I want to pull my tank screen on my 85 300td to clean it and to possibly pull out the large dent in my tank in this area. I was hoping I could slip a bar inside the screen hole with a chain attached and pull the dent out but I am confused on how the pickup line comes into the screen. The pictures on the cd dont show this. I'am assuming there must be a hole in the end of the screen that slips over the pickup line. Is my assumption correct and if so is there room to slip something in there to pull down on the tank?

Also I spent about two hours searching old threads, I dont think my technic is very good. Seems like most of what I search through is of no meaning to what I'm looking for. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks

The fuel line, feed hose, screws into the fuel strainer and the strainer screws into the bottom of the tank.

Once you remove the fuel strainer, you may have enough room to try your idea. Leverage might be the tricky part.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

When you say 300TD I am assuming it is a station wagon.

How does the tank screen work on a 123 wagon

This post shows the difference between the sedan and wagon fuel screen.
The fuel lines are connected at the front of the wagon tank. There is a separating plate between the main body and the fuel output lines that the screen inserts into. The lip on the screen divides the two sections. So installing a bar may be difficult to get it to effect the outer panel only, depending on where the dent is located. Consider getting a used tank from the junk dealer. Or just living with the dent

If the car is the sedan then what SD Blue said is correct.

Search function.
As you learn the various parts of the car you will improve your search function. For the link above I inserted "Fuel screen lip dave" in the search window. I know that it was my post, the "dave" I always sign my posts, Dave. I also know I wrote "fuel screen" and that I wrote "lip" That is how I found it.
If I wanted it specifically for the sedan I would have added that word in the search.
You can also go to the advanced search and link just the diesel discussion.

Dave

PS Go to the "user CP" at the top of the screen and fill out your signature. That way we know what car were dealing with. Just as my signature shows. I just have to specify which Mercedes I'm talking about, which I usually put in the title of the post

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Not on W123 TDs. The fuel screen will need a large (22mm) allen head wrench to remove. There is *NO* connection to anything on the strainer. The supply and return lines are attached directly to the tank. There is internal baffling to make sure the fuel goes through the strainer and out the supply line (the lower of the two).

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1984 300TD

Thanks Dave and John,
exactly what I was looking for. This dent is pretty big and effects my capacity which is already pretty small. Everything in a junkyard around here has been in the salt. I edited my signature, I guess I'll see if it worked with this post. Crossing my fingers. I'm not very computer savy.

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a few mb diesels

well, if your idea doesnt work, might try dropping the tank, plugging all the lines and giving her a bit of air pressure.not too much, though.

__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Would one of those suction dent popper devises work for your tank dent? I don't know if you could get a good suction on the tank, but it might be worth a shot.

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I doubt the suction style would work, but the style that you glue on, may work if you REALLY CLEAN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK!
the serations on the bottom would prevent a suction type device from adhering.
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I'm just posting to help clarify how the tank strainer works in a wagon.

Here's a diagram I drew to help explain. The tank in a wagon has two chambers.




EDIT: That bolt in the pic is another option some use as a tool to remove the strainer. I use a 13/16" spark plug socket turned backwards on an extension like this:

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys