Plastic in the fuel tank

IronRyan

Member

Equipment
Kubota 3560
Apr 1, 2023
46
25
8
Tennessee
So I think I just made a very timing consuming to fix oops. While refueling my tractor with a 5 gallon can, a plastic piece snapped off, had something to do with the air intake breather on the new type plastic cans, anyways it fell off and as my luck would have it, it fell into the tank. I have an idea, I checked the stopper cap for the end of the spout, it’s made of the same material, it floats in water. So my idea is to park the tractor on an incline, then fill the tank all the way up and hoping that the plastic piece will float up to the top where I can reach it. Otherwise I guess I’ll be taking my tank off this week. Anybody else have any suggestions?
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IMG_2860.jpeg
 

imnukensc

Well-known member

Equipment
BX2380
Sep 10, 2015
688
591
93
Midlands of SC
A couple suggestions: 1) Get some mechanical fingers so you can fish/grab the plastic piece out 2) Buy a decent spout without all the safety crap for your fuel can instead of that piece of crap that came on the container.
 
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mcfarmall

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Kubota M5660SUHD, Farmall C
Sep 11, 2013
1,410
1,691
113
Kalamazoo, MI
The good thing is that the foreign object is much too big to block the flow of fuel from the tank to the engine. I would try to fish it out with a grabber thingy, but if that's unsuccessful, I'd leave it and go about my business until it becomes a problem.
 
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Elliott in GA

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LX 2610SU w/535,LP RCR1860,FDR1660,SGC0554,FSP500, DD BBX60005
Mar 10, 2021
744
726
93
North Georgia
Klein Borescope for an Android phone or something similar if you have an iPhone (i as in evIl). The Klein scope is waterproof, illuminated, has a 10 foot cable and costs about $40. You can view live, take photos and record video. You will still have to use something to recover the plastic (like mechanical fingers) once located. Although I do not know if the Klein Borescope is explosion proof (it should be), your tank full of diesel should not pose any risk.

Additionally, the borescope is extremely handy for lots of everyday tasks.

 
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IronRyan

Member

Equipment
Kubota 3560
Apr 1, 2023
46
25
8
Tennessee
A couple suggestions: 1) Get some mechanical fingers so you can fish/grab the plastic piece out 2) Buy a decent spout without all the safety crap for your fuel can instead of that piece of crap that came on the container.
Definitely buying a new fuel can!
 

mdhughes

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Lifetime Member

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L3901DT
Dec 10, 2014
1,251
718
113
Ste Geneveive county, MO
Would be nice if Kubota would put removable screens in the tanks to keep things out of the fuel tank. The John Deere skidder I ran for 2 1/2 years had one.
 
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GreensvilleJay

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Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,419
4,908
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
I had to remove/clean/reinstall the tank on my BX23S 4 years/800+ hrs ago as a 'sliver' of black plastic plugged the exit spigot....Kubota says 3 hour job, but I did it myself. Added a $store 'sink strainer' to the fuel in neck...ZERO problems since. some guys use a 'cold coffee press mason jar filter but those were $40 up here,compared to $2.50 at the $store.......
I agress it SHOULD be standard equipment on ALL vehicles......

Be SURE to confirm you have 100% of the plastic OUT of the tank......
 
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Lil Foot

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
7,518
2,548
113
Peoria, AZ
Would be nice if Kubota would put removable screens in the tanks to keep things out of the fuel tank. The John Deere skidder I ran for 2 1/2 years had one.
They used to.
My B7100 still has the original.


Unknown.jpeg

fueltank.jpg
fuel tnklis.jpg
 
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fried1765

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Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,843
5,066
113
Eastham, Ma
Would be nice if Kubota would put removable screens in the tanks to keep things out of the fuel tank. The John Deere skidder I ran for 2 1/2 years had one.
My L48 TLB has a fuel screen.
Don't know if it came from factory that way though.
 

Russell King

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L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
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Austin, Texas

Flintknapper

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Premium Member

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L2350DT
May 3, 2022
1,767
2,225
113
Deep East Texas
Trash any and all 'Safety Spouts' that come on the fuel cans today. Search for
EZ-POUR B00YP3YTXM Gas Can Replacement Spout

On Amazon and replace with these.
 
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Runs With Scissors

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Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
2,437
2,813
113
Michigan
The good thing is that the foreign object is much too big to block the flow of fuel from the tank to the engine. I would try to fish it out with a grabber thingy, but if that's unsuccessful, I'd leave it and go about my business until it becomes a problem.
+1

I personally don't see the point in doing anything. I highly doubt it will cause any problems.

Let the next owner worry about it in 25 years.
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,419
4,908
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
MCM/ RWS... your assumption is it's only ONE big piece.....
In my case the 'sliver of black' was small,long and eventually slid in and plugged the exit spigot.
Due to the 3 chambered tank design, tank had to be removed to extractor the plastic.
According to Mr. Murphy....if you don't remove it now...sooner or later, probably when you HAVE to use the tractor for something really,really important, is when it WILL lodged and take the tractor out of service.costing you both time and money.
 

IronRyan

Member

Equipment
Kubota 3560
Apr 1, 2023
46
25
8
Tennessee
MCM/ RWS... your assumption is it's only ONE big piece.....
In my case the 'sliver of black' was small,long and eventually slid in and plugged the exit spigot.
Due to the 3 chambered tank design, tank had to be removed to extractor the plastic.
According to Mr. Murphy....if you don't remove it now...sooner or later, probably when you HAVE to use the tractor for something really,really important, is when it WILL lodged and take the tractor out of service.costing you both time and money.
I tend to agree with you. Its a brand new 35,000 dollar machine. I ordered a camera light endoscope that was not too expensive and will be here tomorrow. I can wait a couple days for piece of mind.
 
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RCW

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Lifetime Member

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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
9,155
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Chenango County, NY
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The Evil Twin

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Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,817
2,830
113
Virginia
I'll bet you $1 it's still in one piece. Leave it. You will eventually stop thinking about it. I did that with a drain plug magnet once. Took me a minute to figure out what it was when I tore off the oil pan 100k later.
Go with the race fuel style jugs. No feral government gadgets to keep you safe. Fast flow. Don't dent.
 
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BruceP

Well-known member

Equipment
G5200H
Aug 7, 2016
851
368
63
Richmond, Vermont, USA
Anybody else have any suggestions?
Leave it in there and dont worry. It will not harm ANYTHING as long as the tractor exists. The multiple fuel-filters will prevent any engine-damage.

You may be surprised what is found in old diesel tanks after many years of use.

Also consider getting an aftermarket fuel-can schnozzle. They work MUCH better than those silly things.

 

Cathy Liebchen

Active member

Equipment
KUBOTA L3901, MX5800, MULE PRO FX, MULE PRO FXT
So I think I just made a very timing consuming to fix oops. While refueling my tractor with a 5 gallon can, a plastic piece snapped off, had something to do with the air intake breather on the new type plastic cans, anyways it fell off and as my luck would have it, it fell into the tank. I have an idea, I checked the stopper cap for the end of the spout, it’s made of the same material, it floats in water. So my idea is to park the tractor on an incline, then fill the tank all the way up and hoping that the plastic piece will float up to the top where I can reach it. Otherwise I guess I’ll be taking my tank off this week. Anybody else have any suggestions? View attachment 105872 View attachment 105873
We always use a Mr Funnel to keep water and stuff out of the tank
 
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