Cold Weather Starting

[SnowRidge]

Upon removing the plastic elbow at the bottom of the gas tank to check for debris, I removed what looked like a small piece of "pipe tape", about 3/16 long.

But also there is a perfectly fitted round piece of ??? (tin foil) with an image of a woman with a pitcher over her head pouring something out, and the words "GiaComini" and "Made in Italy" down inside the plastic elbow fitting.

Is this suppose to be in there?

What is it?

When I took a Q-tip to clean out the inside of the plastic elbow fitting, along with the "pipe tape", this round "tin foil" ??? also came out.

Anyone know what I am talking about?

You mean these folks.

I suspect they made the elbow and/or the tank. Power-Trac seems to have a thing for Italian parts.

I take it the engine now runs properly?

 

[ldabe]

No. The engine is not running properly yet. I did not reinstall yet, I didn't know if I should put that little piece of "tin foil" ??? back into the elbow fitting.

I don't know why it would be there, but it is a perfect circle that fits right down into the elbow just before the 90 degree turn.

Has anybody seen what I am talking about?

 

[SnowRidge]

No. The engine is not running properly yet. I did not reinstall yet, I didn't know if I should put that little piece of "tin foil" ??? back into the elbow fitting.

I don't know why it would be there, but it is a perfect circle that fits right down into the elbow just before the 90 degree turn.

Has anybody seen what I am talking about?

I haven't.

I didn't find anything like that in the elbow on my tank. However, all I did was run a piece of wire up it from the outside. I really didn't look down into it, since it was still in the tank, which had a bunch of gas in it.

 

[ldabe]

SnowRidge,

I took my tank completely off, and un-screwed the elbow from the bottom, completely removing it.

Now that I think about, when I screw it back in I guess I should use some plumbers tape on the threads. What do you think?

Also, if yours did have that ??? "tin foil" ??? circle inside yours, when you pushed the wire up through, it would have dislodged it into the tank, or punctured a hole in it.

Myself, I think it was from the packaging that the elbow came in, and mistakenly was dropped into the tank. But, it is weird, because it did fit perfectly inside the 90 degree elbow.

I am going to give PT a call Monday just to make sure.

 

[Gravy]

Abe,

I'm ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that there should be nothing obstructing that elbow, even if the picture is of Gina Lollobrigida. If you use teflon tape, take extreme care to ensure that none of it gets inside the elbow. Also be very careful not to overtighten the fitting. The threads in plastic tank aren't very tough. Just a hair past finger tight should be good. It's better to have to tighten it a bit more later than to strip the threads. I have personal experience here - do as I say, not as I did!

It's possible that some of that junk has made it to your carburetor. One of the nice things about the Robin engine is that it's relatively easy to fix that. I can walk you through it if needed.

Once you get the crud out, I expect the machine will run much better and you'll remember why you loved it.

Until the weather gets hot and the ethanol in the gas screws everything up...

Cheers,

Gravy

 

[SnowRidge]

You need some sort of gasoline proof sealant on those threads. As Gravy said, don't let any get into the tank or elbow.

 

[ponytug]

Fuel lines are supposed to be spotlessly clean. Don't fall for the Italian spam. Remember, all of the gunk will have to go through a carbruetor jet before going into your nice clean engine cylinder.

If in doubt, clean it out!

PT ships three, (3), successive fuel filters on the 1445s; a coarse mesh in the tank, a small inline pleated filter, and a major diesel filter just before the engine. Since the excess fuel is dumped back in the tank, it all gets filtered pretty quickly.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ldabe]

I called PT today and talked to Terry about the piece of ???tin foil??? from Giacomini (made in Italy) that was in the gas tank elbow,
and as Gravy said, Terry reiterated there should be absolutely nothing in that fitting.

I asked Terry if I should use plumbers tape on the re-install, he said to use pvc glue. I asked if I would have
problems if I need to remove it, but he stated no. So I wanted to log this here to remind me in case I do.

I should have it back together today, and see how it runs.

 

[SnowRidge]

I asked Terry if I should use plumbers tape on the re-install, he said to use pvc glue. I asked if I would have
problems if I need to remove it, but he stated no.

I would have thought RectorSeal #5 or its equivalent.

 

[Gravy]

I'm surprised by the PVC cement recommendation. The tank and elbow are probably polyethylene, certainly not PVC. The PVC cement will not bond the polyethylene, but I suppose it might act as a thread sealant.