Compact fuel filters

[auldscott]

Givng up on ever getting my tanks perfectly clean, I put inline filters on my pea green Elgins. They are small and compact, sintered bronze filters.

They don’t look clogged after about 40 minutes of running, but they will no longer feed enough fuel to keep the engine running.

What do you use in your small motors? I want to keep the filters nearly invisible, so large auto-style filters aren’t suitable, and I have been thinking that the simple molded-mesh screen type won’t stop the small particles so I have not tried them.

Thanks.

[dave-bernard]

you need to clean the tank. take it to a radiator repair shop to have it cleaned if you don’t want to do it yourself.

[dan-in-tn]

Depending on your boating situation, you could try a boat mounted fuel filter. That way it is large enough to handle all your motors for some extended time. The smaller the filter the less time it will last (if it is doing its job)? You can get filters now down to 10 micron. That won’t even pass water I’m pretty sure, but the filter has to be large enough to trap the water at the bottom so fuel still flows. Just my opinion, I may be wrong.

Dan in TN

[pappy]

The less gas you have in the tank the lower the head pressure at the filter. Some good filters may not pass fuel, dirty or not, unless there is either sufficient suction as with a fuel pump or with sufficient head pressure as from a full tank. Motorcycles, with their gravity fed systems, run into the exact same scenario. don’t the Elgins also have an in-tank screen?

[green-thumbs]

Try dipping filter in jewelry cleaner. Not saying it will cure problem but it does a good job with
dingy carburetor parts. The longer in dip the more etching so do not overdo it.
Louis

[reivertom]

I have used an in-line type filter they sell for lawn mowers, etc. They are clear and you can see if they are clogged without removing. Sometimes you can tuck them under a cover to hide them. Just put them pointing the right direction.

[wedgie]

These are what I can get at my local Lordco. Seem to work fine, and are small enough to fit in the pan somewhere. Cheap too. I’ve seen some inline filters that are cylinders that are about the same diameter as the fuel line, but haven’t sourced those ones out .

[amuller]

quote auldscott:

Givng up on ever getting my tanks perfectly clean, I put inline filters on my pea green Elgins. They are small and compact, sintered bronze filters.

They don’t look clogged after about 40 minutes of running, but they will no longer feed enough fuel to keep the engine running.

What do you use in your small motors? I want to keep the filters nearly invisible, so large auto-style filters aren’t suitable, and I have been thinking that the simple molded-mesh screen type won’t stop the small particles so I have not tried them.

Thanks.

Tank not clean? Screen on tank fuel pickup missing or crudded up? Old hoses or primer bulb shedding particles? Screen on fuel pump inlet fitting OK? What does the carb float bowl look like? Fuel pump diaphragm? If your carbs have drains, do you use them? Usually an inline fliter can be cleared by (gently) blowing compressed air through backwards. but if your system is clean and you are filling the tanks directly from gas station pumps, you should be able to go for years between filter changes. JMO.

[wedgie]

[garry-in-michigan]

About pump gas …

I have a large funnel with 1000 mesh (100 X 100) copper screen filter soldered at an angle in it. With a film of oil, it WILL filter out water. I use it when ever I fill my tank, be it a separete 4/6 gallon tank or one on the motor. You would be shocked at some of the crap I have found in pump gas. Especially right after the station’s tank has been filled and the junk on the bottom has been stirred up. . . . 😉

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