Dropped something down gas tank

[Ryan Pittman]

I have a 2005 ar230...a 12" piece of clear vinyl tubing fell down my gas line at the gas cap...easiest way to get it out?...the gas line has a pretty good bend it in so I doubt it made it to the gas tank

 

[Scottintexas]

not 100% sure but I believe your boat only has a small opening to access the fuel sender, you could probably pull the sender and fish anything out through that hole,

I would also think it probably didn't make it all the way to the tank but not sure if you could disconnect the fuel supply hose from the tank via the engine bay or you could probably disconnect it from where it enter the boat,

maybe first thing is to put a radiator hose clamp in the port side compartment if it hasn't made it that far to stop it from falling any further if you do disconnect it from the hull fitting,

 

[Betik]

Can you feel how deep it is ? Like maybe with coat hunger or something like that....
Depending how deep it is you might be able to pull it out!!!!

No experience doing anything like that just thinking out loud

 

[Beachbummer]

@Betik made me think of my leaf blower vacuum attachment.... Maybe a shop vac hose slowly inserted?

Edit: or maybe not vacuum gas vapors into a motor with a sparky brush... Not my best idea

 

[Scottintexas]

it may be worth the investment to get some kind of boroscope camera, such as

econoLED 16ft USB Waterproof Endoscope Borescope Inspection Camera: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

econoLED 16ft USB Waterproof Endoscope Borescope Inspection Camera: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

not recommending that brand, just as a reference,

I had one, the software was always a hassle to use but it worked good for 5-6 times I needed it (to find back up in a sink drain)

 

[Betik]

Where is Ryan located ? I have one for you. Probably 12 or 18 inches long

 

[buckbuck]

Please be careful with any electric motor operated device drawing combustible gases.

 

[Beachbummer]

Wow, that did not occur to me at all!!!

Beware!

 

[Dixie Highway]

I have one of these:
ANRANK Flexible Claw Grabber Pickup Tool Long Reach Curve Spring Grip Tool ANRANK Flexible Claw Grabber Pickup Tool Long Reach Curve Spring Grip Tool - - Amazon.com

Total lifesaver in this situation. With a flashlight, dental mirror, and this tool you should be able to get it. Just don’t drop whatever you stick down there to get the other thing you dropped!

 

[Ronnie]

You may be able to disconnect the hose from the filler port mounted through the hull. If so you can get in the compartment that the hose runs through and bend it down to see and retrieve the piece you dropped if it didn’t fall too far down. This is based on the work I had to do to upgrade from a 2010 filler cap to a 2015(?) model (Which is hinged but is designed for smaller diameter hose). Good luck with water ever you do.

 

[Betik]

Wow, that did not occur to me at all!!!

Beware!

I know exactly what you mean. My heart skipped a bit a couple of years ago when I was siphoning fuel with a household vacuum. When it got it bathed in gasoline I realized this not a very good idea.

 

[bobbie]

Just turn the boat upside down and shake it out. I'm sure that would work.

 

[Ryan Pittman]

Ok thanks

 

[Liveto99]

Get this from Home Depot, you could return it if it does not work(just saying)
shove it down and see what you have got, then get a tool from above, spring retriever and pull it out
im a plumber we pull crap out of pipes all the time.
with the gas cap closed touch the tool against the cap first so it sparks first if it is charged, don’t put your face in front of the fill hole. Wear safety glasses. don't wear a poly fleece, and don’t smoke. If you only open the gas cap to do your work it will never have enough oxygen to ignite.