TD has the large (46mm?) socket on the sender unit for fuel tank accessible thru the rear floorboard. Large channel locks won't work because it is set into a recess. I looked for a large socket but none at hardware store or auto parts store. So I used a large adjustable plumbing wrench called a lock/adjust wrench designed for big nuts on toilet tanks. They're available at most hardware stores and the jaws are thin enough to get into the recess. Just set it at the appropriate width, lock it in place and put the wrench straight down vertically on the flats of the sender hex nut. I then put a 16" 1/4" extension thru the hole at the end of the wrench handle and used it to turn the wrench. Sender loosened easily.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Thanks for the tip, I have one of those wrenches stuck away someplace, I'll keep that in mind when the need arises on my TD. Hope you get your fuel contamination problem solved, I do feel your pain.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

How about a pic for those of us who have never seen one?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Here it is:

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Oh right slightly different from funola's plumbing based solution:-

Daft W123 300D nut and bolts sizes

Plumbing kit seems to be very handy stuff!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Why not just get a 46mm box spanner?

buckandhickman.com

cheers

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cheers!!

Indeed a good solution too - but it often comes down to getting one for a good price. You have managed to impossible it seems - a large box spanner that doesn't cost the same as a small broken car - well done!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Box spanners are cheap as chips compared to sockets, but they are perfect for light duty like the tank plug.

cheers!

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cheers!!

I was looking for a box spanner like that but none available at 46mm around here. Secondly, that box spanner is about 4 times the price of that adjustable wrench I showed. In addition, you can fix your toilet with the adjustable wrench and they are available in just about every hardware store of HD type store in the plumbing section in the US.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Oh my goodness a tool with another function. Stick it on your key ring quick!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

The 46mm socket is the same size as a flywheel nut on a VW. Sears sells the socket for $15. I tried getting mine off with a pipe wrench but it was impossible. In fact, mine wasn't easy with the socket on which I had to use a cheater pipe. Hot rod shops that work on VW engines for sand rails also carry that socket.

Toilet wrench works on a 126 sender also.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

My toilet wrench came in a box of stuff I got at a garage sale, didn't know what it was designed to be used for till now, and I have a TD Thanks

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"