Large block of solid fuel in my tank, blocking pickup

[Don87]

That is a pic of the inside of his tank.

 

[Zephrant]

I did find a small 1/2 chip in the tank that I got out- I snapped it in half, and have it soaking in gas still. I might be able to get some more off with some dikes or a chisel.

Those pictures are with the camera looking though the fill hole down to the bottom of the tank. For scale, the big piece is about 10" across the long way, and about 1.5" thick at the thickest part, much thinner at the edges.

 

[Don87]

Whatever it is, it has the same shape as the tank bottom.

 

[CurlyDave]

1. If you warm the piece you have, does it melt?

2. A lot of tanks are plastic these days, I would be careful about what I put in there to try to dissolve it. If it attacks the tank, you may need a new one, which is a worst case right now.

3. Will a tool like this one: Deluxe Gopher Pick Up and Reaching Tool fit in your filler opening and allow you to grab pieces of it? You don't have to get a HF tool, that was just the first picture of one I could find.

 

[Zephrant]

I've got the tank removed from the tractor now, so I can turn it upside down and shake it and all. I pounded pretty hard with a long screwdriver, and didn't even make a dent in the material.

I've not been able to melt it at all either.

I don't have any MEK or any other solvents (carburetor cleaner did nothing to it), so I've about exhausted what I can find around the house on it.

I agree on the plastic tank- but at this point I'm on the verge of ordering a new tank already, so nothing to loose.

I'm going to try a hammer and a chisel- maybe I can break it in to small enough pieces to get it out, although I seriously risk holing the tank.

Thanks for all the suggestions-

 

[CurlyDave]

Try reaching in with a loop of wire. For instance pass wire though a piece of small diameter pipe or even steel tubing, leaving a loop sticking out of the far end.

By wrapping both ends of the wire around pieces of wooden dowel or equivalent you may be able to cut it into chunks. Sort of like a garrote.

 

[beenthere]

Another thought, in lieu of breaking it up or buying a new tank, is to leave it in there
.....but put a bridge over the outflow drain so it cannot act as a plug. Not sure if that would be easy to do.

But I think I'd also just go after a new tank and chalk it up to cost to get it right. Sure is a mystery material.

 

[Gary Fowler]

When it burns does it totally consume the piece or leave something behind like charded plastic. It looks like wax or something, but if it is that hard, I would suspect someone has poured a quart or so of epoxy like material into the tank. If you can get it upside down, you may be able to get a sawzall in with a long blade and saw it into smaller pieces. An airsaw would be my choice but with diesel, you shouldnt have to worry about sparking the fuel to flame, but do it outside in the cold just to be on the safe side.

 

[Egon]

Consider using an air nibbler to chew through it?

As you have suggested replacing the tank may be easiest!

 

[Don87]

Hard to believe that it was in there for 2 years and never caused a problem, that's wild.
A new tank is what I would do also.