dogman Posted July 21, 2016 Share #1 Posted July 21, 2016 Any suggestions for my dilemma I just caused. I was putting gas in my Venture from a gas can with a hose and pump that goes into my tank so no spills. The plastic nozzle approx 7 inches long fell off and into the gas tank. I leave for a 3 week bike trip in a day and a half. Any ideas of how to get the plastic tube out of the gas tank?????????????????????? I can not see it inside the tank. The tank is approx 3/4 full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M61A1MECH Posted July 21, 2016 Share #2 Posted July 21, 2016 Drain the tank completely and try to maneuver the tube to the gas cap hole, will probably require turning it up side down and a lot of shaking and tilting, hopefully it will eventually come to the hole where you can grab it with a pair of forceps of needle nose pliers. You could also pull the send level sending unit from the bottom of the tank while you have it off and up side down, just be careful, taking the sending unit out is a bit fiddily it does not pull straight out you have to nurse it out to make the curves and crooks I the sending unit work out of the hole. That will give another vantage point to look inside and maybe find the tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirider Posted July 21, 2016 Share #3 Posted July 21, 2016 Just my but if it happened to me I would take the tank off the bike, empty it, and then try to jostle it loose by shaking the tank upside down. If it went in, it must be able to come out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagleeye Posted July 21, 2016 Share #4 Posted July 21, 2016 go to an auto parts store, and you will find, usually in the bargain bin, what is a mini grabber. They are usually about a foot long, and flexable. That might do the trick. Or a hardware store might have something similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogman Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted July 21, 2016 Thank you for your reply's of help. I did try a grabbing tool, but can't see it and didn't feel anything. I will try as you suggest to drain the tank and take it off and tip it upside down. Thank you very much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowrollwv Posted July 21, 2016 Share #6 Posted July 21, 2016 If the piece of plastic hose floats try to put a little more gas in the tank. Then it should move to where you can see it and grab it with a pair of needle nose plyers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonslayer Posted July 21, 2016 Share #7 Posted July 21, 2016 If the piece of plastic hose floats try to put a little more gas in the tank. Then it should move to where you can see it and grab it with a pair of needle nose plyers. Or you could drop a plastic magnet on a string down into the tank until you attract the plastic tube then just pull it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragtop69gs Posted July 21, 2016 Share #8 Posted July 21, 2016 coat hanger with a hook bent into the end, you should be able to fish it out. It's probably in the side opposite the petcock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry1963 Posted July 22, 2016 Share #9 Posted July 22, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogman Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted July 22, 2016 Or you could drop a plastic magnet on a string down into the tank until you attract the plastic tube then just pull it out. Plastic magnet? I'll have to google that one. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogman Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted July 22, 2016 Tank is off and gas is out. I have been shaking it for nearly two hours. I caught a glimpse of it once and moved it slightly to try and grab it but it moved. It seems to get wedged a lot and does not move a lot when I shake it. I'm stopping now for the night and will resume in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air Ready Auto Posted July 22, 2016 Share #12 Posted July 22, 2016 Ive got it!!! Sell me the bike for 20$ and then you wont have to worry about it anymore! Or gently use a coat hanger to try and free it up. Had to do that on a car taink once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chabicheka Posted July 22, 2016 Share #13 Posted July 22, 2016 Can't you just leave it in and worry about it after you come back from the trip? I don't think it would melt!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogman Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted July 22, 2016 Can't you just leave it in and worry about it after you come back from the trip? I don't think it would melt!? I may have to do that and hope it doesn't melt or interfere with gas flow some how Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyinfool Posted July 22, 2016 Share #15 Posted July 22, 2016 The only thing it might interfere with is the fuel sender. if you leave it in for your trip keep a close eye on the trip odometer in case the tube got under the float and is holding it up. The tube is designed to be in constant contact with gasoline it will not deteriorate while in the tank. I would be surprised if the tube floats on gas. If you can get it to move around in the tank while shaking it and you decide to leave it in there for the trip, at least shake it over to the side of the tank that has the fuel sender so that it is away from the sender and least likely to jam it up. It should stay down in that bottom corner where it can not get into any trouble. It may also knock a mile of of your max fuel range since the tank will now hold a fraction of an ounce less fuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jamsie Posted July 22, 2016 Share #16 Posted July 22, 2016 you can buy endoscopes that plug into a laptop usb port, very cheap nowadays. i would use 1 of those to help move the spout to where you can get it out of the tank . no way of knowing it it is caught on the fuel sender without 1 imho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill1 Posted July 22, 2016 Share #17 Posted July 22, 2016 Can't you just leave it in and worry about it after you come back from the trip? I don't think it would melt!? Good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gggGary Posted July 22, 2016 Share #18 Posted July 22, 2016 put a boroscope in the (empty) tank so you can see what you are doing with the coat hanger hook. Smartphone micro usb lighted borescopes are like $10 anymore. And can be very useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyinfool Posted July 22, 2016 Share #19 Posted July 22, 2016 This might be a fun toy, I mean tool to add to your collection. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/172200298063?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true It even has a hook attachment to try to grab things, and a mirror to let you look at the walls of a hole. Hmmmmm....... I think I just talked myself into getting one of these to mess with........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogman Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) This might be a fun toy, I mean tool to add to your collection. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/172200298063?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true It even has a hook attachment to try to grab things, and a mirror to let you look at the walls of a hole. mmmmm....... I think I just talked myself into getting one of these to mess with........... If I had time for it to arrive I would purchase it also. I can't find a store that sells something like that yet, at least nothing that I see on store web sites. Edited July 22, 2016 by dogman wish to add more to thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cecdoo Posted July 22, 2016 Share #21 Posted July 22, 2016 Amazon Prime has a boroscope, you could have in a day or so? Tried to attach link but it didnt work. Hope you get it sorted out, hate to see it affect your trip. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eusa1 Posted July 22, 2016 Share #22 Posted July 22, 2016 Ya already have the tank out and upside down, take the four screws out that hold the fuel sender in place, remove the sender and shake it out the bottom. The top hole has a lip around it and doubt you will ever shake it out, and all that digging around with the hanger will do is bend your fuel level sensor. The sender comes half way out and you have to turn it to get the cork through the hole and the same going back together. Btw the fuel sender seal is reusable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSky Posted July 22, 2016 Share #23 Posted July 22, 2016 I've seen boroscopes in Sams Club recently. I'm sure you can buy them anywhere and with one of those tools to pick it up you can retrieve the offending tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogman Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share #24 Posted July 22, 2016 Ya already have the tank out and upside down, take the four screws out that hold the fuel sender in place, remove the sender and shake it out the bottom. The top hole has a lip around it and doubt you will ever shake it out, and all that digging around with the hanger will do is bend your fuel level sensor. The sender comes half way out and you have to turn it to get the cork through the hole and the same going back together. Btw the fuel sender seal is reusable Thanks, with my luck something may not go back just as it should, so I will wait to do that after my trip when I don't have to rely on the bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eusa1 Posted July 22, 2016 Share #25 Posted July 22, 2016 it really is just that simple to remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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