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cleaning out a fuel tank

Mike L

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
1,897
Location
Texas
Occupation
Self employed field mechanic
We got a john deere 750c that somebody must have left the fuel cap off. A bird got in there and died. I've been cleaning feathers out of the tank screen and primary filter housing. Took off the tank and did my best to flush it out but I can't see much of the inside due to a baffle. I'm sure that when I drained the tank quite a few feathers just stuck to the side and didn't get flushed out. I used one of our fuel pumps and sprayed about 20 gallons of fuel in tank to flush it. I got alot of bird parts out but its already plugging back up. Any ideas on how to get it clean? I can't keep wasting diesel to flush it out and dont want to have to take tank apart if I don't have to
 

maddog

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
730
Location
middle TN
When I saw the post I thought you'd be talking about rust, "The Works" cleaner eats that up great then you rinse with vinegar, then rinse again with 90% rubbing alcohol. You have a whole other issue, I wonder if "the works" would eat the bird guts up, it's real strong stuff?
 

JBGASH

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2011
Messages
758
Location
Missouri
Occupation
Plumbing & Excavation Contractor / farmer
A wet/dry shop vac may be a better option with a hose extension of some kind, just a thought....
When I saw the post I thought you'd be talking about rust, "The Works" cleaner eats that up great then you rinse with vinegar, then rinse again with 90% rubbing alcohol. You have a whole other issue, I wonder if "the works" would eat the bird guts up, it's real strong stuff?
 

1466IH

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
613
Location
prairie du rocher, il
Muratic acid and water.mix 50 50 and let it set overnight then rinse with water and stick shopvac hose in and let it dry out then you are good to go
 
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