w126 Tank Screen Dilemma - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

project84300sd · #1 02-10-2009, 07:22 PM

So I thought I might tackle the tank screen today but when I propped the old girl up I was a bit confused at what I saw. Ive read that if you dont have a 46mm socket you can use a plumbers pipe wrench but there is barely enough room. The rear axle is in the way even if i got the socket. Also, there is a metal 'lip' around the inlet/outlet which prohibits me from getting a wrench in there.. What gives? This is supposed to be an easy task... I snapped some pictures...

ALSO... There seems to be an in-line filter on the otherside of the tank near the right rear axle.... Is this factory??

Take a look at the pictures and let me know what you guys think..

PS... I was in a booooorrrinng meeting today at work and managed to snap a picture of the old girl from the 4th floor window while the boss wasnt looking... :-)

project84300sd · #2 02-10-2009, 07:24 PM

the third pic is the inline filter...?????????

Brian Carlton · #3 02-10-2009, 07:51 PM

It's an easy task if you have the socket.

It's a dead end if you don't.

But, you can get yourself a 1 13/16" socket (will be 3/4" drive) and put a pipe wrench on the OD.

Any other recommendations, including using the line fitting as your removal tool...........just forget about all of them unless you consider yourself extremely lucky.

mplafleur · #4 02-10-2009, 08:24 PM

I had the socket, but couldn't use it. The axleshaft is directly below and there's no room.

Do you put a oil filter strap around the socket or what?

Brian Carlton · #5 02-10-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplafleur

Do you put a oil filter strap around the socket or what?

...........p i p e w r e n c h ............

pleiades · #6 02-19-2009, 07:35 AM

One of these:

I am about to try this job myself.

mplafleur · #7 02-19-2009, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pleiades

One of these:

I am about to try this job myself.

I have pipe wrenches. There was no room for a pipewrench no matter how I positioned it.

I removed the tank.

Brian Carlton · #8 02-19-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplafleur

I have pipe wrenches. There was no room for a pipewrench no matter how I positioned it.

The socket extends downward toward the axle by about 2 inches. In that 2" space is plenty of swing room............between the body and the axle.

I presume that you had the vehicle on jackstands with the axles on the trailing arm stops. This provides additional room above the axle............and room for you as well.

tangofox007 · #9 02-19-2009, 08:59 AM

Sometimes, loosening the hose fitting will loosen the screen instead. Some penetrating oil on the screen might increase the odds of that happening.

Brian Carlton · #10 02-19-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

Sometimes, loosening the hose fitting will loosen the screen instead. Some penetrating oil on the screen might increase the odds of that happening.

Installation remains a problem...........without some type of tool on the wrench flats.

pleiades · #11 02-19-2009, 01:02 PM

Hmm, I can get the socket on, and the pipe wrench around the socket, but the pipe wrench can't get a good enough grip on the socket to turn it. I might look for an angled 3/4" ratchet driver.

tangofox007 · #12 02-19-2009, 01:10 PM

Did you try a wrench on the hose fitting?

pleiades · #13 02-19-2009, 02:03 PM

don't have a 3/4" deep socket, and my box end/open end wrenches can't get a good grip on it. my 1 13/16" can grip the screen with the hose fitting still on.

LuckyEddie · #14 02-19-2009, 03:32 PM

The hex on the screen is thin. Look at the end of your socket where it will fit over the nut and you will see a champer that needs to be removed (faced in a lathe) for it to fit up on the nut. I just cleaned two of these screens so I modified the overall length of the socket and turned the upper portion so that a pipe wrench would bite it better. It was TIGHT and difficult and will dump a lot of diesel on you for your troubles. The next one that I do will have the car up on its side and the fuel sending unit removed so that I can pump more of the fuel out.
It will run better after the screen is cleaned. My screen was cloged with a substance like mud with sand but the rest of the tank looked clean.
Robert

Brian Carlton · #15 02-19-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyEddie

The next one that I do will have the car up on its side and the fuel sending unit removed so that I can pump more of the fuel out.

Take the return line from under the hood and route it into a five gallon container.

Start engine.

Go back inside house for a cup of coffee.

Return to vehicle.

Turn off ignition (engine is not running due to lack of fuel).

Perform tank screen removal.

.............credit to Kerry for the solution.