Fuel level sender tube dropped into tank - retrieval?

[craig.wilson1]

So, my day got off to a bad start...
I was in the process of replacing my fuel sender unit in a 1979 911SC. Had to do some prying of the top "flange" of the level sender to remove it. When I started removing the unit, only the top flange and level assembly were coming up, the tube itself was still in the tank. Shortly after I saw what was happening, the sender tube dropped into the tank. The bottom of the tube slipped outward, causing the tube to drop further. I decided that it was important to keep the top of the tube "connected" to the level assembly for future retrieval. I'm thinking that I'll need to grip the tube from the inside somehow in order to get it out of the tank - it's a very tight fit between the tube and the opening in the top of the fuel tank.

Hoping there are some smarter folks than me out there that might have some ideas for me...

[john walker's workshop]

Ain't gonna hurt anything in there. A grabber tool could get it within reach and then needle nose it into submission. Get the rubber gasket off first.

[craig.wilson1]

Thanks again John. Will probably wait til next weekend for the next try...

[EC900]

The bottom of the tube may have a steel nut or stud on the end that holds it together right in the center, so you can also try a magnetic pick tool.

[RobFrost]

I retrieved a nut from my empty tank using a telescopic rod with a scrunched ball of duct tape on the end.

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

[craig.wilson1]

Decided to get back to it today. Needle nose pliers and brute force won the day...

[Mark Salvetti]

Mine fell off too, but I managed to get it out without damaging it. Replaced the nut with a Nylock.

Mark