife's van.
truck would not start!
I could see gas in the fuel filter
I suspected vapor lock
the line to the carb is kinda close to the head, see picture below
I can bend it away farther
they do make an insulation for gas lines. Correct?
Does copper/nickel absorb heat quicker than my old cruddy grease coated steel line?
Put a shot of ether in carb and it started and kept running.
So help and advice is welcome. Nasty comments about going Dark Side are welcomed too!
Bill's pipe fitting tool that he used to push out ding. it didn't work because of teh lip on the tube. We used w wooden dowel
Bill under truck working on a strap
old tank. It still had a small remnant of the insulation on it and it was a fiber material not rubber
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