Fuel leak on fuel connection at fuel tank - SO 419

[bitsailor]

As with many jeanneau's, our fuel connection is in a depressed area below the top of the tank. We recently fully filled the tank and I am noticing a small amount of fuel leaking through the connector. The fuel appears to be coming from one of the screws (not from the gasket between the metal connector and the tank).

I have tightened the screws as much as I dare by hand but there is still a small leak.

I am not sure what sort of backing the screws are attached to and so am concerned about over tightening the screws. 

Seems like a few boats have had this issue - wondering what the solution is?

Can I continue to tighten the screws? Whats the backing plate and whats the danger of over tightening?

Would another solution be to remove each screw and put some sealing product in the holes before re-bedding the screws? If so what sort of sealant would be suitable?

Thanks

[Zanshin]

The screws are Torx screws, which are designed to take a lot more torque than standard Philipps screws. So when I see them, I assume that I can torque them a lot more. Did you do this by hand or with an electric tool? I think I'd wait until I get the tank empty enough to not slosh into the fuel connection and then remove the connector to check what sort of backing there is in place. Perhaps that one screw has already been over-torqued.

[bitsailor]

Im not worried about stripping the top of the screw, more the backing plate. I have been tightening by hand only so far.

Has anyone had experience removing and re-bedding the entire connector?

[Charlie-Bravo]

Have a look at Tek-tanks HFL Flange, that will give you a preview of what lurks within.
Other systems are available but this is the usual arrangement as it is about the only way to get the tapped ring inside the tank, so don’t remove all the screws or the inner ring can fall to the bottom of the tank !, giving another retrieval challenge, leave one bolt threaded but not tight, swing the outer pick up assembly to one side and you can get a finger on the inner ring, or a screw into the inner ring to stop it falling whilst you remove everything else for a new gasket.
Sounds fiddly but it’s not difficult on tanks I have attacked. 
Yours ‘could’ be different…… but is probably similar.

If it is just the one screw leaking, undo it , wrap in ptfe tape and pop it back in, might cure the weep for years.

CB

[bitsailor]

Thanks Charlie-Bravo,

Looked up the Tek-tanks HFL Flange and i have a better idea of whats needed now. I also posted on FB and one post said that there is no backing plate, just screws into plastic, but I find that hard to believe given they are torque screws and whats involved.

Someone also suggested using Permatex No2 or Loctite Silicone Blue. Since its just the one screw causing issues, I think I will try a combo of sealant and ptfe table and see if that does the trick

Thx

[ohana]

Hi - there was a past thread on these forums about this, with some good advice. I cannot immediately find it - but suggest you use the search function to see if you can locate it?