Page 1 of 1

Old rags in the fuel tank

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 8:26 pm
by mikeacro
After having a partial power loss ( see my partial power loss topic ) I cleaned the finger strainer, gascolator, replaced the fuel selector valve and blew out the lines. After a successful full power run up, I took off and experienced a significant power loss. After switching to the left tank, all was well and returned to land. Later that day, I took a flashlight and dental mirror and looked the tank. This s what I found. No doubt, this was the cause if the fuel restriction on the right tank. I later went back and did a borescope and found yet another rag, and several remnants. Pretty scary. Wonder how long they’ve been there. Two of the rags were well adhered to the tank. The first one I found was laying right by the finger strainer. Not a bad idea to take a look if you have a borescope .
73337072109__54F28D54-A74F-41A4-A00C-F63A16B6D790_1_320x320.jpeg
73337072109__54F28D54-A74F-41A4-A00C-F63A16B6D790_1_320x320.jpeg (44.62 KiB) Viewed 1100 times
Cheers, Mike

Re: Old rags in the fuel tank

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 8:29 pm
by mikeacro
Also, the amazingly detailed print on the rags was identified as a pattern for dish towels in the 30’s and 40’s. Wonder how long they been in the tank?

Re: Old rags in the fuel tank

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2024 10:55 pm
by 6597
Were they straining fuel with dish towels back in the day? I can't imagine somebody being so clumsy.

Re: Old rags in the fuel tank

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 6:16 am
by 8362
Nice, did you check your turn and bank lately?

Re: Old rags in the fuel tank

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2024 8:11 am
by 6183
That business of buying a lottery ticket that John mentioned wouldn't hurt here either. Wow, talk about living on borrowed time.