Diesel Can Cap Fell into Fuel Tank !!!

drjay9051 · Nov 12, 2017

Title says it all. I managed to lose the little yellow fuel cap from my 5 gal diesel can in the fuel tank. Had it laying on the hood of the Kioti and down it went.

So first question: Need I worry about it blocking fuel flow to engine? I'm a bit worried about running the engine and causing a major problem.

It won't dissolve and gum things up but I'd like to retrieve it if possible.

Not sure if it floats but I added some fuel and still don't see it down there. Maybe when I top off the fuel it will magically rise to the top of the filler neck.

Anybody done this before??

Thanks

General Lee · Nov 12, 2017

Wont hurt anything laying in there. Let the fuel level get pretty low and when you can see it, ball up some duct tape on the end of rod and "poke" it to retrieve it.

smstonypoint · Nov 12, 2017

There have been several threads dealing with fuel can parts falling into fuel tanks. Here's one that may be of assistance -- http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/230519-spout-fell-fuel-tank-cant.html.

Steve

Fallon · Nov 12, 2017

I had plastic covering the fuel nose on my tank. Father-in-law went & filled the tractor... It ended up stalling. I realized what had likely happened while at work. He ended up fishing the plastic out.

I highly doubt that plastic on a fuel can will disolve in the fuel that's suppose to go in the can... I'd guess it would float. Plastic generally floats on water, but fuel is less dense, so don't know. It's not super likely to cause an issue, but there is always a chance it could end up covering the outlet pipe at some point.

Not sure how I'd fish something out of the under cabinet tank on my L4060 it's as wide as the tractor. The tank on the old L3200 was pretty cube shaped up under the hood. Fishing with a coat hanger caught things there pretty well.

rhunt · Nov 12, 2017

Good reason to use a funnel with strainer from now on. Bob

3Ts · Nov 12, 2017

If you can see it, try one of these:

2458n · Nov 12, 2017

3Ts said:
If you can see it, try one of these:

View attachment 528292

I would use the tool as shown on a nearly empty tank of fuel on a up hill slope. Could be a real slope or loader induced. Try for awhile and walk away. Come back and try again. If you can not get it out it will never hurt anything.

pmsmechanic · Nov 12, 2017

I worked on a Deutz tractor once years ago. It would stall intermittently and then you would be able to start it up again. Someone had dropped a leather glove in there. The filer cap was huge. Like about 4" so I had no problems fishing the glove out. Good luck fishing, and if you can't get it out it's not going to hurt anything where it is.

tmcj · Nov 13, 2017

3Ts said:
If you can see it, try one of these:

View attachment 528292

That is what I used to retrieve an item from my tank recently. I have used them for so many things over the years, I can't imagine not having one in my tool box. You can even get ones with an LED light on the end, which is really handy. Not for a fuel tank of course, lol. Most auto parts places have them or any place that sells tools.