Screw in the fuel tank

Topic: Screw in the fuel tank (Read 1019 times) previous topic - next topic

Screw in the fuel tank

September 26, 2018, 10:44:13 pm

Yep you guessed it Murphy's law, and please chime in why didn't you stuff a rag in it. Was changing out fuel door on an ORED three painted screws to take out that you have to have the fuel cap off to access. Positioned at 2-6-10 o'clock and a has raised lip, and using a regular Phillips screwdriver, what are the chances??? I could hear it ricochet down the pipe. Don't worry about it?

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #1 – September 26, 2018, 11:08:11 pm

hmmm... first thought is don't worry about it, but then if it did get sucked up into the engine pick up tube it may/will lodge in there or at the 90 degree elbow where it exits the tank blocking flow. First see if the other screws will be attracted to a magnet, go get a magnetic wand type pick up tool, duck tape it to a piece of hose, and see if you can get it out that way. I would raise the coach up all the way, then drop the side your dropped it on all the way down so one side is higher than the other. It should be right below the fuel fill so might not have to fish for long. This looks like it will work ok if it fits in the filler...
Harbor freight tools

Or this

Good luck and let us know if you get it out please.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #2 – September 26, 2018, 11:13:54 pm

Quote from: Old phart phred – September 26, 2018, 10:44:13 pm

Yep you guessed it Murphy's law...

To be precise, Murphy's Law #68: Any fastener when dropped will fall into the least accessible place.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #3 – September 26, 2018, 11:26:33 pm

How about trying something like this to fish it?

Extra Long Flexible Magnet Pick-Up Tool: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #4 – September 26, 2018, 11:49:47 pm

The other 2 on the filler neck are steel. But all of the piping to the tank is steel also. Tank is full and also steel. Very grateful of your replies as it kickstarted my brain. I think i may locate a ring of rare earth super magnets around the intake pipe that leads to the engine. Low velocity zone, and steel can't float. If i can't find it in the fill tubing.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #5 – September 27, 2018, 12:19:17 am

Tank pump has a screen as does the engine as far as I know

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #6 – September 27, 2018, 12:24:48 am

As always you guys are awesome, the answer doesn't always have to be definitive or an exact solution, i think of the forum as a think tank to kick around ideas. Rock on. Take a look at these state of the art brake rotors, designed by finite element analysis, and computational fluid dynamics. Go figure.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #7 – September 27, 2018, 12:44:41 am

Front rotors are also different

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #8 – September 27, 2018, 07:42:22 am

OPP,

With your coach the screw is most likely right at the first bend where it goes from vertical and heads back to the tank. IIRC there is a hose 90 in that area with 2 hose clamps. If your fuel tank isn't full you should be able to unhook the hose clamps and separate the 2 pipes then you may be able to shake out the little devil.

Mike

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #9 – September 27, 2018, 08:21:34 am

If tank is steel stick a magnet on down at the bottom leave it there screw will stick to it inside tank.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #10 – September 27, 2018, 08:24:13 am

Or, if the screw has defied normal conventional falling you could go to a farm supply store that sells cow magnets. No kidding, cow magnets are put in cows and lodge in their stomachs and attract any bolts, barbed wire pieces, and anything made of steel that can be picked up by a magnet. Powerful, about 4" long x 1/2" diameter.
Tape 1/2 the length of the magnet into a rubber hose and then go hunting for the screw.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #11 – September 27, 2018, 10:29:08 am

Stick the magnet to the outside of the tank and forget about it.

Stump had it right. Sorry to not read it yet. ADD and all that.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #12 – September 27, 2018, 10:48:24 am

Uh, just sticking a magnet on the outside of the 100 gallon tank goes on the assumption that the screw is or will be within the range or the magnets field.
And, doing it that way one will never know if the magnet had done what it was put there for.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #13 – September 27, 2018, 10:51:36 am

Quote from: Old phart phred – September 26, 2018, 11:49:47 pm

Tank is full and also steel.

Steel? Was thinking all GVs have aluminum fuel tanks. Perhaps earlier models have steel?

Pierce

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #14 – September 27, 2018, 11:42:54 am

Why is a screw rolling around on the bottom of the fuel tank a problem?

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #15 – September 27, 2018, 10:05:38 pm

It isn't a problem until it finds way to the pickup tube or outlet. Tank is stamped steel welded two piece running fore and aft between frame rails. Anyhow disassembled the fill tube sections and found it in a horizontal tube about 3 feet back, fished it out with the end of a fat max tape measure. Since the tank is 10+ feet long there may be some baffles inside.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #16 – September 27, 2018, 10:11:08 pm

Quote from: Old phart phred – September 27, 2018, 12:24:48 am

As always you guys are awesome, the answer doesn't always have to be definitive or an exact solution, i think of the forum as a think tank to kick around ideas. Rock on. Take a look at these state of the art brake rotors, designed by finite element analysis, and computational fluid dynamics. Go figure.

Did you just attempt to hijack this thread?

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #17 – September 27, 2018, 10:19:22 pm

No just pointing out what a think tank can accomplish.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #18 – September 28, 2018, 10:27:23 am

That screw will be right in the bottom of the tank forever. No way it's going to get sucked up the pu tube. Even if it does it not going to get past a filter. JMHO, don't
lose any sleep over it.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #19 – September 28, 2018, 10:48:53 am

Was able to fish it out after some disassembly, otherwise i would have left it to roll around in my brain.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #20 – September 28, 2018, 11:57:59 am

I agree that a stainless screw wont get past a filter on the way to the engine... BUT. We have just replaced the fuel filter and re-built carburetor ( gas engine 1986 GV) because of silicone from an unknown source closing off the filter to the degree that NO power could be created with the obstruction.... techs pulled out strings of silicone... asbout $ 550 in repair costs... we have never found the true source.

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #21 – September 30, 2018, 12:03:16 am

My tank is not steel, its aluminum. Dont' think that Foretravel used steel in the construction of the fuel tanks.
I would not take the chance that it might not get sucked up by the fuel pump. don't think their are screens on the bottom of the fuel pick ups either. That would cause a obstruction in case of debris in the tank in a otherwise inaccessible area of the tank. There are not clean out ports on these tanks.
Glad you found it.
Bob

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #22 – September 30, 2018, 07:36:25 am

Quote from: Bob and Julie – September 30, 2018, 12:03:16 am

My tank is not steel, its aluminum. Dont' think that Foretravel used steel in the construction of the fuel tanks.

Bob,
When FT went with the in house Uni frame system is when they went with the aluminum fuel tanks. OPP's coach has an Oshkosh chassis and came from the chassis shop with a steel stamped tank that was mounted along the length of the frame rails.

Mike

Re: Screw in the fuel tank

Reply #23 – September 30, 2018, 10:06:15 am

Yup, what Mike said. Just like ours--steel!

Affiliate Notice