Gas Tank Issue
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=158944
Printed Date: 21 Aug 2025 at 6:45am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Gas Tank Issue
Posted By: AJ
Subject: Gas Tank Issue
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 6:09am
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So I have a gas tank off an industrial that has the horizontal tube along the bottom inside of the tank to the center for fuel flow. This tank has been sitting for quite some time so I have been trying clean it out. There is a clot or something in the middle of the tube that I can break loose. I have triee, forcing air, water, wire etc in there both directions. I've been shooting carb cleaner down the tube everytime I pass by it hoping it will break loose and open up sooner or later. You guys have any other ideas on how to get the tube opened up? ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Replies:
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 6:28am
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Maybe fill tank to above the tube with pure Acetone and let sit overnight ? If it's 'varnish', Acetone will soften it up ,over time so you gotta have patience. I'm assuming there's no easy way to remove the tube ? ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: AJ
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 7:06am
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Tube is attached as part of the tank. And it's inside. I can shoot a picture later today if you all want to see what I'm up against. I even used a left over piece of 6 gauge ground wire from a job to try to ram it loose. Not budging. ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Posted By: Gary Burnett
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 7:39am
Maybe a small piece of flexible cable in a drill would get up in the tube and work the plug loose?On my 460 Long that has something similar I finally just drilled a hole straight thru the outlet hole in the tank.
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AJ wrote:Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 8:36am
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hmm how about a piece of 'piano wire', hooby shop sells them for RC planes... I'd get one say 1/4 D of the hole, grind a taper to the end ( "D" shaped , chiesl profile). That should go through, if not, put vice grips on wire and tap with small hammer. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: MikeinLcoMo
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 10:19am
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Drop it off at a radiator shop and have them boil it out???? ------------- 39B 42B 48C SFW 52Cub Cub Cadet 70 S14 Speedex M14 Speedex S18 Speedex |
Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 3:38pm
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Not sure if you can get to this tube from the outside bottom of the tank, but if you can, how bout' a drill bit in a drill a few sizes smaller than the tube size and run the drill up the tube real slow to clean the blockage. Just an idea..... Steve@B&B ------------- 39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife |
Posted By: AJ
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 4:55pm
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The angle to work with on this tube is ridiculous. I have removed the gauge to try another angle still not getting anything through. Drill bit will not work for this situation. Needs to be long, flexible, yet rigid enough to apply forcefull pressure on whatever is in there. Thinking of filling the bottom with acetone over night like suggested and see what happens. Couldn't hurt, just make the tank that much cleaner. ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 5:43pm
Try a piece of electrician's fish tape, chucked in a cordless drill. You can sharpen the end, into a drill bit shape... Interesting conundrum, when you get it clear, let us know what it was...
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Posted By: mdm1
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 6:10pm
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Could you put a flexible pincher small part retriever thing in a drill? They are just a long spring. Small ones are pretty flexible. ------------- Everything is impossible until someone does it! WD45-trip loader 1947 c w/woods belly mower, 1939 B, #3 sickle mower 1944 B, 2 1948 G's. Misc other equipment that my wife calls JUNK! |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 7:23pm
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you could try to rig up an 'IV drip' to trickle the Acetone through the tube. I 'see' a can with acetone on the workbench with some hose running to the gas tank outlet. The idea is that gravity will pull the acetone to the tube and it'll 'eat' away or soften the blockage. Could be a slow process, overnight or longer. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: AJ
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 10:50pm
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I set the tank up for the night and dumped a gallon of acetone in it. We see what tomorrow evening brings. (Yes I closed the tank up so it won't evaporate) ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Posted By: allis g
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2019 at 11:01pm
| Get a piece of an old speedometer cable chucke it up in a drill and spin away |
Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2019 at 11:41am
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Acetone evaporates pretty fast even if you mix in a mineral spirits type solvent. So keep an eye on it, also keep in a well ventilated area. ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: AJ
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2019 at 10:03pm
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Success! Acetone worked very well. She is open and flowing and clean. ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2019 at 6:29am
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NICE !! I assumed the blockage was 'varnish'. Dried up gas residue. Acetone slowly dissolves it back into liquid. Be sure to rinse tank out with clean acetone/ brake cleaner AND clean out the gasline as well ! It probably has a layer of 'varnish' on the inside as well..... Jay ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: AJ
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2019 at 7:45am
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Yep that's what it was plugged up with. I shot a half a can through the tube to be sure it was clear and flowing well then flushed it with a couple gallons of gas. ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2019 at 8:09am
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The Walter Huston Treasure Dance. ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2019 at 8:51am
[TUBE]3w4B7QxL_n4[/TUBE] ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2019 at 9:05am
That'd be it.  ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2019 at 11:34am
AJ it sounds like you will not need a gal of gas and a match to clean it out. You might tell Randy you didn't try the big bang cleaning idea he talked to you about.
------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Posted By: AJ
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2019 at 6:46pm
For those of you who haven't ever looked down in the tank of industrials here's that tube I was dealing with on the clog. Don, I decided that Randy's idea wouldn't help me get my tank situation figured out. I would just have to find another tank if I went that route. I told him I need him to show me the correct way to do it anyway. He's yet to show me...lol ------------- Can't fix stupid |