Dropped Plastic Gas Nozzle into the Tank - Suggestions?

[Nuru]

Nuru,
I voiced the same doubts in a previous post here. In my view the nozzle simply can't clog the fuel outlet. If it makes you feel better than, by all means, get it out but there is a simple test to see if it's causing fuel problems. Shut off the petcock on the tank, disconnect the line from the carb and open the petcock with the line in a jar or fuel can. If it's running out than the nozzle isn't the cut out problem.

Rob

Actually Rob, I am agreeing with KennyD on his post and also your suspicions too, as it would seem peculiar for the nozzle to only affect the engagement of the mid-PTO and not any other mode. So i am gonna check out the switch - did not get a chance to look at it yesterday or today. My next opportunity is Saturday.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Actually Rob, I am agreeing with KennyD on his post and also your suspicions too, as it would seem peculiar for the nozzle to only affect the engagement of the mid-PTO and not any other mode. So i am gonna check out the switch - did not get a chance to look at it yesterday or today. My next opportunity is Saturday.

Well....While I think you guys might be right, dont count the other options out.
My FIL's F925 ran like a top...until he used the PTO/Mower...looked into everything. What the issue was all along was a clogged fuel filter (it was a relatively new filter so he didnt look there first).
Diesels require barely any fuel to run and idle, so under normal circumstances it ran fine...but when worked there simply wasnt enough fuel supply. New fuel filter and life was good once again.

I guess the question would be how she dies when the PTO is engaged?

 

[yankeerider]

I'd recommend against trying to suction the part out with a shop vac. You could end up with a big bang due to an excess of vapor and sparks from the vac or its motor.

 

[nmu98]

any luck nuru?

 

[Riderguy]

Well, i had one of those spectacularly silly moments where I relaxed while filling my tank with fuel and bang the entire autofill nozzle fell into the tank. I tried initially to fish around in there to get it out but no luck sofar. And now for some weird reason, I cannot cut on my MMM as the tractor stalls each time, but runs fine without turning it on - sounds familiar to anyone?

I was filling my JD3720 with one of those yellow 5 gallon containers. Sure enough the white slinky-like tube falls into the tank. It ran fine but bugged the heck out of me. It took me 2 hours to get the thing out. I used a combination of the grabber device that was thumbnailed above, along with a flexible light for seeing in the tank and a magnetic expandable rod (the thing that looks like an antenna with a big magnet on the tip) to grab and fish the nozzle out. The grabby thing was not long enough, but the magnetic rod was, so I got it in there and was able to raise the nozzle up enough to grab it. A total PITA, but it did work. Patience is the key. A beer or two after helps immensely.

Scott

 

[Nuru]

any luck nuru?

PTO/Engine shutoff:

Researching this a bit more (called my local dealer), I am gonna try and check out my relays as if my seat switch was on the blink the tractor probably would not run. So it is probably my PTO relay that has an issue. I asked my local dealer how to check it out and I will check it out this week sometime before Saturday so I can get the part in before Saturday. I am also gonna buy a plastic or metal fuel caddy or make one out of a 30 gallon barrel I have. No more potential for this to happen again. i have been thinking about this for a while and now I am gonna pull the trigger on it. I am leaning towards the purchase as some of them are DOT approved and tested - YouTube - Todd Enterprises Gas Caddy DOT Compliance Tests


Fuel tank visitor: well, I think there are two options:

A) Drain Tank and try to fish it out. Since it is the type that has a spring that performs the "anti-spill" shutoff, I may try a magnet tipped extension wand and a 3 foot pick-up tool with the extensible grabbing end.

B) Empty the tank, Drop the tank and dump it out (2 hours to drop and reinstall)

I am more inclined to try "A" myself (no vacuum though, unless tank is dry before I do it). I wish I had a buddy with a drain camera:thumbsup:

I will let you all know how I fair by Saturday evening.

 

[Nuru]

I was filling my JD3720 with one of those yellow 5 gallon containers. Sure enough the white slinky-like tube falls into the tank. It ran fine but bugged the heck out of me. It took me 2 hours to get the thing out. I used a combination of the grabber device that was thumbnailed above, along with a flexible light for seeing in the tank and a magnetic expandable rod (the thing that looks like an antenna with a big magnet on the tip) to grab and fish the nozzle out. The grabby thing was not long enough, but the magnetic rod was, so I got it in there and was able to raise the nozzle up enough to grab it. A total PITA, but it did work. Patience is the key. A beer or two after helps immensely.

Scott

thanks Scott; I have the mag-tiip tool already and I am trying to get a long (3ft) grabber tool. I kinda checking around for someone local who has a flexible drain camera to help. So i am planning how I can do it.

 

[Nuru]

I'd recommend against trying to suction the part out with a shop vac. You could end up with a big bang due to an excess of vapor and sparks from the vac or its motor.

.

I was planning to use a 7 foot plastice tube and an adapter to keep the vac far away from the tank. But the more i think about it. I probably will not introduce fuel vapor exciter technology in the tank

 

[Nuru]

Well....While I think you guys might be right, dont count the other options out.
My FIL's F925 ran like a top...until he used the PTO/Mower...looked into everything. What the issue was all along was a clogged fuel filter (it was a relatively new filter so he didnt look there first).
Diesels require barely any fuel to run and idle, so under normal circumstances it ran fine...but when worked there simply wasnt enough fuel supply. New fuel filter and life was good once again.

I guess the question would be how she dies when the PTO is engaged?

Dave; It did not shutoff until I stopped and then was doing some other work. I ran the engine at PTO speed without the mower on and it ran fine right after the it started shutting down on me when I engaged the PTO. I will try the relay first, and if that does not work, i have a few more things I can try. If they all fail, then it will be a trip to the dealer and take my hit ($$$) for the tank and the PTO issue. Oh well, we will see.

 

[Nuru]

Hmmm....
While its easy for me to say, It doesnt look overly complex or hard to remove the tank....
The way I see it is yes..if the other ideas work, then your good to go in short time...but I hate investing time & money in things that have a high probability of failure...

Draining & Removing the tank is 100% sure to get it out.

Yes, that might be the final solution to the tank visitor.