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Post by Quiddle on Aug 1, 2013 7:36:36 GMT
Before I force them open, can anyone advise if there is any sort of bonding or sealant on the access hatches to tanks on a 36i. I can't budge mine with 'normal' pressure and am beginning to doubt they are just screwed down tightly.
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Post by j on Aug 1, 2013 8:29:34 GMT
Before I force them open, can anyone advise if there is any sort of bonding or sealant on the access hatches to tanks on a 36i. I can't budge mine with 'normal' pressure and am beginning to doubt they are just screwed down tightly. I have heard of someone cutting a piece of timber to the correct shape to fit the slot in the hatch to give some leverage to get it open. |
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Post by Tafika II on Aug 1, 2013 15:41:46 GMT
I don't know why they are so tight, but you will need some leverage to open them. I did an inspection on one of my tanks and there does not seem to be a sealant involved.
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chaika
Junior Member
Posts: 20 
Country: Tasmania, Australia
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Post by chaika on Aug 2, 2013 4:05:28 GMT
We made a wood cutout to fit the slot in the access port - it still wouldn't budge so we bolted a gate hinge to the wood and a sturdy steel bar about a food long on the hinge. Just barely got it open after bending the hinge. Once open we greased the O-ring with Molykote silicon grease(food grade), but still find we need to use "the tool" on the odd occasion that we want to get a look in the tanks.
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Post by Quiddle on Aug 2, 2013 19:32:19 GMT
Thanks everybody. More spinach, then. Just didn't want to do my normal trick of 'break first then ask.'
Andy
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Post by Mistroma on Aug 14, 2013 21:21:59 GMT
I open my tanks at end of each season, clean out and put in some vinegar to pump into pipes prior to draining system down for winter. Well worth doing when you see what accumulates in a season.
I had the same problem first time I tried to turn the red plastic caps but a made up wooden tool did the job nicely. I found out why they are so tight when I filled the tanks in following spring, leaks everywhere. They don't need to be quite as tight as the initial setting but I now know to use reasonable force and then check for leaks at first fill. No more problems after that.
I managed to leave the wooden tool at home in Scotland but find that the jaws on my 3' long bolt cutters grip nicely when fully open (& plenty of leverage as well).
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