leaving fuel in tank and clutch paper test questions

[CoreLEx]

Ok, here are two questions I'm hoping you guys can help me out with:

1. Why is it bad to leave fuel in the tank? I almost always forget, or am too lazy, to drain the fuel tank.

2. The guy at my lhs always takes a piece of paper and slides it underneath the cluth while turning it and then checks the paper whenever he takes out my engine for fixing etc... Anyone got a clue what this is supposed to be a check for? I would have asked him myself but he's on vacation.

thanks.

 

[SDMaXX]

The reason why people don't leave fuel in the tank is because the fuel can condensate and go bad. The fuel tank doesn't have a good enough seal to prevent moistuer from getting in and that causes the fuel to go bad. I think it's ok to leave fuel in the tank fro a short period of time, but longer than a few days or the gas goes to crud.

As for the paper thing...does the guy slide the paper between the clutchbell and the spur??? if tht's what he's doing then he's just checking the mesh between the spru and the clutchbell.

 

[imnotsure]

On the fuel in tank question, I use O’DONNELL it is clear, but when you leave it in the tank for more than two days it turns yellowish. The only thing I can figure is that it gets a condensation build up in the tank. Its best to either use it up or throw it out at the end of the day. I learned my lesson I completely destroyed an o.s. by running old fuel & lack of after run oil. The crank had rust all over it.A cup of fuel is a lot cheaper than a new engine.

As for the paper SD hit it on the head.

 

[CoreLEx]

appreciate the replies sdmaxx/imnotsure.

As for the paper SD hit it on the head.

I'll do it anyway just to boost my ego

 

[Error401]

Rust bro. The alcohol and nitro in the fuel will rust your bearings. It will go to crap for burning, but mostly it will rust your engine. Methyl will evap faster than water, but it's also corrosive, and it will find a way into your mill (thru the carb, or the pipe/maifold). Drain the tank, run all the fuel out of the mill and use after run oil and it wont rust. That's what I've always been told.

 

[imnotsure]

how i do it is start it up, then pull the fuel line off the carb. until it dies, then pull the tank, then dump it. and if i'm real lazy, i just open the lid, turn over the truck and dump the tank.

 

[SkyMaxx]

Since the tanks feed fuel out the bottom, why not just disconnect the fuel tube from the engine and let gravity do the rest. You might want to put the open end of the tube in a bucket or something or aim it somewhere that fuel dumpage wouldn't hurt.

Anyway, that's how I do it.

Of course, if your fuel feed is at the top of the tank, this might not work so well.

 

[Error401]

I have a little hand pump that the airplane guys use, I think mine is a hobbyco. No batteries needed. Do the "pull the line off the carb" thing, hook up the hand grinder and pump all the fuel out of the tank. It also save all that unburnt fuel for later use if you pump it into the fuel bottle.