What to do? Foreign object in fuel tank

[edneff]

Skipping all of the sad details, but the end cap of a self-service fuel nozzle which was not attached to its lanyard ended up in my right fuel tank.

I'm not the builder, but a new first time RV owner. Any ideas how to get it out? It's some kind of rubber, slightly larger than the diameter of a fuel nozzle, and about 1.5 inches in length.

Thanks

Ed

[Mel]

I would first try bending a hook in the end of a piece of welding rod, and fishing it out. Shouldn't be too difficult.

[Transporter]

I would also recommend a "grabber" (available at auto parts stores, Sears, etc.). These have prongs that extend when a plunger is depressed on the end of a short (usually 18"-24") cable. The prongs are closed by a spring when the plunger is released. These work great at retrieving lost non-ferrous parts.

Good luck,
Mike

[Transporter]

The formal name is "pick up tool".

Craftsman 23-1/2 in. Pick Up Tool
Sears item #00941322000 Mfr. model #41322 $5.95

No, I don't work for Sears, and you should be able to find a similar item at the store most convenient to you!

Mike

[edneff]

Thanks for the responses. I'm wondering how do I find it? I tried to look inside the tank and couldn't see it anywhere.

Since it was designed to cap a fuel nozzle, I'm not too worried about it dissolving and contaminating the fuel. But I don't know if it will float or be on the bottom...

[gvgoff99]

Needless to say don't use a match to look. Sort of kidding....but please do think of sparks when illuminating the tank and looking. A small LED flashlight should be spark free after turning it on several feet away from the vapors. Also an empty fuel container is more dangerous than a full one (ie. Flight 800). You probably know all of this but keeping it in the front of your thinking while looking for the foreign object is pretty important. Ground the pick up tool prior to putting it close to the filler neck.

[Transporter]

Edneff,
Depending on how much fuel is in the tank, you may need to drain some/all of the fuel to find the cap. Hopefully it's in the same section as the filler and hasn't moved over a baffle! Sloshing the fuel around by rocking a wing could help or hurt, so you're on your own with that technique!

Once the fuel level is down a bit, try a small inspection mirror and flashlight to locate the cap. The flashlight beam can be bounced off the mirror to shine light around the tank.

Once you find the cap, try to fish it close to the opening. Mel's welding rod recommendation may work well for this; you may even be able to catch it on the hook for retrievel, or at least have it in a good position for the pick up tool. The pick up tool cable is flexible and can bend a fair amount to reach the corners of a tank section, but it won't make a sharp bend.

So if the cap has moved past a baffle, you may need a longer welding rod/wire and will need to be creative with bends in the wire to fish it closer. Any reasonably stiff copper or stainless wire (12ga electrical wire, safety wire, etc.) will work, but don't use coathanger or other coated wire since the fuel will dissolve the coating!

Good hunting,
Mike

[RV8N]

I seriously doubt that it would move past the rib/baffle. The holes in the rib are pretty small. If your RV is a tail dragger, pick the tail up and put it on a saw horse or other strong support. This may help move the object further forward where you can see it and grab it with your mechanical fingers.

Karl

[hydroguy2]

Drain the tank and use a piece of hose hooked to a vacuum.

[grjtucson]

Originally Posted by hydroguy2

Drain the tank and use a piece of hose hooked to a vacuum.

Please be VERY careful if using a vacuum. They seem to be the greatest generators of static electricity in our shops. That, plus empty fuel tank, could equal big boom.

George