Paper in gas tank

[Variablevalve]

Hey guys,

So excuse me if this is totally noob, but that's what I am. I was filling up my tank and I wanted to wipe down the inner rim of my gas tank and a bit of the paper towel ripped off and fell into the tank. Now theres a piece of paper towel (about 1 square inch) in my tank somewhere. I swished it around to no avail... how serious of a problem is this? What should I do to fix it?

Btw, this is carbureted bike...

Ben

[Woodsy]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.60 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.2.13057/488; U; en) Presto/2.2.0)

This could be a problem if is lodges its self around the filter. Drain the tank and remove the petcock and look around with a flash light. Find it and pull it out. You are probably fine but forgin matter in the fuel system is never good.

[OreoGaborio]

Chances are, it'll do nothing other than stay in the tank and slowly desolve.

But i'd probably get it outta there relatively soon.

[Variablevalve]

Well i suppose this isn't the worst thing I could have done, though I do feel pretty damn stupid... The joys of owning your first bike i suppose

I have a fairly long ride home, hopefully it wont decide to get stuck anytime between here and home. Thanks all for the prompt replies...

[OreoGaborio]

From my limited knowledge of gas tanks, if it gets stuck anywhere, it'll be on the fuel tube that leads to the petcock. Don't worry bout it too much. Just don't leave it in there for too long. I'd probably drain the tank tonight.

If your fuel petcock is easily accessible, just disconnect the fuel line that goes from the petcock to the carbs, rout it to a fuel can, then turn the petcock on. If it's vaccuum assisted, key the starter to get the fuel flow going.

or you might have to remove the tank to do it, i don't know. You'll figure it out. (or someone w/ a VFR can chime in)

[BMFR6]

and whatever you do, don't dump two bottles of NOS in there!

but pete is right, you'll be okay to make it home, drain it, remove the petcock and search around.

[Pigman]

I have a long metal grabber tool...has 4 little fingers that come out you can snag it with those for sure......pm if you want to use it or u can come by and I will fish it out No prob...a certain member on here ***cough**** droped a small bulb in the headlight Pod and it got it out....

[Ericthejet]

Siphon the gas.

I'd get a bit of really small diameter clear line, about 5 feet of the stuff as it is rather cheap at the hardwear store.
Get a 1/2 gallon clean milk jug to hold the gas that you siphon.
Get a siphon going and move the end of the line inside than tank from front to back etc. in hopes of "catching" the piece of paper towel.
By now the scrap is plenty soft and the light flow of the gas siphon will act like vacuum and hold onto the piece as you pull it from the tank.

Worth a try for the 5 minutes it may take. ?

[Variablevalve]

That's actually a great idea Eric, i think ill try it.

I'm actually really afraid that the paper is fully desolved by now. I mean it's pretty cheap paper towel and I did slosh it around a bit trying to grab it...

[OreoGaborio]

i doubt it's fully dissolved. Maybe if it were TP or somethin, then sure.

[toocrazy2yoo]

Fact is, it's fibrous and plenty porous. It won't turn to goo, it'll lodge somewhere and pass the gas until the fibers unweave and at that point will become part of your fuel filter media. I wouldn't sweat it myself. It can't clog anything, really.

[KB]

Run it.

KB