Before you make the long haul! Check your tank and hangers!!!

[Buster70]

I recently recovered a M105 from Juan Prado in N.O., all went well and the truck ran like a top! The next day I saw fuel under the deuce. The next day(2 days later) I saw a large pool of fuel! Yesterday I pulled the tank( pretty easy) and found " Major Holes" hiding under there!

I pulled out the Mig-welder with some .023 and cut and welded in some patches. Filled it with some fuel and checked for leaks! All good this morning!
I heated and scrapped off the old paint, I love finding lettering!!! It's like OD archaeology!

Think about pulling your tank some day and at least cleaning the dirt and crud from the space in the hangers! It was the dirt that held moisture that I believe rotted out the tank! It was really easy to pull, 2 wire plugs, 1 fuel discharge line( big one from the pump), 1 return fuel line( small one ), and 2 bolts on the straps. You might even think of cleaning the crud out of the tank at the time! I found parts of an old fuel pump in mine!

 

[nk14zp]

A bit off topic but you should pull your springer seat bases too. You will find lot's of rust under them.

 

[Buster70]

I pulled mine to reupholster it and cleaned up and painted it just about 2 weeks ago!

 

[EWhytsell]

I had the tank straps break and drop the fuel tank on a GMC truck once. That was a pretty bad day, but a great story.

 

[ranchhopper]

Thats why I went to an A3 tank on the bobbed deuce they are the same size but made out of aluminum.

 

[Flyingvan911]

My tank is solid. I pulled my seat when I painted last summer. No rust on the floor but a little on the bottom of the seat base. Coated it with POR-15 and painted. Gave the floor a heavy coat of Rapco. A good idea is to put a spacer between the base and the floor so air can dry up any water under the seat. Or seal it up good so water can't get in at all. I used rubber washers to hold my MT-1029 base 1/8" off the floor on the passenger side.