RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2001
- Messages
- 23,144
- Location
- Bethel, Vermont
- Tractor
- John Deere 4052R Cab,, Deere 855D UTV, Z920A Zero Turn Mower and assorted implements
"Is there anything in the tank that I could grab that would mess up the fuel gauge reading? "
There will be a fuel lever sender (probably a float on a rod) in there, but that's going to be fixed to the bottom of the tank and should run vertically to close to the top of the tank.
The tube you dropped will move easily. If you grab something in there that resists pulling by the grapple, you snagged the wrong thing.
If you need to operate your tractor, I'd just put a ½ gallon of fuel in at a time and not even worry about that tubing. Once you've done your chores, you can either just run the tank close to empty (so you can see the tube to retrieve it) or pull the fuel line off and drain the fuel. If you pinch the fuel line when you pull it off the tank, you'll keep fuel in the line. That will eliminate the need to bleed your injection system. If you tractor has an auto-bleed injection system, I wouldn't even worry too much about emptying the tank at all.
If the object you dropped was small (like a nut or something), you might be concerned. But a tube the size you described isn't like to block a fuel line. Now, depending on the plastic, the diesel fuel could dissolve it. That would be a real bummer as it could clog the fuel system. But I'm sure you used something that is fuel resistant.
One safety tip... Diesel fumes aren't near as explosive as gasoline vapors. However, this is still fuel that burns so use a modicum of common sense when you're retrieving that tube (i.e. don't use a match or cigaret lighter for illumination)
There will be a fuel lever sender (probably a float on a rod) in there, but that's going to be fixed to the bottom of the tank and should run vertically to close to the top of the tank.
The tube you dropped will move easily. If you grab something in there that resists pulling by the grapple, you snagged the wrong thing.
If you need to operate your tractor, I'd just put a ½ gallon of fuel in at a time and not even worry about that tubing. Once you've done your chores, you can either just run the tank close to empty (so you can see the tube to retrieve it) or pull the fuel line off and drain the fuel. If you pinch the fuel line when you pull it off the tank, you'll keep fuel in the line. That will eliminate the need to bleed your injection system. If you tractor has an auto-bleed injection system, I wouldn't even worry too much about emptying the tank at all.
If the object you dropped was small (like a nut or something), you might be concerned. But a tube the size you described isn't like to block a fuel line. Now, depending on the plastic, the diesel fuel could dissolve it. That would be a real bummer as it could clog the fuel system. But I'm sure you used something that is fuel resistant.
One safety tip... Diesel fumes aren't near as explosive as gasoline vapors. However, this is still fuel that burns so use a modicum of common sense when you're retrieving that tube (i.e. don't use a match or cigaret lighter for illumination)
