gastankfillerscreenwoes

L

lakeside

Senior Member
I successfully removed the gas gauge (thanks to your advice) and stupidly put a paper towel in the hole to prevent debri from the old cork gasket from falling into the tank.Well, the towel fell in. The gas tank filler screen has no notches (or tabs). The top of it is just cylindrical .
I can pull it up to the edge of the tank but it will not come out. I've rotated it also but the tolerance is so close it won't slip through. It looks like I will have to slightly bend the top edge of the screen. Does that sound like the only solution? Thanks.
 
Work through the gas gage hole. Even if you get the screen out you probably won't have any better luck getting it out. Use a light and a small mirror to locate it, then snag it with one of those parts retrievers that has a push in handle to spread four small prongs until you release the push handle at which time they will seize the towel and you can remove it. Don't try to suck it out with a shop vac unless all your insurance policies are paid up to date and have no exclusions for suicide.
 
Will a long pair of forceps help at all? I have seen them at auto shows and at local hardware stores. Many have curved tips to them. Harbor Freight has curved nose pliers which may work to retrieve the paper towel. Just an idea. You may try to bend a clothes hanger wire and use it to poke about and try to latch onto the towel.
 
Most of the tablet snake camera thingies have a magnet and a hook

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I guess when you lose the hook in there you can send in the magnet.
 
Try a gas siphoner! It may grab the paper towel and pull it out. Or a manual pump, knowhere near electric spark.
 
Maybe break up the towel into tiny pieces and remove the outlet so the draining fuel will flush out the pieces. You may need to flush it to be sure. I'd try to keep the rubbish in the middle of the tank (not splash it around too much) so that it will drain well. Once that is done, I think you should be OK with the correct filter in there.
I know breaking it up is probably contrary to instinct but it just might work so long as the towel is not one of those reinforced ones that hold together when wet.
Alternatively, the siphon idea sounds good. It could remove the pieces or, if it is all in one piece, it might stick to the end of the hose and you pull it out.
 
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