Drilling chinese diesel heater tank (Finest plastic tank)

[JOEPRO]

Going to install my second china heater today. For my front garage. Last heater was a self contained unit.

This one came with a separate larger fuel tank:



It doesn't have any hole in it for the fuel outlet. So it seems that needs to be drilled in. O ring type China fitting supplied:



Has anyone drilled the bottom of the tank before and no real issues with leaks? Or better to drop hose in from the top portion of the tank?

I guess bottom outlet would be preferred for less issues of air into system that sort of thing.

 

[waddycall]

I made a fitting very much like that for the bottom of a plastic flymo petrol tank. I just enlarged the existing hole with a normal twist drill. Never leaked. If you’re worried wack a load of ptfe around it to squish against the tank on both sides. It’s what I used to seal my home made fitting. If it does leak it will be a very minor weep that’ll probably dry up faster than it’s coming out.

 

[8ob]

Its straight forward enough, drill the hole where you want it, guide a bit of thin welding rod through the neck and into the new hole, drop the sealing washer and tank adaptor down the rod and you can then tease it into the new hole. Worth fitting a drain bung in if you are going to the trouble.

Bob

 

[Morris]

I have two with those exact same tanks. I fitted the outlets as @8ob instructions. Been in two years, no issues.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Going to install my second china heater today.

That looks like plastic rather than china?

 

[Cobbler]

That looks like plastic rather than china?

That’s how I read it as well, I’d never heard of a China tank.

 

[JOEPRO]

Thanks all, @8ob suggestion is great there was wondering how to get that in there!

It's turned freezing outside today. You'd think it was winter! So heater installation will be commencing shortly with coring the walls for the pipes.

It is an insulated internal single garage so the heater should be able to get decent heat up once running for a bit.

 

[JOEPRO]

That looks like plastic rather than china?

That’s how I read it as well, I’d never heard of a China tank.

Thread tittle updated

With a nod to the high quality chinesium plastic we are dealing with here.

 

[julianf]

Before you drill the hole, make sure you can get a spanner to the other side of the hole to do up the nut.

I had to drill the hole on mine in a very specific place, which was determined by the length of spanner.

This may not be relevant to you, but just make sure of that before having at it with the drill!

 

[julianf]

Also -

The parts you show, so far as I can tell, have to be installed in the bottom of the tank. No other option.

Iirc I purchased a separate kit for mine that allowed a hole in the top, with a "trim to length" metal pipe.

My whole install was easier with the top connection, plus the trust issues....

 

[JOEPRO]

Before you drill the hole, make sure you can get a spanner to the other side of the hole to do up the nut.

I had to drill the hole on mine in a very specific place, which was determined by the length of spanner.

This may not be relevant to you, but just make sure of that before having at it with the drill!

Also -

The parts you show, so far as I can tell, have to be installed in the bottom of the tank. No other option.

Iirc I purchased a separate kit for mine that allowed a hole in the top, with a "trim to length" metal pipe.

My whole install was easier with the top connection, plus the trust issues....

I don't think you understand this which is OK and I'll post pictures later.

Drill hole
Feed barb through hole from inside tank
Fit 2nd O ring and nut to outside and tighten by holding the protruding barb body

I have since checked gaztube (R) and people are successfully drilling the bottom of the tank which confirms this is OK. I'll soon find out! Worst case I junk a £20 tank

 

[Nomad]

Hi, I've fitted a couple of kits with those tanks but don't remember having to drill any of them - guess it's they came predrilled...

To fit a valve: drill the hole, turn the tank upside down and pass a bit of string or wire into the hole from outside, wriggle it until it drops out of the big filler neck, tie/tape/thread the new outlet onto the end of the wire, use the wire to pull the outlet through the hole so you can fit the locking nut etc.

 

[JOEPRO]

OK so that worked great









I'm using the supplied fuel line and fittings for now. I may end up upgrading them at a later date but need the heater installed today to keep progress on my front garage lift project moving!

Fingers crossed there will be no leaks. Will find out later!

 

[JOEPRO]

That was a TIG rod I fed through.

If someone says they haven't got a TIG welder then WHY NOT? Get to it and don't let that happen again!

 

[julianf]

I don't think you understand this which is OK and I'll post pictures later.

Drill hole
Feed barb through hole from inside tank
Fit 2nd O ring and nut to outside and tighten by holding the protruding barb body

I have since checked gaztube (R) and people are successfully drilling the bottom of the tank which confirms this is OK. I'll soon find out! Worst case I junk a £20 tank

I assumed there was flats on the internal part, but pliers on the hose barb it is then.

 

[JOEPRO]

I assumed there was flats on the internal part, but pliers on the hose barb it is then.

I was also mindful to not overtighten this fitting. It could split the aluminium fitting or crack the tank so I nipped it up as much as I dared for now.

 

[4String.]

That’s how I read it as well, I’d never heard of a China tank.

Here you are:

 

[ajlelectronics]

Here you are:

View attachment 479315

That is a ChinESE tank, a china tank would be far too fragile to drive, besides the weight. Something from, or belonging to China is Chinese although I understand that the yanks have a problem with such demonyms!

You are welcome.

 

[Bullet2012]

have since checked gaztube (R)

 

[voipio]

Is there a groove in the male threaded part to contain the inner o-ring? If there isn't, then take care not to overtighten the assembly, else the o-ring might get squeezed out of place, and leak. Since this is the main seal, that's not a good thing. The o-ring on the outside does nothing, since there is a path via the thread for fuel to leak, that would bypass any seal formed by than outside o-ring. I'm wondering if the second o-ring is a spare.