On my 1990 240, I had to gently press the float toward the tubes in the middle. Of course I had to turn the hold unit either 90 or 180 degrees.

Hi.

The buoy (float) should easily pop off of its arm. I used channel lock pliers for this trick. The arm kind of wraps around the buoy half-way and holds onto it with a little bit of pressure. Once you pop off the buoy, the sending unit should remove with nary a single expletive, unless, of course you drop the buoy into the tank like i did.....

For some magical reason, the unit went back in, with buoy in place, without a problem.

Ally 86 245, 226K and 88 245 200K

On my 1981, the driver's side hose, the thermosplastic one with the soft hose covering it, disconnects under the car and comes out with the pump assembly. The other two hoses I disconnected. Mine came out with some wiggling. I discovered it had no sock filter, and, get this, no O-ring under the top plate, just metal to metal! No wonder I smelled gas every time the tank was full or nearly full.

I found that cussing in both English and Spanish seemed to ease the frustration a bit.
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Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock, M46; 86 240, 130K

Disconect the wires and hoses, lift, twist, turn, tilt, rotate, angle, swear a bit and it will come right out.
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David Hunter