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How to rotate/align fuel tanks?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by PE_T, Apr 12, 2020.

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  1. Apr 12, 2020 #1
    PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

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    My tanks are not centered correctly, and I want to align them. I have cylinder shaped tanks and the air vent tube is not exactly at the top of the tank. I do have the tools to loosen the fuel tank straps, but I’m struggling to rotate them. The tanks are half full right now, so each weighs about 300 lbs.

    I’m starting to think I can drain the tanks to reduce the weight but could there be another way as I don’t have a way to store the fuel right now?

    This is on a 2014 Freightliner Cascadia.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2020
    PE_T, Apr 12, 2020
    PE_T, Apr 12, 2020
    #1
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  3. Apr 12, 2020 #2
    boneebone

    boneebone Road Train Member

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    You could store the fuel in my tanks and I’ll give you back what’s left when I get back from my run.
     
    boneebone, Apr 12, 2020
    boneebone, Apr 12, 2020
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  4. Apr 12, 2020 #3
    boneebone

    boneebone Road Train Member

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    You’ll probably need to remove the side fairing, put a floor jack and some pieces of wood underneath to support the tank, roll the tank out with the jack and reposition the tank and roll it back under the truck and reinstall the tank straps.

    It might be easier with another person helping you.
     
    boneebone, Apr 12, 2020
    boneebone, Apr 12, 2020
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  5. Apr 12, 2020 #4
    Burley

    Burley Bobtail Member

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    Empty tanks would make it a lot easier, could drain the one tank into the other than once rotated drain into the other tank again and rotate second tank. Should rotate fairly easy when empty, only the straps that hold them
    in place in my experience.
     
    Burley, Apr 12, 2020
    Burley, Apr 12, 2020
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  7. Apr 12, 2020 #5
    RocketScott

    RocketScott Medium Load Member

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    Empty into the other tank then rotate would be my suggestion too

    Failing that maybe you can lift it with something that has rollers on it (?)

    Steal your neighbor kid's skateboard...
     
    RocketScott, Apr 12, 2020
    RocketScott, Apr 12, 2020
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  8. Apr 12, 2020 #6
    BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Use air in the vent hole to blow fuel in the other tank. Take it slow. Then blow it back to do the other side. Have fuel in both tanks before you start it up.
     
    BoxCarKidd, Apr 12, 2020
    BoxCarKidd, Apr 12, 2020
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  9. Apr 12, 2020 #7
    PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

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    I’m getting good results by placing the bottle jacks at an angle and pulling with a rope around the fuel tank cap. I’d say also putting grease under the straps should work wonders. My straps are in place while I am doing this. I’ve loosened them quite a bit, but not all the way or else the strap will come off the mount.

    Thank you all for the ideas.

    By the way, anyone wanting to do this will need to order an “extra deep” socket online. The regular deep sockets will not work. I’m guessing most Freightliner Cascadias will need a 15/16” extra deep socket. The reason for this problem is because the bolt is really long, which was probably designed that way to make installing straps easy.
     

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    Last edited: Apr 12, 2020
    PE_T, Apr 12, 2020
    PE_T, Apr 12, 2020
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  10. Apr 12, 2020 #8
    Burley

    Burley Bobtail Member

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    Looks like you got er figured.
    Where there’s a will there’s a way
     
    Burley, Apr 12, 2020
    Burley, Apr 12, 2020
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  11. Apr 12, 2020 #9
    Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    I have done them before by taking two ratchet straps and a 4x4 block and ratcheting it to the side of the tank.
    Then place a jack on the block between the two ratchet straps and jack it to where you want it.
    I placed a piece of carpet between the metal ratchet and the tank so it wouldn’t scratch the tank
     
    Hulld, Apr 12, 2020
    Hulld, Apr 12, 2020
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  12. Apr 12, 2020 #10
    Motto

    Motto Light Load Member

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    @PE_Trans when you bought your truck fuel tanks were not in proper position ?
     
    Motto, Apr 12, 2020
    Motto, Apr 12, 2020
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