Tank strap stuck

[Dreadl0ck]

Rolled under the car today to drop the old tank and replace with a electric pump fed new tank from tanks inc. Driver side strap came off easily after loosening the bolt but the driver side is stuck. It's like the band has wedged itself on the bolt and it won't move. Tried a big pipe wrench to press it down along the bolt but it's jammed. Tried lifting the tank a bit which results in the car lifting on it's rear suspension.

I'm out of ideas and don't want to cut the strap because it's 4 weeks shipping time to Sweden to get new ones...

 

[Fran Blacker]

 

[Fran Blacker]

My understanding is you can't get a wrench or socket on nut? Try putting a box or tubing wrench on stud then put a piece of pipe on stud to bend it away from tank to get wrench on the nut. I wouldn't cut strap. I'd cut stud 10mm above strap so it could be butt welded after you cut it. No waiting for parts and no killer shipping charges.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

My understanding is you can't get a wrench or socket on nut? Try putting a box or tubing wrench on stud then put a piece of pipe on stud to bend it away from tank to get wrench on the nut. I wouldn't cut strap. I'd cut stud 10mm above strap so it could be butt welded after you cut it. No waiting for parts and no killer shipping charges.

I like the first half of this idea. Use A LOT of rust penetrant. Move the "J-hook" a little bit so you can get a wrench on the nut (Fran Blacker's pipe idea is a good one) & loosen the nut. If you can get a really deep socket on that nut (1/2" I think) it will be your easiest solution.

If there is NO WAY that nut is coming off, then you'll have to cut something. Whether you cut the "J-hook" or the strap, I think you can get it welded back together. You could always make your own "J-hook" from a long piece of threaded rod & use the good one as an example how to bend it. If you cut the strap, you could grind away any excess well (on the bottom where you can see it).

 

[Dreadl0ck]

I'll get some pictures tomorrow - now I'm just tired from laying under the car for three hours.

The nut comes off perfectly, it's the tank band that has wedged it self on the actual bolt. The part where the band is bent 90 degrees with the hole that you thread the bolt through isn't moving a bit. Both bolts are gone but the tank is stuck solid in the drivers side belt...

 

[Fran Blacker]

Maybe you could use a puller? Make a puller? Make a deep u groove that goes around bolt behind the strap. 6mm thick steel, with a couple of holes on each side of u groove. Then a second piece with two hole that match the second set of holes. Two long bolts to connect the plates and you have puller. Will make a mess of the stud threads.

 

[gkent]

I think the nut was tightened too much originally and has bent the strap and wedged it against the bolt.

1) support both the tank and the strap so there is no tension on the strap.
2) grab the tab of the strap at the bolt with something like channellocks and bend the tab down - probably have to do it on both sides of the bolt.
This should free the strap.

If not, I'd cut the bolt as previously suggested and then re-weld it.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

I think the nut was tightened too much originally and has bent the strap and wedged it against the bolt.

1) support both the tank and the strap so there is no tension on the strap.
2) grab the tab of the strap at the bolt with something like channellocks and bend the tab down - probably have to do it on both sides of the bolt.
This should free the strap.

If not, I'd cut the bolt as previously suggested and then re-weld it.

I see.... the nuts are off already. I like Stanton's idea. You might also be able to get it free with just a pipe on the threaded end of the "J-bolt" and wiggle it back & forth until it comes free from the strap.

Otherwise, like Stanton said, take the weight off the tank...maybe a big piece of wood and a floor jack to hold the tank up & loosen the straps a little bit.... then maybe you can get ahold of the straps & wiggle them back and forth to free them off the J-bolt. If you can get channel locks in there to straighten out the end of the strap, that would be good too.

Be patient.... it WILL come free for you.

 

[themechanic]

Put the nut back on the other strap and cut the j bolt on the stuck one. J bolts are cheap. Here's a set for $16. That's less than what your 3 hours of labor cost you.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-Fuel-...32-/132065981079?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275

 

[themechanic]

I noticed the new re-pop fuel tank straps are just metal strips bent at the ends to accommodate the j bolts. The bend gets warped when you tighten them which causes the problem.

Did this happen with the oem straps? I don't know since I never had an original strap.

 

[Dreadl0ck]

Yep - that's what happened. It got warped from over tightening the bolts by previous owner.

Minor success last night. I used one of these:

https://malmmotors.se/images/zoom/m990wiperremover.jpg

Which was able to bend the strap in to somewhat right angle so it came down about 1/2" or so. I'll push with a jack tonight and see if I can get it further off. Refuse to cut since I suck so bad at welding ;)

 

[Fran Blacker]

Yep - that's what happened. It got warped from over tightening the bolts by previous owner.

Minor success last night. I used one of these:

https://malmmotors.se/images/zoom/m990wiperremover.jpg

Which was able to bend the strap in to somewhat right angle so it came down about 1/2" or so. I'll push with a jack tonight and see if I can get it further off. Refuse to cut since I suck so bad at welding ;)

Nice little tool. Looks nicer than what I suggested.
A channel lock on the knob if you don't mind dinging it.
After you remove the strap and flatten the stretched hole you might want to re-enforce the strap around the hole. Weld on a washer or something else.

 

[SublimeSixpack]

[QUOTE="Fran Blacker,
After you remove the strap and flatten the stretched hole you might want to re-enforce the strap around the hole. Weld on a washer or something else.[/QUOTE]

I agree with this. Good idea.