I now own a Case 580C
The Fuel Tank
The fuel tank has this goo in it...
I think the past owner had used bio diesel and then left it in the tank when he lost interest in fixing up the 580. Bio diesel is made with used cooking oil in most cases and it does not evaporate. What is left is a molasses type product that doesn't move.
The first step is getting the tank out of the frame. The fuel tank on a Case 580 C backhoe is not designed to come out...ever. The two uprights on each side of the tank are the hyd tanks and part of the frame. Across the bottom and in just in front of the tank is the cross over tub linking the two hyd tanks together. Pulling this line will drain the two tanks (about 10 gallons). The tank has two straps and you would think it would drop out. The height of the tank and filler neck will not allow it to be removed without dropping the motor and shuttle. I ended up popping the filler neck off of it. The filler neck is solder on and easy to fix.
With the tank out I tried to clean it. There is no way. I pulled the fuel tank drain plug that is at the bottom of the sump and let it sit. I set up the tank so it would stay upright and let it sit. An hour later I came back to find a the goo just starting to come out. I filled the tank up with water hoping the weight would move it... Four hours later. This is not going to work.
Called around and found out radiator shops will clean fuel tanks. Called the local guy and he told me he had just stopped doing fuel tanks. I asked him if he would do one more. $100 later and two days I had a usable tank. He told me why he had stopped doing tanks is because everyone complained that he wasn't getting them clean enough and then didn't want to pay his the bill. The inside was silver metal with the normal shadows of age. I was really happy with the work and let him know that. I tried to pay $120 but would only take $100. He explained to me that so many people expect the fuel tank will be restored to a new condition. I laugh and told him I know the fuel tank is 40 years old. If I wanted new I should be at a fabricator shop.
To get the fuel tank back in the backhoe, I cut the filler tube in half and soldered the bottom of filler tube back on. Most cars have a gas filler mounted to the body of a car and the fuel tank is mounted to the frame. In between is a large hose. I bought one of these and cut a four inch piece to use. It now as a rubber hose and clamps on the filler to allow me to remove it if I ever need to.
After getting this done I now had a backhoe I could move with having to worry about the gas tank strapped to the hood from falling off or sliding in to the muffler.
I think the past owner had used bio diesel and then left it in the tank when he lost interest in fixing up the 580. Bio diesel is made with used cooking oil in most cases and it does not evaporate. What is left is a molasses type product that doesn't move.
The first step is getting the tank out of the frame. The fuel tank on a Case 580 C backhoe is not designed to come out...ever. The two uprights on each side of the tank are the hyd tanks and part of the frame. Across the bottom and in just in front of the tank is the cross over tub linking the two hyd tanks together. Pulling this line will drain the two tanks (about 10 gallons). The tank has two straps and you would think it would drop out. The height of the tank and filler neck will not allow it to be removed without dropping the motor and shuttle. I ended up popping the filler neck off of it. The filler neck is solder on and easy to fix.
With the tank out I tried to clean it. There is no way. I pulled the fuel tank drain plug that is at the bottom of the sump and let it sit. I set up the tank so it would stay upright and let it sit. An hour later I came back to find a the goo just starting to come out. I filled the tank up with water hoping the weight would move it... Four hours later. This is not going to work.
Called around and found out radiator shops will clean fuel tanks. Called the local guy and he told me he had just stopped doing fuel tanks. I asked him if he would do one more. $100 later and two days I had a usable tank. He told me why he had stopped doing tanks is because everyone complained that he wasn't getting them clean enough and then didn't want to pay his the bill. The inside was silver metal with the normal shadows of age. I was really happy with the work and let him know that. I tried to pay $120 but would only take $100. He explained to me that so many people expect the fuel tank will be restored to a new condition. I laugh and told him I know the fuel tank is 40 years old. If I wanted new I should be at a fabricator shop.
To get the fuel tank back in the backhoe, I cut the filler tube in half and soldered the bottom of filler tube back on. Most cars have a gas filler mounted to the body of a car and the fuel tank is mounted to the frame. In between is a large hose. I bought one of these and cut a four inch piece to use. It now as a rubber hose and clamps on the filler to allow me to remove it if I ever need to.
After getting this done I now had a backhoe I could move with having to worry about the gas tank strapped to the hood from falling off or sliding in to the muffler.