Fuel tank access hole

[Gnoman]

Just finished treating and painting my floors and not sure if i need to keep the access hole for the fuel tank. Im not even sure what the sensor is for (possibly fuel level sensor?) Is it wise to keep this hole accessible or can i just floor over it? Thanks!

 

[musigenesis]

You could cover it, but if you ever need to swap fuel tanks you'll need to cut a new hole.

 

[stlthe]

i just replaced my fuel sender unit, and w/o an access hatch it would have been impossible except to drop the tank.

i'm for keeping it.

 

[harleydoug-SKO]

Just make a plate out of sheet steel or aluminum and screw it down over the hole. You are going to need access to the sending unit if it ever needs replacing.

 

[Rovobay]

I took a picture of where mine was with measurements of its exact location. I floored over it, but if I need to get access to it, I look at the reference picture so I know where to cut up my floor! fingers crossed, I'll never need to do it, but I am prepared if I must.

 

[magnakansas]

yes

that is fuel level sending unit.

william

 

[Mountain Yawp]

I took a picture of where mine was with measurements of its exact location. I floored over it, but if I need to get access to it, I look at the reference picture so I know where to cut up my floor! fingers crossed, I'll never need to do it, but I am prepared if I must.

That's exactly what I did. However, now that I think about it, I should probably print one of the pics, write all the measurements on the back of it, and keep it in the bus somewhere in case of an emergency repair.

 

[JackE]

That's exactly what I did. However, now that I think about it, I should probably print one of the pics, write all the measurements on the back of it, and keep it in the bus somewhere in case of an emergency repair.

Excellent idea. Also, add it to your build thread for your own future reference. I am all for keeping important info in multiple places. We keep all our legal documents and pictures scanned to an external hard drive, plus have burned CD copies of same info at my mothers house on the other side of town, and my mother-in-laws house the next state over. We try to update those CD's once a year. I'm a big believer in Murpheys law #24641, If you are prepared, you will never need it.

 

[cadillackid]

when I got my DEV bus the fuel tank sensor was bad.. I replaced it.. its started to get flaky again (4 years later).. so im glad to have that access plate again.



my red bus I replaced it's sensor a little over 3 years ago and it still works good but I notice on full the gauge reads over and the needle jitters a little if the bus sits at all.. which means in the coming months that sensor is going to die.. another one im glad to have the access plate on..

 

[musigenesis]

when I got my DEV bus the fuel tank sensor was bad.. I replaced it.. its started to get flaky again (4 years later).. so im glad to have that access plate again.



my red bus I replaced it's sensor a little over 3 years ago and it still works good but I notice on full the gauge reads over and the needle jitters a little if the bus sits at all.. which means in the coming months that sensor is going to die.. another one im glad to have the access plate on..

Am I correct that school buses from the factory don't have any access hole for the sending unit? Every one I've seen seems to be a DIY job. Fuel tanks can be put in a variety of places so it makes sense not to build anything into the standard bus body, I guess.

 

[Mountain Yawp]

Am I correct that school buses from the factory don't have any access hole for the sending unit? Every one I've seen seems to be a DIY job. Fuel tanks can be put in a variety of places so it makes sense not to build anything into the standard bus body, I guess.

My rear engine Thomas access hole sure seemed factory. If not, the school district mechanic did an amazing job adding it.

 

[musigenesis]

My rear engine Thomas access hole sure seemed factory. If not, the school district mechanic did an amazing job adding it.

Mine was definitely not factory and whoever did it seemed not very good at using a tape measure - they cut halfway through a cross member doing it.

 

[banman]

Mine (also a Thomas) seems very factory.

And not only is the sending unit access there but access to the fuel line leading to the engine and the flexible fuel filler hose.

Now why would any of those things start leaking or having some other issue -- they've been fine for 20 years! :whistling:

 

[musigenesis]

Mine (also a Thomas) seems very factory.

And not only is the sending unit access there but access to the fuel line leading to the engine and the flexible fuel filler hose.

Now why would any of those things start leaking or having some other issue -- they've been fine for 20 years! :whistling:

Are you sure? My current fuel tank was manufactured in 2010 despite looking as bad as the rest of the bus.

 

[banman]

Are you sure? My current fuel tank was manufactured in 2010 despite looking as bad as the rest of the bus.

Very...
Despite also coming from the N.E. my bus has almost exclusively rusted from the inside out. The paint on the fuel cell looks great expect where it's rubbed the cage or scratched for other reasons...
Build tag on my fuel cell says 2001. It's 100 gal tank, even empty would take two people to wrestle into place...

My approach to things is different sometimes --
Back in the day working on an OH-6 (Cayuse/little bird) I had to remove the Co-pilot seat frame for access to a control tube -- something that doesn't occur in the first 30 years of use. I discovered I had to practically remove the entire helicopter to get access to one of the seat frame bolts
-- as I was cursing the design of this and saying a 3hr repair was now going to take 3 to 4 days...
An ol' timer came up to me and put an X on the exterior skin of the helicopter -- drill you a 1" hole right about there, give you access to that bolt :wink1:"
"Awesome! How do I write that up?"
"Jesus kid, you don't. Sheet metal'll come and patch it for you just like it'd been shot in Vietnam. :whistling:
(I figure my statute of limitations is up regarding life and the FAA...)

 

[DoxieLuvr2015]

Save yourself the time now and seal it properly to access it in the future. Why would anyone think it’s a good idea to restrict access to sensors that will need to be replaced eventually.

 

[cmwalker73]

Hatch

Keep it, I just had to replace it on my bus, and it would have been very difficult to get at if the floor had been there.

 

[DoxieLuvr2015]

That’s a great sea story

Very...
Despite also coming from the N.E. my bus has almost exclusively rusted from the inside out. The paint on the fuel cell looks great expect where it's rubbed the cage or scratched for other reasons...
Build tag on my fuel cell says 2001. It's 100 gal tank, even empty would take two people to wrestle into place...

My approach to things is different sometimes --
Back in the day working on an OH-6 (Cayuse/little bird) I had to remove the Co-pilot seat frame for access to a control tube -- something that doesn't occur in the first 30 years of use. I discovered I had to practically remove the entire helicopter to get access to one of the seat frame bolts
-- as I was cursing the design of this and saying a 3hr repair was now going to take 3 to 4 days...
An ol' timer came up to me and put an X on the exterior skin of the helicopter -- drill you a 1" hole right about there, give you access to that bolt :wink1:"
"Awesome! How do I write that up?"
"Jesus kid, you don't. Sheet metal'll come and patch it for you just like it'd been shot in Vietnam. :whistling:
(I figure my statute of limitations is up regarding life and the FAA...)

I can attest to some sailor alts in my career. If anyone ever got blamey, we always said it must have been the last guys work. :wink1:

 

[Billb-SKO]

Do all Buses have this hole?

My 5 window Ford 7.3 /Thomas cut away doesn't have this access hole unless I am missing it. I have the steel floor completely exposed. Can you access the sender under the vehicle. My tank has a shelf on the forward top side.