Page 1 of 1

A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 8:49 pm
by Doug Keppler
Attention, NOT FOR THE PURISTS
My car had a cast iron FSB with the brass valves. I used valve lapping compound to try to seat the valves (both the shut off and the drain valves) to no avail, could not get the #$%* thing to stop dripping. So I went to Tractor supply and found this bowl for a Massey Ferguson tractor, half the price of the one from Langs. It cant be seen unless you climb under the car and it has a glass bowl so you can see what's in your gas, a fuel shut off and a filter screen, in my opinion an improvement
Resized_20190826_161925.jpeg
Resized_20190826_161925.jpeg

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 8:50 pm
by Doug Keppler
Cant figure out why some pictures post 2 times

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 8:58 pm
by Henry K. Lee
Nice Doug! You have to fat of a thumb, see a surgeon.

LOL

All the Best,

Hank

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:10 pm
by Scott_Conger
Not a fan.
Don't let your insurance lapse.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:21 pm
by Humblej
Lots of cars had glass sediment bowls in the 1930's, but they were in the engine compartment, not under the gas tank. Could be a risk of breaking the glass from a stone, loose gravel, running over a homeless man sleeping in the street, etc.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2019 10:00 pm
by Roz
If you run over a walrus in the road, it could get jammed up under there and break the glass. :D

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 9:07 am
by mgarrett
Doug,
Don't be scared! I've been using one of these on my 27 Speedster for 5 years without any issues. Unless you're planning to do some rock climbing or high-center on some off-road trails I wouldn't worry about it. The tank sits high enough to avoid most road obstacles you're likely to encounter. The transmission housing would strike a road object long before it would imperil the sediment bowl.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 9:32 am
by Fozz71
I have seen many T's running newer fuel bowls in glass- enjoy and happy motoring.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:27 am
by Doug Keppler
Scared? Please, of course it's up high enough, only an amature would think any different

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:30 am
by Rich Bingham
I agree with Scott. Don't take any gravel roads.
My "purist" point of view is that a glass sediment bowl shouldn't be installed any place where "stuff" on the road surface can be flung into it. There are good reasons why the original item was a solid metal casting. As for re-working the original, I was disappointed to find that "lapping" still left mine "weepy". Fuel valve lubricant solved that, and yes, I know it's not a permanent fix, but on a Model T, what is ? :lol:

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:55 am
by RustyFords
Humblej wrote:
Wed Aug 28, 2019 9:21 pm
....running over a homeless man sleeping in the street, etc.
I hate it when that happens.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:09 am
by Henry K. Lee
Considering it is approximately 24” from the road surface and the glass bowl is supported by a “rubber” gasket and a plastic lower support on the bail. Really?

Energy is being absorbed. Old fatigued metal that others are trusting with their lives scares me the worst. Just my opinion with justification.

All the Best,

Hank

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:30 am
by Rich Bingham
Henry K. Lee wrote:
Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:09 am
Really?
Really !! :shock:
Be afraid, Hank ! Really afraid. :lol:

Seriously, sure, it's a long shot, but if you roll down an improved gravel road at a good clip, you'll be surprised how many rocks will hit your floor-boards. Much less of a possibility cruising pavement and running over homeless guys.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:37 am
by jsaylor
I have been using a glass sediment bowl under my 21 Touring for 50 years. Driven lots of dirt and gravel roads. Never had a problem with it being broken by rocks and debris.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 12:02 pm
by Philip
i use one works great. philip

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 1:53 pm
by BobD
I have a glass sediment bowl on my ’26 runabout and appreciate the fact I can see any rust or debris settling out in the bowl. One disadvantage in my experience is the gasket can sometimes present a sealing problem after removing the bowl to dump out the sediment, necessitating fiddling with the gasket or replacing with new. That being said, I have never heard of a glass sediment bowl breaking.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:32 pm
by Dean Kiefer
The last homeless guy I run over said he wasn't even close to hitting the sediment bowl.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:03 pm
by Charlie B in N.J.
If you're interested there's a white ceramic filter that fits that bowl.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 7:20 pm
by Duey_C
Unless it's the fear of getting a bowl leak while underway and volatile gasoline running down on the hot exhaust pipe.
Same issue on an original if ya don't "set" the drain valve with a soft whack from the pliers when closed.
Could happen. Rocks, homeless man with hammer, walrus with a Genuine Stillson wrench in his flipper or a loosening bail knob.
I have one of those 20 dollar chinaman-cheapies on my 18 right now. A vendor stated the new original types are not leak tested.
I went to the parts store where I bought parts for sediment bulbs for the last 35 years, "We don't have any parts Duane.". Up the hill to the tractor dealer. First thing I had to do was flip the crappy rubber bowl gasket over. Leaked like a sieve.
Which reminds me, I need to check my weep rate and snug things perhaps.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 8:22 pm
by Doug Keppler
Weep rate, i like that one Duey. I had to make a move, my excessive weep rate caused my wife to not park her car in the garage anymore, she said the inside of her car stunk like gas and was making her sick. I put on the new sediment bowl and her car is back in the garage. Happy wife happy life.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 8:38 pm
by Chad_Marcheese
I got one too. I don't often post non approved purists pics, but since were on the topic......

I even modified it and added a tank drain


.
Fuel Line Route 4.jpg
Fuel Line Route 4.jpg (48.19 KiB) Viewed 8849 times

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 8:59 pm
by Henry K. Lee
Nice Chad!

Hank

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 9:15 pm
by Henry K. Lee
Saw a situation about 5 years ago where a gentleman and his purist ways almost cost him his whole collection. Why? Because the ethanol fuel loves to eat away at cast iron by means of scaling it off. Thinking his 100 year old sediment bowl was solid, turned off his fuel at the tank (was a little tight) and SNAP went the whole thing and eight gallons of gas all over the garage floor with about 20 cars. His neighbor was welding about 60 feet away. I had one of my own cars for 15 years, always turned of the fuel after driving. The wife wrote up before me, gas pouring out from under the garage door. The fuel bowl cracked right where the shut off was at with no notice.

Morale of the story: To each their own, safety first, old items fail, no lifetime warranty.

My three cents,

Hank

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:19 pm
by Will_Vanderburg
I threw a rock through an oil filter on a 2005 PT Cruiser.

I was also told not to even bother trying to fix a sediment bulb that leaks or is missing a handle, just go ahead and buy a new one.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:06 pm
by Jeff Hood
I got tired of trying to stop seepage and leaks. I didn't have another bulb, and no glass bowl either, but I had a bunch of other stuff, so I used a close nipple in the tank into the end of a tee with a 2" nipple and a bell reducer with a petcock drain out the bottom for water and sediment. Out the side of the tee is a reducer bushing with a 3/8 steel line all the way down the frame to a shutoff under the hood and a short rubber hose to the carb. Liked it so much I did it to my other cars too.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 6:11 am
by Jim_PTC_GA
I have one of those in line on my 24. Growing up on a farm and driving seasonal tractors, I like the option of being able to see the fuel. I never thought to just put it in place of the bowl. Good idea.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 1:09 am
by DHort
Dont run over that guy in the street. Could be Steve Jelf after they kick him out of Walmarts parking lot again.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 9:06 am
by John Warren
Good choice, If your worried about a broken bowl, carry a new one. I absolutely don't think there is a safety problem that didn't exist with the original. I run the same one on my race car and my 26 touring. My airplanes also run the same thing.

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 9:15 am
by Scott_Conger
John

I am curious how FAA certification allows you to fly with a $50 Allis-Chalmers glass sediment bowl on your airplane, when a proper aircraft fuel strainer typically costs $500+ and is all metal? What am I missing here?

Re: A different option to the fuel sediment bowl

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 9:38 pm
by John Warren
Scott you are so smart. You are absolutely correct about a $50 dollar part. For an aircraft, parts are much more expensive. The fuel bowl is the same design on my Cessna 120 with a glass bowl. On my Cessna 150 the bowl is also glass but a little different in design and as you said not a $50 dollar part. Tractor carburetors also have many enter changeable parts with aircraft carburetors. Just things you learn when you own one. ;)