Can I clamp off my tank's vent line? Please?

[doctorb]

I've noticed a few references on here to the "spider web" of vent lines coming off the fuel tank. I'm running an FJ-62 3B and get some leakage out of my vent lines when the tank is all filled up. Simple solution would be to NOT fill the tank all the way up, but I'd way rather clamp off the leaky line and resign myself to only have 4 vent lines rather than 5. Can anyone think of any problems with this? I'm planning on leaving most of them intact.

The problem stems from a stubby male hose connection in the vent line box that doesn't quite make a seal with its assigned hose. I'd replace the box, but I think I'd end up tearing the body metal before those bolts let loose.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Any chance the hose is getting old and loose, swollen up? Cut the end off and refit. Fresh hose clamp? John

 

[doctorb]

Nope, if it was just a hose, I'd fix it and quit my whining =). It's actually that the piece the hose plugs on to is corroded and worn down to the point where it's just a little nub that barely holds the hose in place.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Repairing anything plastic that carries fuel/vapors is tuff. Is the fitting big enough that you could push a smaller piece of tub into it, and the refit the hose? John

 

[doctorb]

It's actually a metal fitting. I could possibly get a really small tube and repair it, but what I'd really like to know is if I can just clamp off that hose and not think about it again.

 

[inkpot]

It's actually a metal fitting. I could possibly get a really small tube and repair it, but what I'd really like to know is if I can just clamp off that hose and not think about it again.

Howdy! The problem is that if you can get something onto it to clamp it off, then you can probably clamp the regular hose onto it. If it is closed off, then it may be subject to the pressure in the tank, so it could still leak. You might epoxy a screw or bolt, or whatever into the hole on the fitting to make a hard closure. You might even want to use "gas tank repair kit" stuff to make it fuel resistant. John

 

[crushers]

can you clamp it off? yes.

 

[doctorb]

Thanks crushers. That's what I was hoping to hear.