Spark arrestor

Gooseloony

Gooseloony

Senior Member
Have read many posts about gas tank cleaning but I haven't seen anything about the need to remove and clean spark arrestor in the tank. I am have tank debris issues and happened to shine a light down in filler and the arrestor looks all "gunked" up. Any thoughts and any photos? I will try to post a photo later.
 
The 'spark arrestor', some call it a 'fuel filter', others call the cylindrical screen that fits into the top of the gas tank by other names as well, What ever it is called, it can easily be cleaned of 'gunk' etc., by soaking it over night in a bath of Carb Cleaner; I use Chem-Tool B-1 for most of my gas-cleaning issues.
 
I put mine in a solution of CLR and let it soak over night. Then I rinsed it thoroughly and snuck it into the dishwasher for a full cycle. It came out amazingly clean. Wayne
 
A look down fill spout.
 

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Gooseloony said:
A look down fill spout.
Click to expand...

Did someone drop a couple large stones down the filler?

I'd spray the threads at the top and let it soak, then using the correct tool, try to unscrew the screen. Your sceen doesn't look too bad, but I'm wondering what is down there?:confused:

I bought a rusty screen from a swap meet, then sandblasted it and used my "Copy-Cad" kit to replate it with zinc.
 
The spark arrestor in my '29 Coupe was stuck tight. Would not budge even with proper tool nor with brute force! Put some Kroil around the rim a few times and let it soak some. Screwed right out! Magic!
Smurph
 
Yea Tom, it looked a little strange in there but not being an experienced mechanic I didn't want to make a move until I checked with you all on here. Should I just reach in there with something and pull it out (you are referring to the brown object right?)?
 
Looking closer at the photo it looks like a rock and a leaf--NOTE to all, I just purchased this car a few weeks ago and have found a few odd goings on so a rock and leaf wouldn't surprise me!
 
Yes, probably some kid dropped them in the tank. They did that to all my small engines about 12 years ago. They filled the tanks with dirt and leaves.

Try to carefully lift the leaf out without breaking it to pieces. A coat hanger may be able to hook it and lift it out, then rebend the hanger to get under the rock and lift it out.
 
If you are going to remove the screen the debris will come out with it. Just dump the debris out, clean the screen, and reinstall.
 
Tom, I just got quite a chuckle---not an easy feat but I finally got the rocks out. I had to use some ingenuity as you can see my "tool" invention. Sometimes I think I have rocks in my head for buying this vehicle! Thank you all again for your assistance.
 

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I keep the screen in mine. In NJ the gas jockey has to pump the gas (or at least their supposed to) Had one guy let the handle go and bent the rod on the gas gauge. The screen prevents that from happening.
 
I wonder if the rocks were there to prevent gas from splashing from the initial pull of the lever on a gas nozzle that has a fixed (high) pressure. I remember awhile back someone found broken mason jar glass in the bottom of their screen, removed it, and the next time they filled up, realized the glass was an intentional addition to deter splashing.
 
29tudorsedan said:
I wonder if the rocks were there to prevent gas from splashing from the initial pull of the lever on a gas nozzle that has a fixed (high) pressure. I remember awhile back someone found broken mason jar glass in the bottom of their screen, removed it, and the next time they filled up, realized the glass was an intentional addition to deter splashing.
Click to expand...

This is my experience also, when I first started driving my Fathers '31 Pick-Up in the mid-'70's the Spark Arrestor was filled with large chucks of broken glass. I carefully removed all the pieces, but when I went to fill up it would constantly kick off the nozzle. I think that it was put there intentionally.

My guess is that the rock was intentional, the leaf on the other hand should not be there.

Darryl in Fairbanks
 
Okay I have a question about this screen/spark arrestors. Seems mine hits the arm for the fuel gauge so it never goes past 1/2. Is this a spark arrestor for when filling the tank? It also causes you to have to pump very slow so I take mine out. Do you think its necessary with today's new pumps and nozzles I'm sure they are grounded these days - look forward to your comments
 
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