Modern Vespa

Okay, here's an odd one. When I picked up my new to me BV, it had a rather sketchy recent riding history in the previous year, and I'd forgotten to ask about when it had new gas last. Never mind, I wouldn't bother the seller and just get as much old gas out as I could.....but I only had a large syringe and short piece of clear vinyl hose. So I set out on my task, but didn't take long before the syringe slipped, and the hose came off, of course, into the tank. I could see but not reach it with what I had, and as how it was being stored in a barn an hour from home, I planned on getting a long forceps to snag it on my return. Stupidly I moved it first, which dislodged the hose. Looks like it's unretrieveable.

So, question is, will the tubing resist the gasoline, or will it dissolve it? Any suggestions?

Nothing like making one's already complicated life just a little more challenging.

Just an idea. If you put more gas into the tank the hose could float higher to be retrieved.

Does vinyl float in petrol? Better use something heavier than petrol. Maybe water?

Good point. It had crossed my mind. Problem is there's that green insert/collar that extends into the tank.

Not fully sure if I'm seeing it in the opening....thought a bit of hose in a container of gas will help me answer a couple of questions...and at least entertain me for a bit.

Znomit: Brilliant! And its cheaper than gas!

A pick up tool from your local handyman store and a lot of patience should do the trick.
Is there anything you can damage in there though?

Um, it is really best to not do that.

Bill

Most vinyls are more dense than water or gasoline, so no floating. (So put water in the tank? What could go wrong?)

I wouldn't worry about it. Most vinyls should resist gasoline pretty well. I'd just leave it in there until something blows up.

Get one of these from Lowes for $10. It has a built in flashlight.

If you can't see the hose through the opening, an usb borescope camera can help you locate it around a bend. That's a useful tool to have and not expensive. Combine that with a flexible pick-up tool with light and you should be able to remove the price from the tank.

Dave,

You made my day. Tube floating around in the gas tank! See you in the funny
papers old friend.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

Note to self, when sucking gas out of a tank, use a very long hose....

Lot of good suggestions but you are a tall man, so pick it up and turn it upside down!

Seriously, with some of the suggestions, and patience and Spotted Cow, you should be able to retrieve it. Plus you have all winter!

Keep us posted my friend!

I second this. Good excuse to get a borescope. Endlessly useful in all kinds of emergency situations around the house.

Hemostat clamps - very useful for situations like this and the ones I own have gotten me out of a jam more that once. Handy little buggers.

You know, one of the many percs of MV is the encouragement to buy shit.

.....and the encouragement to soldier on. Guess there's no way to walk away without a chunk of hose with me....

Have you considered taking out the fuel tank?

Well, a passing thought, but I think only in desperation

Yes. I just picked up one of these on Amazon to examine the cylinder wall of the little one-lung Diesel on my catboat.

Amazing resolution for a $30 device! Should be very useful in the future for all sorts of things.

Hey Dave,
Any update?

Nothing yet...its in my mom's barn and haven't had a chance yet.

And its cold...know anyone with a heated garage?

Use a lighter to look down into the fuel tank to see if you can locate the straw. That should warm the garage right up.

Could get the tube out, too.

Wouldn't have to worry about trimming your eyebrows for a while, either.

You trim your eyebrows?

You guys are the reason I come here...expert advice!

Visiting the scooter today, but as it just climbed out of the single digits, my eyebrows will have to wait.

As someone who used a shop vac for 7 consecutive hours during a flood... Very curious why no one is is recommending vacuuming it out?

Food for thought... I would start with the reachy-stick thing linked above, then I would use a fuel extractor (a proper one lol), thennnnn probably take the mityvac and hook it up to the air compressor... should suck out... https://www.skf.com/mityvac/products/fluid-evacuation-and-dispensing-equipment-and-accessories/fluid-evacuators/mv7300

Just beware that mityvac and fuel don't mix well, so if you go that route, suck a bucket or two of water afterwards to rinse it out thoroughly.

EDIT: Before anyone says it, I realize the chances of success with this plan are still not so great lol

If that doesn't work, tank is coming out :\

Would it not be easier to trade it in and buy a new scooter?

I just did, FFS!

Well, it wasn't quite new or I wouldn't have worried about old gas.

Otherwise sound advice. Guess I'd better not list a BV on MV...

If you do, make sure you include delivery.

How about the possibility of a explosion from gas vapors combined with electric motor?

A Mitivac isn't an electric vacuum. It uses suction from an air compressor or pumping by hand. Perfect for moving small amounts of fluids.

I say a claw tool like Abner Bjorn suggested.

Don't know how I missed this. Seems brilliant for the application!

Sorry to keep you all waiting for warmer weather ( though if I'd had time I might have had a go anyway until cold fingers or frustration won out....).

when John Goodmans character cut himself on The Fabulous Gemstones S02E03, I knew that can happen.

Okay, sorry it's been like 6 months. Keeping you all waiting, lol.

I still have my eyebrows and lashes for those of you concerned....

I bought a claw device like Abner recommended, also a siphon device to get the fuel level down.

In the meantime, I started riding it, and by the time I got back to the project, the gas was much lower. I'd also misplaced my claw. Last time I was at my mother's house where the Beverly was stored I looked for it, just saw the siphon which I didn't really need anymore. Out of frustration ordered anotherclaw (only $10 after all). Tried my nifty remote camera on my cell phone, but visibility in there was awful. Thought I could make out the hose with a flashlight though, so went fishing. Actually got it on the first try, but in the middle so couldn't pull it through the hole. A few more tries, and voila! had it in my hand. Interestingly after half a year in gas it had gone from clear to cloudy. Either that or I pulled out something I shouldn't have.

So today back at my mother's, pulled out the bag with the siphon pump in it, and some yahoo had put the claw in the bag along with it (hey, they were part of the same project, no? What you get for drawing out a project for months, I suppose.

Congratulations and you now have a spare claw as well

I'm having a "I might need that tool someday" moment. These are listed under "claw tool grabber" on Amazon. I have paused a moment to see if it passes.

I often have those moments!

They really come in handy for annoying family members!