Fuel shut off valve filter

47topless

47topless

Well-known member
I am still trying to fix a backfire through the carb in my '31 Vic. But before I can try the "MMO in the carb to fix a sticking valve" suggestion, I need to get it running well enough to drive around a bit.
Now I have a problem with some gunk plugging up the fuel line.
My question is this, if I empty the tank and then remove the shut-off valve, will I be able to access the tank filter and perhaps clean or replace it?
This is a late '31 with the shut off valve on the outside of the firewall.
I would also try to clean and flush out the tank at this time.
Thank you,
Phil
 
there is NOT a filter on the inside of the tank under the valve on the late 31`s the way the tank is designed you can NOT get good access to where the outlet in the tank is located. a side from removing the tank and doing a good clean job. you can try to flush the tank out. I have filled the tank with vinegar let it set for four or five days than flush it out.
 
Household vinegar is about 5% acetic acid. Industrial vinegar contains 10% and higher contents of acetic acid and it is corrosive. Industrial vinegars can cause chemical burns and should be handled carefully.
The steel of the Model A's gas tank has a terne plating on its inside surface. Terne plate is an alloy of about 20% tin & 80% lead. The high content of lead makes terne plate venereal to a rapid reaction with acids, so if you see bubbles coming up through the vinegar in your gas tank, drain out the vinegar and neutralize the tank with a solution of baking soda and water. The bubbles are CO2 Gas from the lead-vinegar reaction.

 
Blow some compressed air backwards through your gas line and listen for a Kerplunk , if I remember correctly I had a partial clogged line 55 years ago with my Late 31 indented firewall. There’s a trough that collects crap just before the gas valve. Drain the tank, remove the valve, use a drill bit and twist it by hand cleaning the trough. An under sink plumbers pipe wrench works well removing and installing the gas valve!
 
Great suggestions! Now I have a plan. Drain the tank, clean the tank. Clean or replace the shut off valve filter.
I do see where Berts sells a pencil filter for the shut off valves for my model.

Thank you all.
Phil
 
Check before you order the valve for the early 31's (under the tank) was changed and the vendor made the hole bigger and you now have to buy a different pencil filter. Check on Snyder's web page I just went through this last week. Had a new shut off and went to put the pencil filter in and it wasn't even close. Called Snyder (oh yes the mgr changed the diameter of the hole) and now you have to order the new larger pencil filter.
 
Be careful. Don't go for any magic remidies. And definately do not take the tank to be boiled out at a radiator shop. Taking the tank off, ...get yourself a length of chain, and tie a string to one end, and secure that. Get a helper to wobble the tank back n forth, up down and all around. Then tip it over and use compressed air gun with a brake line attached to it, and a shop vac to such anything out of it. Put your pencil filter in, and a gallon of premium fuel. If you have a bottle of dry gas, put in about a tablespoon full of that too.

There often times is a filter immediately inside the carb.

Dry gas, and/or a dose of sta-bil are wonderful things. When you near end of season filling up with premium fuel is good because it breaks down way slower! Lets say premium fuel is 40 cents more. 40 cents times say 9 gallons = $3.60. Would you spend another $3.60 to avoid what you are dealing with now?

Plus a fuller tank means less air in the tank up against the surfaces. Air allows rust.
 
Gene F said:
Be careful. Don't go for any magic remidies. And definately do not take the tank to be boiled out at a radiator shop. Taking the tank off, ...get yourself a length of chain, and tie a string to one end, and secure that. Get a helper to wobble the tank back n forth, up down and all around. Then tip it over and use compressed air gun with a brake line attached to it, and a shop vac to such anything out of it. Put your pencil filter in, and a gallon of premium fuel. If you have a bottle of dry gas, put in about a tablespoon full of that too.

There often times is a filter immediately inside the carb.

Dry gas, and/or a dose of sta-bil are wonderful things. When you near end of season filling up with premium fuel is good because it breaks down way slower! Lets say premium fuel is 40 cents more. 40 cents times say 9 gallons = $3.60. Would you spend another $3.60 to avoid what you are dealing with now?

Plus a fuller tank means less air in the tank up against the surfaces. Air allows rust.
Click to expand...

Whoa there with that shop vac! If there is any residual fuel in the tank sparks in the vacuum motor will turn that vac into a bomb. A neighbor discovered this phenomenon and it was fortunate that no injuries resulted, although the vac canister was split wide open and his wife was clearly not amused.
 
ursus said:
Whoa there with that shop vac! If there is any residual fuel in the tank sparks in the vacuum motor will turn that vac into a bomb. A neighbor discovered this phenomenon and it was fortunate that no injuries resulted, although the vac canister was split wide open and his wife was clearly not amused.
Click to expand...

Good point.
 
Once you get the tank clean, use a new, high quality valve and new pencil filter. On mine, I removed the valve guts, then soldered the pencil filter in place. Its been working great for the last 2 years.
 

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The new ball type replacement valve has a hex shaped entry where the older pencil filter fits loose they were out of stock when I purchased mine from Snyder's I just use a little bit of JB weld around the edges so the hex shape match the round pencil filter and that works perfect for me!!!
 
Gene F said:
Plus a fuller tank means less air in the tank up against the surfaces. Air allows rust.
Click to expand...

I agree. Only problem these days is it is hard to keep a full tank with all the lighter ends (Butanes) the refiners add to the gas. It just vaporizes. (Butane boils at ~ 34°F).

Todays fuels are designed for Modern Cars with sealed fuel systems.
 
Which also explains why when you store your model A. the fuel level drops a little bit even though there's no leakage there's a lot more evaporation going on now with today's fuels.
 
"Filled the tank with vinegar", John? A full ten gallons? Wowza! Where did you get 10 gallons of vinegar? :-)
 
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