sediment bowl screen or inline filter?

How many of you have changed from just using the sediment bowl screen to adding an inline filter on the way to the carb?   It seems like every time I try to get the sediment bowl and screen and gasket installed, half the time it leaks at first unless it is absolutely perfect, which for me happens about 1 out of 20 times.   I installed an inline filter on my D15 this summer as the original gas line is gone and a rubber gas line is in it's place, so it was really easy.   The D19 that I am putzing with didn't have a sediment bowl screen and I'm thinking of either putting one in the top of the sediment bowl that sticks up into the gas tank or putting an inline one between the bowl and the fuel pump.   I know the inline filter is a red flag for the correct police but they seem much easier in the long run. 

We have one of the old, cheap filters in line on our WD.  I remember Dad questioning the flow, but it has given no problems!

I use both the sediment bowl and an in line filter on a couple of my tractors. I just buy them at flea markets for $2.00 each. Don't get the small one that is used on lawn tractors. I'm probably going to remove mine in the spring and just use the bowl. If you use a new gasket occasionally they don't leak if they are tight. Bob

Correct police approved or not I would still keep the sediment bowl myself. Bob has it right all you need to fix leaking is a new gasket and possibly straightening out the clamp from being over tightened. I made up a set of dies and stamp them out from Victor rubberised cork. You will be amazed how little you have to tighten them to seal with a new soft gasket. I keep new gaskets in the pick up glove box and in a baggie in the tractor boxes.

The sediment bowl serves a purpose; keeps water and fine particles from getting into the carb and fuel system. Have had to rebuild several carbs on rehabs after a previous owner removed the screens from their sediment bowls. Good advice about keeping the sediment bowl. Being that most gas tanks have fine particles in them (rust, sand, etc that accumaulated over time-and very difficult to remove) I am now rolling up a used screen and insrting it into the sediment bowl inlet so that it sticks above the bottom of the tank. This seems to assist in keeping the sediment bowl screen clear. Maybe the best of both worlds is to keep the sediment bowl W/O the screen and install an inline fuel filter.

I recently removed the sediment bowl on my WD45 to clean the tank...found one stick (aka former gas gauge, lol) and a bunch of "flakes" sitting on bottom - possibly leaves? I was able to retrieve the stick with a flexible parts grabber and then "raked" all the flakes over and out the sediment bowl opening.  Washed the bits out with some old gas and had a very clean tank - no rust inside this tank.  I did what Greg did and rolled up an extra sediment bowl screen and stuck it in the sediment bowl inlet and re-installed it with yellow (gasoline) Teflon tape.  Already had a good gasket on the sediment bowl so no leaks and now I have a very clean fuel system going forward. 

And regarding warped sediment bowl sealing surfaces that Butch mentions- my Gleaner EIII has a built in sediment bowl on the fuel pump and the past owner had over tightened mine and had warped the aluminum sealing surface - I had to use 2 gaskets as a temporary solution to seal it...pump died soon after and I replaced it with a NOS and now have no issues.  I am careful to NOT over tighten the bowl.  If you have to use a pair of pliers to tighten the bail you need a new gasket.  Mike

Edited by Skyhighballoon(MO) - 28 Nov 2011 at 9:44am

Good advice from all.   I agree that a sediment bowl when working properly is the best option.   I think some of mine have been overtightened like you guys say and now they won't seal properly, like the one on my D15.   For the life of me I could not get that one to seal with the screen in it so I gave up and without the screen it would seal up, hence the inline filter.   Might have to do what Charlie did or bite the bullet and buy new sediment bowls.   I did order a new screen for the D19 as it didn't have one when I got it.