What do I do?

[fishinaddict]

Hey guys,
I was changing my sending unit in my fuel tank, and a piece of paper i had folded up fell in the tank. It is a 125 gal fuel tank, so I could not see the paper to fish it out. I put an extra inline filter in place to help catch the paper. Anything else I should do ???
Thanks.\
Trey

 

[freddyray21]

Re: What do I do?

nope

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: What do I do?

Thanks,
I did not think it would hurt anything. I figure gas should break the paper up fairly fast. I have a fuel/water separator, then inline filter, and another filter before it goes into the engine.
Trey

 

[Bear 45/70]

Re: What do I do?

Thanks,
I did not think it would hurt anything. I figure gas should break the paper up fairly fast. I have a fuel/water separator, then inline filter, and another filter before it goes into the engine.
Trey

The water/fuel seperator will catch the paper pieces. The other filter is a waste of time and money.

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: What do I do?

I know, but it was just a precaution. I wanted the clear inline anyway so I could see the fuel.
Thanks,
Trey

 

[Dhadley]

Re: What do I do?

Depending on how big the motor is and a couple of other things, a second filter might cause a drop in fuel supply. Just be careful.

 

[asdasc]

Re: What do I do?

I don't think the paper will ever breakdown in the fuel, will it? I would try REALLY hard to get it out of there. Can you fish around with a wire hanger mostly straightened out?

I am picturing that you dropped a folded up sheet of 8.5x11 inch paper which won't go thru a fuel line. Best case, next time you are WAY out away from shore, it will completely plug the line exiting the tank, and you will be stranded. Not safe!

If it were me, I would do ANYTHING to get it out of there before running the engine again.

 

[StuartT]

Re: What do I do?

You know what kind of paper it was. Drop another similar piece in a clear jug of gasoline and watch it for a while. You will know what to do by observing the sample.

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: What do I do?

The tank is 88"x24x15" , I tried everything I could to get it out, but looking through a 2" hole it is impossible. I really think gasoline will break up the paper. I will try the jug experiment.
Thanks

 

[asdasc]

Re: What do I do?

I hate to be Mr Negative here, but I would confirm that your paddles and oars are in good shape. Do you have a kicker motor or anything in case you get stranded? Depending on the size I think it would block the outlet of the tank before it ever got to a filter. Keep tools on the boat needed to get to all the fuel connections, along with some extra fuel line if you need to make emergency work arounds like bypassing a filter or anything.

Good luck!

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: What do I do?

Guys I could really use some good opinions on how to get this piece of paper out of my tank. Like I said before its a 125 gal tank 88"x22"x15". Anything will help.

 

[Bear 45/70]

Re: What do I do?

You ain't gonna like the advise. Syphone the tank as dry as possible and rempve it so you can get it upside down to wash out the paper. Other than that, don't be dropping crap in the tank to start with.

 

[twostroke87]

Re: What do I do?

Don't worry about it, paper doesn't last in water and it won't last in gasoline either. Don't bother ever trying to the remove the tank for it, not worth it. I've seen boats be lifted off the ground with a chain bolted to the tank, and it still wouldn't come out. That foam surrounding it is strong as hell. The paper should break up into small fibers, also it will sink to the lowest possible point in you fuel tank. Your fuel pick up doesn't go to the absolute bottom, it stops a few inches above, to keep from picking up any debris that might have collected. Keep a 6 gallon tank stored on your boat and enough tools to bypass it to your fuel pump, and if and when you ever have a fuel restriction problem, hook in the spare tank, drive home and deal with it then. Until then stop worrying. I have seen much worse.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: What do I do?

If it's just regular paper it in in tiny pieces now. Doubt it will clog your pickup and personally I would not worry about it.

 

[James R]

Re: What do I do?

I have an air driven chemical pump which I use for draining and cleaning tanks. It will without a doubt suck that paper out. See if you can find someone, a business perhaps, that uses one.

 

[mikesea]

Re: What do I do?

about the only worry you should have is if the paper gets sucked to the pick up and stops flow,if it should happen,it will shut eng down,the suction will then be lost,paper will float around til it possibly happens again.your water seperator will pick up any loose fragments before getting to eng,but I would think the tank fitting would plug up before the filter got it.On possible precaution,remove the pickup tube and put some small stainless screen aroud it to avoid any small pieces getting into the supply.I had a piece of wood that was used for measuring fuel break off into tank,after a while I forgot about.I heard of people dropping the plastic safty seal cover on oil more than once.Just forgot about it.I would forget about it til and unlesss you have a problem.Again,if it should happen to shut down,the blockage should release

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: What do I do?

Thanks guys for all of your opininons. I have put a piece of paper in a jug to see how long it will take to break up. It has been five days, still feel like it did when I put it in. The only problem I have with not worrying about it is that I tend to fish offshore with this boat and 6 gal usually wont get me home. I do have all the neccesary tools onboard though, and maybe it will break up. Once again thanks, and any more suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[StuartT]

Re: What do I do?

I think at this point, with the paper sample not disintegrating, I would see if you can have the tank pumped. Be sure they use a filter you can inspect to see if the paper was actually extracted from the tank. If that turns out to be inconclusive, or no such service is available to you, I would next R & R the fuel pickup tube. There are a variety of screen filters you can purchase to add to the tube if it doesn't already have one. Under way, it is highly unlikely the paper would completely wrap around the screen filter, including the end, and totally shut off the fuel supply. Worst case, you might have to reduce power to balance a reduced fuel flow caused by the paper, but you could most likely make it back, just at a slower pace.

I'm guessing, however, that the paper will saturate and lay on the bottom most of the time, and while floating around in choppy seas, the chance of it lodging around a screen filter to shut you down is pretty darn remote.

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: What do I do?

I dont think I can take out the fuel pickup tube. The tank is an aluminum tank made by spicer industies. If I can, could you explain how?

 

[StuartT]

Re: What do I do?

There should be some sort of access to the top of the fuel tank in order to service the fuel sender (unless your manufacturer really screwed you). The sender will have wires connected to it, the pickup tube should be nearby and will have a black fuel hose on it running to the engine. The pickup tube will unscrew out of the tank (after you remove the hose) and lift straight up and out. You need adequate clearance above the tank for the tube to clear.

I can't help you any more than that because I am not familiar with your boat. It is possible you have no access or insufficient clearance, and if so, a tank pump service is your only option short of cutting into some fiberglass.