Strainer broke in gas tank

12237 Views 26 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Shadowfax302, Sep 23, 2020

kev38spl

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2015

Have a little bit of a different question guys.

Recently purchases a 2003 vt600c shadow with 9k miles. Friend had it garaged for almost four years with no maintenance at all and a full tank of fuel. Completely drained tank of the old fuel and refilled with new fuel and a heaver dose of sea foam (half bottle) to loosen up some of the despots in the fuel tank. Let it sit for two days with a little bit of agitation now and then to make sure the sea foam was getting around the tank completely. Drained the tank again to take petcock out and replace the fuel strainer, but i found a surprise. I heard a ton of clanking and debris rolling around the tank. As suspected when I went to remove the filter strainer, only the base of it was left and the clanking sound if all the debris from the shattered strainer.

So I guess my question is the path forward to get all this out the tank, as it is not likely to just fall out on its own? I was thinking maybe repeated fill and rinse with the garden hose and many many days of deep drying to make sure all the water is gone? This is the only idea I have at this point.

Appreciate ya'll helping the dumbfounded newbie out.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

smilie

· #2 · Jan 28, 2015

Drain, remove and dry the tank. Tape a smaller hose to your shop vac (one the will fit into the fill neck), shake the debris to a place you can hit it with the smaller hose and WALLAH! If the pieces are too big to go into the hose chances are they will hold to the end so you can extract them. Have you got it done yet?

TEngle

· #3 · Jan 29, 2015

I removed the tank and removed the petcock.
Flushed the tank several times with gas.
Take this opportunity to make sure the "Reserve" hole in the petcock is clear.

I added a clear in-line filter directly under the petcock, even though there is a filter before the fuel pump.
I use my odometer as my gas gauge, filling after riding 100 miles.
At 100 miles, I turn the petcock to "Reserve" then fill up on my next trip into town.
This keeps the "Reserve" hole clean for when I may really need it.
There are rust particles in the in-line filter.

7xclm

· #4 · Jan 29, 2015

Remove gas cap then shake the tank up side down. I guess you never did rob your piggy bank when you were a child.

XApacheDoc

· #5 · Jan 29, 2015

Mine on my 2007 VLX did the same thing. Matter of fact the little pieces of mesh got into the carb and clogged the jets leaving me on a back road waiting for a tow. I had to use mechanical fingers to get the biggest pieces out. I then went to the auto parts store and picked up fuel line and a glass inline filter. I was not putting back in that cheap plastic mesh screen again.

"Captain D"

· #6 · Jan 29, 2015

Welcome
I have rinsed several fuel tanks with the "garden hose" over the years of playing with vehicles which have sat for extended periods...
When I`m sure all the nasty stuff is outta the tank, from rinsing it, I shove a clean drying rag into the largest available hole and "slosh it" around to dry any water within the tank...
Then I`ll make a "fishing hook", hook the rag and pull it outta there...
This usually dries the tank good, BUT IF the rag is fairly wet to really wet, I`ll "go for seconds" on the rag stuffing until the rag is fairly dry upon removal...

I`m Just an oldfart with obscured ways of doing things, but they generally work,
Dennis

Welcome, Lets Ride

kev38spl

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 29, 2015

Thanks guys

Got most of the small pieces with the vacuum trick. Ended up filling the tank again with gas to float the bigger pieces and fish them out with needle nose. Took a while but think I have it all cleaned out. Thanks everyone for the advice.

gypsy

· #8 · Jan 29, 2015

i never replaced my deteriorated strainer, rather i added a see through filter below the tank petcock. just easier that way.

dalet

· #9 · Jan 29, 2015

If you have introduced water to the tank for cleaning, then you will most likely have a rusted tank. If rust is already present, then I would drain the tank completely. Get yourself 3 gallons of Apple Cider Vinegar from your local market. Fill the tank and let it set for a couple of days. The Cider is a mild acid that will remove the rust completely. I used paper paint strainers to filter the rust particles out of the cider as I poured it back into the bottles. Capped and saved for another day.

Harryc

· #10 · Jan 29, 2015 (Edited)

dalet said:
If you have introduced water to the tank for cleaning, then you will most likely have a rusted tank.

What? Rust doesn't form in the few minutes it takes to flush a tank. You flush the tank and dry it out, or if you are in a hurry pour a few bottles of some Dry Gas into it and slosh that around and drain it before filling with regular fuel.

"Captain D"

· #11 · Jan 29, 2015

The coating inside the tank> is it still there? IF so you got nothing to worry about...
IF it`s gone, you aughtta dry it like I suggested in #6 post...
No problem with rust...

kev38spl

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 30, 2015

Coating

The coating is in great condition. Ended up not using water at all. Still thinking about the vinegar trick just in case there is a little rust towards the bottom.

On a side note; does anyone see any reason not to remove the coolant hoses from the intake and carb? Since the bike is only run in warm temps here is texas, I would like to get rid of the clutter around the carbs?

smilie

· #13 · Jan 30, 2015

kev38spl said:
The coating is in great condition. Ended up not using water at all. Still thinking about the vinegar trick just in case there is a little rust towards the bottom.

On a side note; does anyone see any reason not to remove the coolant hoses from the intake and carb? Since the bike is only run in warm temps here is texas, I would like to get rid of the clutter around the carbs?

You don't have any coolant hoses running to your intake or carb.

"Captain D"

· #14 · Jan 30, 2015

IF vinegar will eat away the rust, WHAT do you think the chances are it`ll EAT AWAY the protective coating inside the tank???

Just a Crazy Thought from a Crazy Dude

that don`t know nothing, but ain`t scared to ask questions

I`ve seen what vinegar will do to rust!

Flying Greg

· #15 · Jan 30, 2015

I had to work hard to get my strainer out when replacing the petcock. I wanted to replace it because when taking the tank off the bike, the fuel would not shut completely off. I bought a Pingel unit as a replacement and have been very satisfied. Not inexpensive, but a quality product.

kev38spl

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 30, 2015

"Captain D" said:
IF vinegar will eat away the rust, WHAT do you think the chances are it`ll EAT AWAY the protective coating inside the tank???

Just a Crazy Thought from a Crazy Dude that don`t know nothing, but ain`t scared to ask questions

I`ve seen what vinegar will do to rust!

Very good point. Did not think of it that way.

"Captain D"

· #17 · Jan 30, 2015

Flying Greg said:
I had to work hard to get my strainer out when replacing the petcock. I wanted to replace it because when taking the tank off the bike, the fuel would not shut completely off. I bought a Pingel unit as a replacement and have been very satisfied. Not inexpensive, but a quality product.

Had the strainer become loose from the petcock?
Mine was still attached but dirty

I`m thinking on replacing my petcock with a Pingel unit too...
But...

kev38spl

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 30, 2015

"Captain D" said:
Had the strainer become loose from the petcock?
Mine was still attached but dirty
I`m thinking on replacing my petcock with a Pingel unit too...
But...

Mine was having the same problem. But there was so much gunk and stuff in the valve that it was keeping it from closing completely. I am hoping that since it is clean now it will work better.

Can anyone point me in the right direction on the Pingel. Are those the vacuum controlled ones I was reading about when I did a search?

dalet

· #19 · Feb 3, 2015 (Edited)

If you have rust / see rust in your tank, you don't have any form of what someone has called a protective coating. (gas oil?) I don't know what you are talking about? Protective coating. There is a after market product that can be used to paint / coat tanks that are severely pitted and rusted. It's a resin type of coating.
The over flow tube will most likely clog with rust. Even if there is only a small amount of rust visible.
I do have personal experience in researching and repairing my dented tank. After removing the dents, purging the tank, using body filler and primer and finish painting, I installed and filled the tank with fuel. Only to have the tank start to colaps because a vacuum was created. The vent line was clogged with rust. After two days of soaking with vinegar, I couldn't believe the amount of rust that came out. I used gasolene to rinse and clean out the rest of it.
The red wine vinegar did a great job at cleaning up my tank.
If you haven't tried it and have no experience dealing with this kind of problem, how can you offer advice or criticism?

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"Captain D"

· #20 · Feb 3, 2015

What? You mean to tell me that shiney transparent film I see inside on the wall of the ank, ain`t a protective coat of clear whatever???
L I B ...

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