Sending unit tube fell into tank :( :(

[cary]

Does anyone have any tricks or experience trying to retrieve the tube out of the bottom of the fuel tank?
With what little I could see it looked like it slipped under some kind of structural cross member. Dandy ............
I'm going to retrieve my snorkel camera and see if I can get a better look.

[porwolf]

This is how your tank's inside should look like if it is one with the swirl pot for CIS fuel systems. Maybe it helps;

1973 911-T (CIS) Fuel Tank Exposed

[cary]

Thank You ............
That is a great start. That tells me the cross member goes completely to the bottom.
So the tube can't be trapped under it. That's encouraging.

[Blue83Cab]

Same thing happened to me. I used a telescoping magnate tool and a pair of very long needle nose pliers to grab it once it was close enough. It was a pain and you have to go very slow with the magnate tool as it will stick to the bottom of the tank.

Also, be careful not to over tighten the little nuts when you put the sending unit back in with a new seal. They snap easily and then you will be making another post...

Good luck.

[86 911 Targa]

I made one of these for general purposes.



Good luck,

Gerry

[john walker's workshop]

you could just leave it there and get another sender.

[aadrew10]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

you could just leave it there and get another sender.

LOL. That inspires confidence if I were to hire you to rebuild my engine...

[john walker's workshop]

what do you think it's going to hurt?

[cary]

I thought the tube was aluminum? Is it steel?

John's answer is a double edge sword. He also has to charge the customer $100+ plus per hour to try and get it out of there. So you a $350 charge on your work order.
So the customer is screaming either way. LOL.

Other than the sound of it rolling around in there, it would be fine. I'm always pushing the cars around my shop. The sound of it rolling around would bug the crap out of me. Too anal I guess.

[Dublinoh]

Don't think you'd hear it unless the tank was empty and you turned the car onto it's top.

[aadrew10]

I wouldn't want the same shortcuts taken on an engine rebuild, that's all

[cary]

I'm probably at about 5 gallons.
But I was jacking up the car to put on the Hoosiers.
As it came down and rolled forward I heard it.
99% of folks wouldn't even notice.
You're in the car with the engine running when the car is isnt moving.

[vash]

so the sending unit broke and dropped the shaft portion into the tank? the flange came off? that would be annoying.

it is going to be a challenge getting it out of there. buy some long hemostats

[cary]

Just the cover came off.
Both wires and the float are accounted for.
I think there was some sort of white cap inside the tube too.

[vash]

Oh no. So a magnet won't work.

[cary]

Successful evening ...............
I got it with my grabber and my new HF camera.
I'm buying an extra lottery ticket on Wednesday.

[porwolf]

That is great! Thanks for keeping us posted. Where did you get that HF camera?

[timmy2]

Harbor Freight is my guess...
Yep, on sale for $99
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-67979.html

Were you able to find the plastic retainer/cap too?

[cary]

No on the end cap and nut. I didn't even see it with the camera. It must be way down it that bottom corner. At $99 and being Harbor Freight I didn't think full fuel immersion was a good idea.

This was the first real use of the camera. Super Father In Law finally figured out the focus after we were finished.
I do need to add. I also used a couple different pieces of wire to get it moved around. Starting with a coat hanger.
I was also surprised how clean the tank was. All my 914 tanks have always had some sort of silt buildup in the bottom. We're talking 35 years old.

I did have an extra sender. One with an 802 number. Pops up on EBay as a 914 sender. Which is why I originally bought it. A search here at Pelican says 911 and 914 use the same sender.

Still only comes up to R. I'd say there was 3 gallons in the tank. I'll go out tonight and put in 5 gallons and see if it moves to 1/4 tank. If not I have 2-3 others I can borrow out of my 914's.

Thanks for the help.

Oh yeah, the tube I pulled out was aluminum so my magnets wouldn't have worked. I have all kinds of magnet gadgets. But only one 25 year old cheezy grabber tool.

Originally Posted by timmy2

Harbor Freight is my guess...
Yep, on sale for $99
Wireless Inspection Camera - Great Deals on Wireless Inspection Cameras at Harbor Freight

Were you able to find the plastic retainer/cap too?

[timmy2]

So, I pulled my sender as my gauge was sticking, my plastic cap was gone too. Found out a plastic pill bottle cap I had fit perfectly. One small hole, a lock washer and a 6/32 nut later, it all lines up and no binding. Dilled 4 3/8" holes in cap to allow fuel flow.
Gauge works perfectly now.
Guess the new unused sender I bought from a fellow Pelican can sit on my shelf for a few years...