How to clean fuel Tank

[jlwright]

After 3 weeks of trying to keep my Champ running I've decided there is crud in the tank that keeps clogging up the carb. I'm going to drain the tank and rinse it out and try to flush whatever is in there out. The only thing I know is to rinse with fresh clean fuel. Any suggestions??

Thanks
Jim in Arkansas

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Jim,

You can try something like Methel Ethel Ketone (M.E.K.) or Acetone, they usually do a good job cleaning gunk. But before washing it out, I'd take a flashlight / mirror, and inspect the inside really good. You might find the tank is clean and can save some trouble-shooting time. If the tank is clean, I'd take a good look at the strainer and the flexable line from the strainer to the carb. It's not often, but sometimes that hose has a tendancy to swell and restrict the flow.

Good Luck!

nkh

[Captgrumps]

Check the hoses if you are using auto fuel--it will eventually destroy the inside of the hose making it gooey soft. Hoses will deterioate also if they are old and flake apart inside.

Doug

[jlwright]

I checked the hose the last time I pulled the carb. It looked good as far as I can see. I'll look with a mirror too inside the tank.

Here I go.
Jim in Arkansas

[jlwright]

Well I flushed the tank out on my Champ today. Here is all the things I have done to eliminate the starting problem. New flexible fuel and primer lines. Rebuilt primer. Changed to an all metal gascolator because the glass in mine was cracked. New gaskets and delrin needle in carb. Cleaned the carb too. Everything from the gas cap to and including the carb is spotless clean. I poured fresh fuel in, pulled through 5 blades and it started the next pull. It seems to run fine now. I am going to take her up in the morning and see how she does.

I think I found the problem with dirt getting into the carb. The screen in the gascolator was the wrong one. It had an approx. 1/2 inch hole in the center that is supposed to fit over the fuel inlet post but the post is only about 5/16 dia. The was all kinds of room for dirt to pass by the screen. The screen might as well have not been in there at all.

Thanks for all the advice

Jim in Arkansas

[joea]

Good to hear and keep us unformed on if the problem pops up again. Hoses would have been my first thought as well but a gascolator passing debris would do it as well.

[Mike Jackson]

JL's problem seems identical to mine with the exception of not running. Mine runs but I noticed debris coming out of the wing tank and in the gascolator. The screen of the gascolator mechanically slides on the drain fitting but there was nothing screening the flow into the bowl. Screeen is definately shot and I was wondering what are we screening if there is no screen covering the drain hole? I don't know if this screen filter can be replaced or I'm looking at a new gascolator..............which brings me to my next question -

I'm sure the all AL/anodized gascolator (SA3-00) is a great device from what I've read, but can you tell at a glance if you've got problems if you cannot see into the bowl as in the "old style" glass gascolator? Is it user friendly?

I'll also be cleaning the tanks.

Thanks for the help. Great forum.

Cheers,

Mike

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Mike,
The SA3-00 does have a screen in the top of the cap, so any particles should be caught in the bowl. And since you take a sample of fuel before every first flight, or after fuelling, that will tell you if there is a problem with the fuel. The main reason for a metal bowl is fire protection. Too many people including a couple friends have been hurt or lost their airplanes do to fire starting because of a broken glass bowl. Remember, if the glass is broken, nothing will stop the flow of fuel except the on/off valve.

When I get to the fuselage on my rebuild, I'll be installing a new metal bowl gascolator.

nkh

[Mike Jackson]

Thanks for the gouge Nathan!