VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 41 SD rough and smoking

So..i dropped the tank and its actually pretty clean. This is the debris from when i dumped

I think the source of the gunk in the fuelpump is the sender. The outer insulation was also flaking off the wire
The filler neck is also rusted some, but not flaking like the sender
Should i be worried about the gunk from the sender, or should i just put a filter just after the tank to address that (and keep it out of the pump)

Seeing the sender I am surprised it still works. Now that you have it out I would seriously think about replacing it as it will only continue creating more gunk to block things up, I dont think they are overly expensive.
It also might be good insurance to put a filter in as well as not all of the gunk will come out of the tank via a drain.
Tony

An update...I put a new sender in (was on vacation for a few weeks). Got the tank back on and filled with about 3 gallons of new gas. I'm struggling with prime on my fuel pump. Slightly concerned that I left the fuel pump dry for too long and the diaphragm was damaged.
I spent a while trying to get it started tonight (manually filled the fuel filter bowl - and it never emptied)....starter fluid (to try to get the pump moving faster). I got the fuel pump bowl about 3/4 full but it never would run on it's own.
Am I missing something?

I would dump about 2 Oz. of gas in the carb. throat and then try it. Should start and run for a few seconds at least.

Perhaps you flooded it, are the plugs wet.

If all else fails check and see if thhere is spark.

I don't believe it would have harmed the fuel pump..

If you still have the original Carter 1941 carb (W-1 483s) it has a brass tube sticking up into the air flow at roughly a 45 degree angle.

Empty a ketchup or mustard squeeze bottle, wash it out, fill it with fresh fuel, and fill the carburetor bowl through the bowl vent. Start the engine. Should run for maybe 10 ~15 seconds, long enough for the fuel pump to prime.

Jon.

You might want to check for blockage (or maybe a partial blockage) in the line from the tank to the fuel pump. All of the good work you did to figure things out might have knocked a few smaller pieces of crud loose and they got into that line. Or those particles got into the fuel pump and are lodged in one of the check valves.

I know that some people will advise against this step but it works well for me. I installed a fuel filter in the line near the tank outlet on my '37. I am glad I did now that I see how much it captures before the gas gets to the fuel pump..

I typically use a Fram G2 universal 5/16" filter. The kit includes the filter, 2 short pieces of 5/16" hose and 4 spring clamps. They seem to be hard to get right now so yesterday I bought the comparable Wix 33002 but it is only the filter.