Sploosh - blub - dagnammit!

[sunandsand]

No, I didn't play submarine with my Kubota unlike my neighbor (whose tractor refuses to die despite it).

Since I am not able to hold a full five gallon container of diesel at arm's length in order to fuel my (no longer overheating) B2601, I've been using a hand operated pump with a short 12" discharge hose on it. The fuel container goes on the floor in front of the seat, the discharge hose goes in the tank, and a few minutes of operation fills the tank. So far so good.

The discharge hose slipped off the end of the pump and guess where it decided to take up residence? Sploosh - blub. It is now down in the tank, somewhere.

Flashlight showed nothing - it is a black hole. Ran the tractor for a while to lower the fuel level, tried again, couldn't see a thing. I have a "gripper", has a button on the top, semi-flexible, four wire fingers come out the bottom, release the button slowly and the fingers are supposed to grab things.

Can't find a dang thing . . . I know it is in there somewhere, I watched it disappear (probably snickering at me as it went).

Plan A: Ignore it - the hose isn't fuel soluble anyway, and it doesn't seem to be hurting anything. Not a good idea, and I don't like ignoring things like that.

Plan B: Drain the tank, try again with the gripper and some more imaginative profanity than "dagnammit".

Plan C: Call Ahhnold to come pick the tractor up, turn it upside down and shake it. He might be available now that he isn't the Governator of California any more.

Probably by far the best plan: Ask the crew here on TBN for suggestions!!!!

Best Regards,
Mike/Florida

 

[scootr]

I would tend to leave it be. Check and change the fuel filter often until you are sure it will not dissolve putting particles into the fuel.
If the filter shows any contamination then you will have to remove the tank. Or you may just want to remove the tank and the lost part for peace of mind. GL

 

[ruffdog]

I have a few different grabber tools that could reach down and retrieve dropped parts in tight places. Just go fishing for it.

 

[LouNY]

The inspection cameras with a light could make it easier to see and then grab it,

 

[rScotty]

Maybe the grabber would do better if you parked on a steep incline. Then at least you would know where to grab.

 

[rScotty]

BTW, about 4 years ago I bought one of those fiber optic inspection cameras - a 75 footer - for inspecting plumbing and irrigation and whatever. Chinese made, inexpensive, and works surprisingly well. It has saved us enough work to be worth the price. I haven't tried it in fuel.....probably won't.

But I am going to look into getting a short one specifically for mechanical work.

 

[Runner]

Find a small child to stick their arm down there and grab it.

 

[Eagle1]

Find a small child to stick their arm down there and grab it.

Best to use your own child..... but otherwise it works.

 

[scootr]

Best to use your own child..... but otherwise it works.

And give then an OB AI glove

 

[oldnslo]

Another use for grandkids…

Couple of cookies and send em home

 

[ruffdog]

Another use for grandkids…

Couple of cookies and send em home

Then.....why do the kids always smell of diesel when they come home from grandpa's?

 

[Runner]

Oh, there's all kinds of uses for them, send them back behind the work bench to find tools you lost, clean out dead bugs, mice and cobwebs, raise them up in your loader bucket to pick fruit, clean out the culvert under your driveway...

 

[airbiscuit]

Find a small child to stick their arm down there and grab it

Maybe a Proctologist with small hands. They're used to working in places where the sun don't shine.

 

[sunandsand]

OK, so far the recommendation is a skinny child proctologist with very long arms and small hands whose parents/guardians/parole officer won't care if said child comes home stinking of diesel fuel. And the kid has to be proficient at cleaning out culverts (got three of those that need attention) and picking fruit while balancing on a raised tractor bucket. (Should I put some padding on the Pirhana tooth bar on the bucket or does the munchkin have Kevlar skin?)

I had no idea that 12" of plastic fuel hose could cause so much trouble!

I have two places to be tomorrow, I'll see if I can rustle up this kid tomorrow evening. Stay tuned ;-)

Best Regards,
Mike/Florida

(Whose current residence address, according to FEMA, is a PO Box, but that's another story. I kinda think the window clerk would be upset if I tried to get my tractor into that box.)

 

[airbiscuit]

Get this kid

 

[oldnslo]

I am a little surprised that spout didn’t float since it is plastic.

 

[Alan W.]

I purchased a gripper that has a built in light. Really makes it easier to locate items then grab them. Cant remember where I got it from.

 

[stephenh]

Maybe the grabber would do better if you parked on a steep incline. Then at least you would know where to grab.

I am not experienced with that model tractor, but could one also use the bucket to lift the front end a bit more and see whether the piece will roll to the rear of the fuel tank so it can be seen and maybe grabbed?

Just pondering here.

 

[RobertEH]

I think the endoscope idea is a great one. 36 bucks on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Endoscope-Inspection-Waterproof-Semi-Rigid/dp/B091L6L1GV/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2SLTSSGDDRAV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTe5jehf0SZyjcAknaMSnjvM2zqVg4WfRjKc-L6CxH5A8fN_dSAuupisvcWlHQkw5IHIENopqtyI1focybSBB4YVEpCj7-OmjbYZ1XmlqczvWZ6bYP5SdQOm7_Je3Ef_Cl11E6H4evudz5hpp32WWWO8U5RP89j8CCyIyaCdGCDZKJ1J_HJv7XD-4icBCTr1z3EutIvsiYb_2b2PxuiNCsaBO4JfLTDRtOJhdkuzYYA.elSzRxwPmr2fwENaSPBoEwqCe3m_e2GAXYwz9zk7fZQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=bore%2Bscope%2Bcamera&qid=1730127528&sprefix=bore%2Bscope%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-5&th=1

 

[newbury]

Although the flash point of diesel is higher than gas I would be VERY careful about putting electricity on a cord in the tank. Can you use a relatively high powered flashlight from above?
I'd try first stirring around gently with a long (plastic preferably) rod to see if you could feel bumping into the hose, then use that as guide to slide the gripper down.