So I've been having problems this year with crap in the fuel. I have an Atomic 4 which has a sediment bowl attached to the fuel pump and I added a filter in line before the pump several years ago. In the spring the engine was running rough so I checked the filter, lots of gunk. I cleaned the sediment bowl, lots of gunk. Putting the bowl back on I noticed the gasket was shot. I tried to make one out of some gasket material but that didn't go well. I was going to order a new one but decided to just get a whole new fuel pump because shipping was 10x as much as the gasket so why not make it worth it and shell some out more money. This is a 44 year old engine, I'm replacing it one part at a time.
Anyway, while waiting for the pump, I cleaned out the carburetor (lots of gunk). I installed the new pump and fire it up. Ran like a champ... for about 2 hours then crapped out again. More gunk in the filter. Now I know I have to bite the bullet and clean the tank. I called around to find someone to do this for me but no one wants to deal with it near water and the tank is about 1" too big to fit out the hatch. I figured I might as well give it a try. I have decent access above the tank so I figured I'd take the fuel sender and fuel inlet hose out and have a look. The tank is Monel so I was pretty sure it wasn't rusting. A few years ago the fuel gauge stopped working so I ordered a new fuel sender. I've had it over a year, just never go around to installing it. As I was getting the tools out to remove the sender I had an Aha moment. Sure enough, the fuel sender was rusting away.
So where did the rest of it go? Yup, you know where.
Notice the fuel pick up hovering right over the gunk.
I have a Pela 6000 oil extractor which was fantastic for this job. Pump it up then wave the hose around in the bottom of the tank sucking up the crap. I was amazed how well it worked. A little while later...
I cleaned the carb again and it fire right up, ran great for the test run.
Anyway, while waiting for the pump, I cleaned out the carburetor (lots of gunk). I installed the new pump and fire it up. Ran like a champ... for about 2 hours then crapped out again. More gunk in the filter. Now I know I have to bite the bullet and clean the tank. I called around to find someone to do this for me but no one wants to deal with it near water and the tank is about 1" too big to fit out the hatch. I figured I might as well give it a try. I have decent access above the tank so I figured I'd take the fuel sender and fuel inlet hose out and have a look. The tank is Monel so I was pretty sure it wasn't rusting. A few years ago the fuel gauge stopped working so I ordered a new fuel sender. I've had it over a year, just never go around to installing it. As I was getting the tools out to remove the sender I had an Aha moment. Sure enough, the fuel sender was rusting away.
So where did the rest of it go? Yup, you know where.
Notice the fuel pick up hovering right over the gunk.
I have a Pela 6000 oil extractor which was fantastic for this job. Pump it up then wave the hose around in the bottom of the tank sucking up the crap. I was amazed how well it worked. A little while later...
I cleaned the carb again and it fire right up, ran great for the test run.
