stihl 048 fuel tank

[volks-man]

anyone know if you can separate the 048 tank halves?
i have some that are fine on one side and broken on one side. i also have one that is broken in an opposite manner. see where i am going with this?

the tank halves are screwed together but the seam looks almost welded. maybe the powdercoat is just really thick?
has anyone successfully separated the 048 tank?

 

[teacherman]

Is this an early metal tank?

This Page from the IPL shows a one piece tank housing, fwiw. May be a newer variant in the pic. Is yours an early metal tank?

 

[volks-man]

i don't know if it is early or not. but it is metal.
it is screwed together, so i am assuming it will unscrew. what worried me was the seam is either heavily painted or welded in addition to the 3 or so screws.

incidentally, the split runs from front to rear just toward the ignition side from the handle area and the carb. you really can't see in the ipl except the verticle line inside the 'boot hole' in the rear.