I am replacing the original Kubota plastic fuel tank with a tig welded aluminum tank that only has a 1/4" NPT bottom outlet and no fitting on top for the return line. Instead of drilling the new tank and trying to place a bulkhead fitting on top, is it safe to simply put a 1/4" brass tee on the bottom outlet with the fuel supply at the bottom and the return just above the fuel line below the bottom of tank? Larger engines sometimes use the top return dump for fuel cooling and de-airing, but since the return is only 3/16" and the supply is 5/16" it seems that mixing at the bottom will still cool the fuel enough. Has anyone else done this?
B7100HST-D return fuel connection
- Thread starter TM Orchard
- Start date
Seems like now is the time to install a couple of bungs half way up your tank. My buggy tank is 3/16in and I have just tapped for a fitting.
Russell King
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I don’t think bottom return will work due to pressure head
Try it and see if you have any problems since I don’t think it would do any damage
Try it and see if you have any problems since I don’t think it would do any damage
Head is about the same since the fuel has to be pumped up from the injector manifold to above the tank. You are correct about hot fuel but based solely on fuel line size it should be about 25% hot fuel mixed with 75% cold fuel unless line pressures are substantially different.
The real problem is Kubota using a 3-gallon plastic tank with plastic nipples that are guaranteed to fail. Then they want $400 for a plastic fuel can similar to what Walmart sells for $10 if it was red and had a spout.
If your doing all the work to replace the tank then why not get a fitting welded on the new tank. Do it once and be done with it.
Agree this is the best and most expensive solution. That is the direction I am going.