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Tank Pumping Unit - TPU modification help

mkcoen

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I'm planning on putting one of the 600 gal fuel pods from a TPU in a M105A3 and was wondering if the pumping unit can be modified (basically taken apart and just the pump and 1 hose reel saved) to fit in the back as well. I don't want the entire thing due to the weight and only need 1 hose reel. I was hoping someone with a little more mechanical engineering experience could help me out here.

And before the flames start coming (pun intended) I DO NOT plan to transport this over the road. It's simply for fuel storage at the compound and ease to move it around said property (or the Zombie Mutant Ninja Turtle Apocalypso).

Thanks in advance.
 

Crazyguyla

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All the setups with pods on trailers, the hoses were gravity feed. It should be possible to mount the reel and pump on the trailer.
 

mkcoen

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Would not see why not. All the parts a independent. The unit does not weigh much to begin with alll alum.
The tank weighs 600lbs and then add another 4800 for diesel and you're a little over 2.5 tons. The pumping unit is 795lbs so while not extreme it's still adding close to another half ton to the total weight that I'd just as soon not have.

I thought about just gravity feeding it but decided it might be nice to have 60 feet of hose reach to play with if I couldn't get as close as I wanted to the trailer. I guess I just need to start taking it apart and seeing where I needed to plug things and then give it a test.
 

mkcoen

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I started the tear down on the pumping unit this morning. Got pretty much everything off but the hose reels. Also recovered about 4 gal of diesel (no telling how old). There was about 1 gal in the pump itself that was pretty nasty looking and then several gal in the filter canister that looked brand new. The only thing I have left to remove are the 2 hose reels and as it was nearing 90 this morning I think I'll hold off a day or two. I might try to wrangle some help or if not, remove the hose before taking the reels off.

Here's the before and after shots:
 

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mkcoen

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I'm thinking about cutting the frame just to the right of the accessories box and saving that whole section to bolt to the side of the trailer. That way I wouldn't have to fabricate something for the hose reel to mount to and I get the added benefit of a built in tool box. I lose some of what I'll recover in scrap aluminum but it'll probably make life easier as far as setting things up.
 

mkcoen

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Are you going to keep the filter unit or you going to go with a civilian type inline filter?
There were no filters in the filter canister and I've got a lot of hoses and couplings from the unit so I'll probably rig up some type civvy filter unit.
 

ken

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Do you have any plans for the other hose reel? I have a good working pump and have been looking for a hose and reel.
 

mkcoen

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The outside plate on the hose reel is bent (should be easy enough to fix). Got anything interesting to trade? If you come over for our MV show on 9/11 you could even save on shipping :)
 

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ken

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Send me a PM on what your looking for. I might have something to trade. And i'm in houston so i can deliver and or pick up.
 

mkcoen

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Well went out at the house today so didn't get much accomplished on the project but I did get the right hose reel off. 18 bolts holding that sucker together and every one needing a breaker bar to get loose plus having to unroll the hose by looping it in and out since the reel is bent wore me out. Once the A-frame was off though the reel slide right out.
 

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mkcoen

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Finally got the 2 parts seperated. What is pictured is what I'll be mounting on left/rear of my M105A3 (when it gets here). I haven't decided on the mounting position of pump or what I'm going to do for a filter (probably a civi unit fabbed up to take the TPU quick release hoses).

After this I can only say God Bless the man who invented the Sawzall!
 

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Floridianson

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Well if you don't find the civi filter I have a military filter in a cage that is half the size of the one on your unit and still flows 100 gal a min. has the same size quick fittings you unit has to.
 

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mkcoen

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Finally got back to this project. I have a MKT that the EUC should be clearing on any day so needed to make room in the driveway. I got the tank in to the 105A3 but not in the final position yet. Getting the tank in is really a 2 man operation so as it was only me I was beat by the time it was loaded plus I was running out of daylight. It's amazing how much you can sweat when it's only 70 out. Glad I didn't try doing it in Aug when it was 90.
 

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mkcoen

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I haven't really done anything else other than move the tank forward in the trailer and put the hose reel into the back (and rattle can part of the tank). I still need to strap everything down and decide where to mount the pump. I've been busy working on the MKT so this kind of slid to the back burner. Temps are heating up though so I need to get back to it before it's too hot to do anything.
 

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REO 54

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Thanks for starting this thread.I recently purchased from GL 2 tank pod's,aTPU plus 2 M200A 2.5 trailers for. a simliar use.However,I was thinking of using ALT Fuel,WMO through the system.Nice effort,looks good!
 

mkcoen

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Holy cow it's been over three years since I've done anything constructive on this.

Turns out once I started storing some diesel in there I discovered the gaskets were shot. I spent a lot of time looking for replacements and never had any luck. Finally I just bought some Viton sheets and gave them to TexAndy and he was able to cut them out using his cool laser engraver. Today I added some sealant to those gaskets and crawled inside the belly of the beast to reinstall everything. My biggest fear was finding what Keith_J and I found in the deuce yesterday (see pic). If something that size had been in the tank I'd have had a couple hundred stings on me before I could get back out. As a precaution I whacked on the side of the tank for several minutes with a rubber mallet to see if it got anyone's attention. I have to say even then I wasn't that comfortable inside that thing. Lucky I got rid of 60lbs last year or I'd have never made it back out.

The original intent was to use the actual pumping unit with the tank. Since then I've decided just to use it as storage. Anything I need from it I'll just pump out with a 12v pump that I have and transfer it either directly to a vehicle or into 5 gal cans. Keeping it simple drops the weight in the trailer and makes it easier for anyone else (the wife, brother, etc) to use without having to teach them how to use the equipment.

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Jeepsinker

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I have a couple of these tanks I need a foot valve for myself. My gaskets don't leak, but the big shutoff valves don't seal. Want to get rid of the pump and hose reel? I could really use them.
 
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