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factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 18th, '16, 17:51
by Raybo Marine NY
Was it standard practice for factory diesel 31's to have the return line plumbed into the fill hose?

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 18th, '16, 18:02
by Navatech
Raybo Marine NY wrote:Was it standard practice for factory diesel 31's to have the return line plumbed into the fill hose?
I very much doubt it... Diesel return lines are usually two separate fittings on the tank...

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 18th, '16, 22:08
by Tony Meola
Robbie

My boat came with the diesel return port already installed in the tank, even though she was a gasser at the time. We bought ours new, so I know no one put her there but Bertram.

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 18th, '16, 22:45
by Navatech
Tony Meola wrote:My boat came with the diesel return port already installed in the tank, even though she was a gasser at the time. We bought ours new, so I know no one put her there but Bertram.
Think about it... With the exception of the provision for a fuel return the tank is identical... Why would a manufacturer like Bertram bother with two inventory items?!...

It's not unlike today's cars... They all have the same wiring loom... Regardless of the options that actually do get put in the car...

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 18th, '16, 23:05
by Tony Meola
Navatech wrote:Think about it... With the exception of the provision for a fuel return the tank is identical... Why would a manufacturer like Bertram bother with two inventory items?!...

It's not unlike today's cars... They all have the same wiring loom... Regardless of the options that actually do get put in the car...
Nav
In today's world I would agree with you. But back then, it was different. They were making money and the parent companies had deep pockets. Control was not as tight as it is today.

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 19th, '16, 05:50
by Raybo Marine NY
I Havent asked Ron if he knew if the boat was originally gas powered or not.
Someone made a piece of fill pipe and plumbed the return lines into it.
All the lines in the boat have hose clamps

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 19th, '16, 09:10
by Rawleigh
My '66 was gas from the factory, but the bronze plate that the fill hose goes into on the front top of the tank was drilled and tapped for a return fitting. It has a pipe plug in it that I use to manually check the fuel level now.

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 19th, '16, 21:26
by Tony Meola
I will check mine this weekend if it does not rain. Right now they are calling for heavy rains in South Jersey all weekend.

If memory serves me correctly, mine was tapped at the fuel fill plate. It did not run back to the plate for the pick up and sending unit.

But it sounds more like Raybo's is some one not realizing there was a fitting already in the tank.

Robbie, by the way, what year is this 31. Could be one built in the first year of production and then who knows how the tank came through. Maybe it did not have a fitting.

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 24th, '16, 21:34
by Pete Fallon
Rabyo Marine,
Most of the factory return lines were plumbed into the tank at a plate that was tapped and bolted to the top of the tank. I have seen the setup that you describe (into the fuel fill ) on a few 31's that were repowered later on. I really don't think that Bertram would do something like that.
Pete Fallon

Re: factory diesel return lines

Posted: May 25th, '16, 07:45
by Rawleigh
If you tank has the bronze plate it is easy to remove, drill and tap it to do it right.