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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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sludge in fuel tank

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pete

10-02-2003 15:50:45




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just bought a 41 h. fuel tank has a thick sludge in the bottem.whats the best thing to
clean out with,--air cleaner has lots of sludge
in the screen ,what and how do i clean with.




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David Bacon

10-04-2003 19:24:06




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 Re: sludge in fuel tank in reply to pete, 10-02-2003 15:50:45  
If you prefer a real good job, go to a gun supply store and buy a big bag of no 6 shot (BB's). Duck tape your tank to another tractor hind wheel--then go for a slow drive. It will clean it up super good. A spoked rear wheel works best. If your tractor has no baffles, nuts and washers work just fine. Dave NE Iowa



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Ludwig

10-03-2003 14:51:50




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 Re: sludge in fuel tank in reply to pete, 10-02-2003 15:50:45  
I did a metal snowmobile tank with plain old white vinegar. Worked great and was much easier and safer to use than the alternatives. It has to sit for quite a time though to really do its thing. I left the sled alone for most of a month. But thats on a built in tank where I couldn't really agitate it without picking up the whole sled. I'd fill a tractor tank with vinegar and put it in the back of the pickup and let it ride back and forth to work with me for a week or two, that'd get the crud out.

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Diesel Don

10-03-2003 07:11:41




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 Re: sludge in fuel tank in reply to pete, 10-02-2003 15:50:45  
Go to NAPA and get a gallon of their carb cleaner. Pour about an inch in the bottom of the tank and let it soak for a week. That will take out the sludge. It will also remove a lot of the rust inside the tank. Remember to use protective gear when you use the cleaner.



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WIRED

10-03-2003 06:37:57




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 Re: sludge in fuel tank in reply to pete, 10-02-2003 15:50:45  
I vote for taking the tank off the tractor, inverting it to get as much sludge out through gravity as possible, then a hearty wash with 1/2 a gallon of acetone. Rinse, repeat.

Standard disclaimers apply: do it outside, wear eye protection, gloves, and away from any possible source of flame.



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Red Dave

10-02-2003 16:43:14




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 Re: sludge in fuel tank in reply to pete, 10-02-2003 15:50:45  
The air cleaner can be cleaned by soaking it in a bucket of kerosene. I'm not sure about the sludge in the gas tank, maybe something like lacquer thinner might help, not sure though.



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rustyfarmall

10-03-2003 04:30:51




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 Re: Re: sludge in fuel tank in reply to Red Dave, 10-02-2003 16:43:14  
Fresh gasoline will dissolve most of that sludge, or better yet, use muriatic acid, which will also dissolve the rust. Use caution with the acid, and have a garden hose connected to a water supply ready just in case the acid gets where you don't want it.



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Randy in NE

10-03-2003 05:38:13




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 Re: Re: Re: sludge in fuel tank in reply to rustyfarmall, 10-03-2003 04:30:51  
Just to add to what the others have said, I would remove the gas tank so that you can do a thorough job of cleaning it. A while back someone mentioned putting nuts and/or bolts in there and shaking them around to help clean out rust. That would probably work here also. Taking the tank off would be a lot easier than cleaning the settling bowl and possibly the carb several times. Just my $0.02 worth.

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rustyfarmall

10-03-2003 05:48:22




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: sludge in fuel tank in reply to Randy in NE, 10-03-2003 05:38:13  
I have tried the nuts and bolts trick, it is not real effective because of the baffle in the tank, the hardware cannot get behind that baffle, and if it does get in there, it is next to impossible to get it back out.



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