Photo of fuel inlet port inside flower pot?

[jf308]

Anyone have a good photo of the fuel inlet port from inside the flower pot?   I am trying to clear my port accessing from the top of the tank through the fuel sender opening and am really shooting in the dark.

Checked the Fuel Tank Tour thread, but would like a closer look at the location of the opening to see what my target is. 

Thanks.

John

[rb6667]

Hello John, This should help.  I saved this years ago from this site.  Thanks to Joe JA17  I think for this picture.

[jf308]

THAT HELPS ALOT.  Thank you.

I was probing UNDER the return line, not next to it. 

Will see what progress I can make today.   

[watson2]

I see your post only now and I hope my photo can help you. We were compelled to open a fuel tank because an 'expert' had completely obturated the fuel passages into the pot. If you want to do a good job you must extract the whole pot lifting up the 3 little metal 'tongues'  on the bottom. Don't damage them : you could have only one opportunity to lift them and then bend down again. I think that the tabs do not allow twice that type of work. Be carefull when you  cut the metal (we washed the tank several times and finally we filled it with water during the cut) and use a TIG welding machine to close it.  
If you need other news about tank and fuel lines don't exitate to ask to me . Unfortunately, I have gained some experience about this matter.

[ja17]

Looks like there are at least two different locations for fuel to enter the flower pot, robably depending upon the year of production.  In any case they all seem to be around  the return line.

[glenn]

If I remember correctly, fuel gets inside the quart container two ways-1) over the top and 2)the four corners around the pump return line.  The sludge from the tank erosion tends to collect in these little triangles and stops flow into the plastic quart.   The engine eventually burns the quart of gasoline(5 miles +/-) recycling and the engine starves.

[watson2]

Though I had cleaned the tank up to the conditions shown in the first foto, the gasoline had the color of the second photo. In this case we had no sludge, but a thin powder that was circulating in the whole circuit.  The greatest amount was collected in the bottom of the cup of the fuel filter.  The thing finished when we changed the two metal hoses (to and from the engine) and extracted the fuel from the tank several times using the fuel pump itself, filtering the fuel and obtaining a liquid each time more clear. At last the engine was perfect.

[jf308]

I didn't want to open up the tank, clean, and re-weld (call me lazy) and purchased a new tank from MB Classic Center.  Certainly not the inexpensive option.

I now have a very nice tank for a 230SL with the metal in excellent shape.  Ready for someone to take apart and clean out in detail.   I should probably sell it to someone with rust/wear/dents on the outside of their tank.  Unsure if this was a "recent" replacement prior to my cars 15 year slumber.

[watson2]

I didn't want to open up the tank, clean, and re-weld (call me lazy) and purchased a new tank from MB Classic Center.  Certainly not the inexpensive option.

A new Tank is the best option, but anyway be carefull and clean all the lines, cups, filters and every detail in the circuit before connecting the new tank.
A dirty gasoline could damage fuel injectors or even the injection pump efficency.