1/2A Fuel Tanks --- Fuji cans

This may be off topic for this forum; moderators feel free to delete if needed.

In another thread, I noticed that PV Pilot had commented about tanks and clunks. Here's what I do.

I had gone to the LHS to get some small diameter fuel tubing, but they had none. Not wanting to wait for an on-line order to arrive, I looked for a substitute. I have used the insulation from various sized wire for many diffenent applications, so I thought I would try the silicone insulation from the super-flexible battery wire the car boys use. The LHS had noodle wire in bright green 14 AWG, so I bought a couple of feet. It's fuel proof and very bendable. I use Fuji 35mm film cans for tanks -- the Fuji cap fits tightly and is fuel proof; other brands will leak. I cut two holes in the bottom with a piece of sharpened brass tube --- this leaves a smooth hole without gouges which can later lead to stress cracks. Some folks have pushed brass tubing through the holes, but I worked a piece of smaller tubing up into the insulation (a stint, for you old guys), then pulled the insulation through the holes to the point where the stint was located. The stint keeps the tubing from collapsing and the insulation is soft enough to ensure a good seal, but not crack the bottom of the plactic can. The clunk in the pics is a Sullivan, but I cut the barb off with a Dremel cutoff wheel and sweated a piece of smaller tubing in the hole -- for the 14 ga. insulation.

However, making your own clunk is pretty simple. Locate a piece of brass tubing that fits the insulation snugly and a couple of wheel collars that exactly fit the brass tubing. Push the brass into the insulation and slip a wheel collar over the exposed brass tube for weight, use two if needed. Leave about 3/16" to 1/4" extending beyond the collar --- when the collar pulls the end of the pickup to the bottom (side) of the tank, the exposed end will act like a straw and suck up all the fuel. Just make sure the length is set so the pickup can swing freely across the bottom of the tank when buttoned up.

Since image posting is not yet functional, I may add pics to the gallery.

andrew