MCI 102C3 fuel tank removal strap...where are they and how do i get there?

[rgrimard]

I want to thank all of the people on this forum…you were all spectacular in your directions towad finding my “check trans”relay issue. I replaced the relay and all is good.  Ok guys here is this week’s issue! Yesterday while I was moving the bus I noticed that there was a nice size “wet area” emanating from under the coach right behind the evap compartment. I’m like you have to be kidding. Yup swelled it and it was fuel for sure. When I purchased the coach I received all the service documentation and noticed that the fuel tank was removed and repaired in 08. I guess perhaps the “fix” undid or I  have developed a new leak. Regardless, I have to remove the tank and have it repaired...of course it was 95% full!  Anyways I went and purchased (6) 33 gallon containers a drill pump and emptied the tanks.

Before that I ran the bus up on ramps so I could get under the bus and remove the access  panel and disconnect the aux hoses. I removed the front panel, hoses, sending wire and hold down strap that was about 18” in from the front. OK now where is the other strap? How do I get to it? I looked in the evap compartment and the access  panel to the air conditioning compartment but did not see any way to see if there were tank straps (plus the tank seems to be inside an enclosure) I also took down the access panel in the forward baggage compartment (hoping it was the golden ticket to the tank) but saw no tank access. How in the world do I get to this strap (is it even back there) please send some seasons greetings this way my wife is about to cancel my Christmas!
Regards,
Ray

[Scott & Heather]

Ray, I just this summer removed and repaired leaks in my 102c3 tank. I can help you figure this out. I'm right in the middle of some stuff, so give me a day and I'll read through your post and help you out. It is easier than you think


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[lvmci]

Hi Ray, Merry Christmas, there are 3 pipes coming from the back side of the tank if you have an auxiliary  fuel tank, goes under the bus from main to aux tank, covered, it has a metal covering gaurding it, that would hold the tank in place, get a MCI parts and maintainance  manual, shows all this in exploded views, lvmci...

[Scott & Heather]

Ok, actually I have a second while my friend drives....there is only one strap. The one you see when you look at the filler cap of the tank. If you removed that you're good to go. Did you remove the door/access panel just under the fuel door? I'm
Sure you did. Now, the tank is squeezed in there tighter than you can imagine. We wrapped a tow strap around the lip of the tank and hooked the other end to a tractor front loader and pulled it straight out. You can't do it with human power. You need to pull it out with your truck or a tractor or something. Same with pushing it back in. To repair leaks, I washed the tank out really really good. I wire brushed the corroded places. Then I attached the blower portion of a shop vac to the filling hole. Plug the elbow vent pipe on top of the tank with a rag or some duct tape. Then turn the vacuum on as long as you have a good seal around the hose and the filler hole. You'll know if you hear the tank expand and pop that you have a good seal. You can then use soapy water and a spray bottle sprayed around the areas you think might be leaking and they will bubble look very carefully the bubbles maybe very tiny. I had a leak that I nearly missed cause it was just pushing out teeny tiny bubbles. Mark your leaking spots. Then let the tank dry in the sun. I then used JB weld (tons of it) on the leaks on the outside of the tank... But here is the key, I turned the vacuum into suction vacuum mode, and then while pulling a suction I applied the JB Weld which slightly sucked it in to the Leak holes and plugged the leak. It worked! My tank had not leaked since. It's a lot cheaper than replacing the tank trust me.


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[rgrimard]

Wow Scott that is fantastic!  I am SOOOOO happy there are not any additional straps...it was driving me crazy trying to locate access to it...what a relief! Ok I will put some fuel back in/reprime and fire up the bus to move it into an area where I can get my pickup in position to pull it out.   Thanks for maling my weekend!
Regards and Merry Christmas,
Ray

[rgrimard]

LVMCI...hey I have a maintenance manual but didn't see the exploded view of the fuel tank. I wonder if it's in a different manual...what section was it in if you don't mind me asking?

[lvmci]

Hi, I  saw it in the parts manual, but I  thought I  saw it in maintainance  manual too, B&B has real books, that Gary lets me look at, I  bought the maintainance book on CD, have been looking for the parts book,  like I had with my mci5A, solves so many issues, tom...

[rgrimard]

thanks Tom. i too have the e-book maintance book...but not the parts manual. I bet it's in the parts manual...which i will now purchace. thanks again.
Ray

[Dave5Cs]

Tom Ray here you go!....
Dave5Cs

http://www.coachinfo.com/Coach_Manuals/MCI/MCI-102BC.htm

[Jim Eh.]

Try this one

http://www.coachinfo.com/Coach_Manuals/MCI/MCI-102BC.html

I think the htm(L) got dropped.

[luvrbus]

I have a auxiliary complete with the tubes and covers I removed from our MCI bus if anyone is looking for one