OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Victa Fuel tank Not Emptying All The Way

Hi folks,
how does anyone deal with Victa fuel tanks that don't completely use up their fuel supply? I always seem to have one or two cm of fuel left when the mower acts like it's run out of fuel and I have to top up before I can run again. It also almost never drains completely when I manually drain the fuel into a bottle through the hose that enters the carby.
It's a problem during storage as the petrol evaporates and leaves richer fuel / oil at the bottom, resulting in rich fuel next time I put more fuel in. I am reluctant to add straight petrol first, in case I make the mix too lean. I guess going from 25:1 to 30 -40:1 won't hurt it occasionally?
Why does this happen and does it mean I have to change the fuel tap / clean the filter?

If you've got the long white felt filter, this happens occasionally. Remove it and cut about half an inch off the bottom and push it back in; that should solve your problem.
Cheers, Ted

The old low arch monaro I got of the curb the other month had that problem.
Turned out, presumably, it had sat for a long time with some fuel in the tank - it had varnished only the sides of the bronze filter. However, the top wasn't, and if the fuel level was over the top, fuel would flow to the carby.
Filters about 1.5-2cm tall, so it could be your case as well

Mines usually the bronze filter. Funny enough, I replaced a clogged bronze filter with the longer felt type and it now completey empties before conking out. I can't remember the last time a Victa did this.
How can I clean it out? I tried using carby cleaner and blowing air through it backwards, but it made no difference. Ultra sonic cleaner in soapy water then dry in Sun?

I just used degreaser. Export degreaser from SCA has good pressure, and I believe the base is just kero. The strong spray was enough to move the varnish.

You could always buy a few hundred mL of E10 (yuk), I'm sure that poison would disolve the gunk - but probably the filter as well haha.

G'day all,
MF, do you mean cleaning of the sintered bronze filter?

If so, you'll need to use a more aggressive solvent than water, to get rid of fuel varnish.

I'd suggest unscrewing the filter from the tap, and immersing it in acetone in a small glass or metal container for a day or two.
If you want to speed things up, drop the container into the basket of a water-filled ultrasonic bath, such that it can't tip over, and give it a few bursts.

G'day Gadge that's the one. I never knew you could remove the filter. I have needlessly thrown out a few fuel taps because of that. I'll retrieve the latest one out of the bin and try it out on another mower.
Tyler, I don't think degreaser would be a powerful enough chemical and my compressor had plenty of pressure combined with carby cleaner that had soaked for a minute and it did nothing. Will try the acetone for two days plus a dose of ultrasonic.

G'day MF,
Well, it was possible to unscrew them on older taps - try it on that binned one; there's nothing to lose.

The other alternative is if the filter won't unscrew is to cut the filter off and fit an inline filter in the hose. I think last time I paid 50cents for some filters, when a new tap costs about $6

Good morning Gadge, Norm, this one slides off quite easily. I always assumed it was pressed in at the factory and couldn't be removed.
I put it in an old Vegemite jar last night and covered it with foil as I know the plastic lid could get damaged by the acetone vapours. Would general purpose thinners work better, as the liquid has shown no signs of dissolving any varnish as yet?

MF,if acetone won't move it, I doubt thinners would do any better

Apparently Methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) is the best for fuel varnish - which is why E10 often clogs fuel filters (and destroys everything else)

Maybe try boiling it in water, to soften the varnish, then chuck it the spirits or acetone.

Must be bloody stubborn varnish

Hi all,
after 3 days marinating in acetone, it was still clear, so off to the ultrasonic bath. After five minutes the liquid had a brown haze. After eight more minutes, the air gun and a test, it went on this mower to replace a leaking tap. Thanks Gadge!