D2 Fuel Tank Mystery

[Cysco]

I was cleaning out the seat fuel tank of my D25U and found three cast steel "stars" in the bottom. Are these for anything or just "one of those mystery things" that happen ?

[Old Magnet]

Check for the casting number......just kidding....that's a mystery to me to:)

[B4D2]

I once found some cast iron "bullets" in the radiator of my D2. It turned out they were from someone tightening cap screws too far into the castings and punching out the back end into the radiator tank. Maybe something like that?

[bruce oz]

hello ,i think i have seen them stars before ,rocker cover nuts on some engine some were ,not much help ,lol,bruce oz

[Jack]

Are they magnetic? Or possibly zinc rather than steel? Those are the only things I can think of that might be intentionally added to a tank.:confused:

[Willie]

OH my you won the grand prize, send them to Cat Inc. to get your prize. The only thing I've ever found in mine is dirt or rust LOL

[Cysco]

Well at least we got a laugh or two out of it....*L*.....They are steel as I got them out with a magnet.....There was a bit of "cast slag" in the tank as well.The only stars I can remember comming with that Cat was the ones I saw when I raised up to quick while under it and that was followed closely with some choice words.....*L*

[yancy44 mag]

i have found big led balls in some of my old gas cats as well as some older ones i had a old buddy that tough me a lot about eq he was a old time cat field mech he was in his 80s 20 yrs back he has now passed but i was great full that he chose to give me as much info on any cat stuff he told me that they used to put led balls in to keep the rust out they rattled around and keep the tanks clean and i have all ways done that will all of my old willys and cat stuff it works great but thats just my 2 bits worth

[STEPHEN]

My foundry man uses stars like that in a tumbler to bust the crust off castings

[OzDozer]

Cysco - You're right .. the only stars I've ever found around Cats, were the ones I saw, when I cracked my skull, when I lifted my head too quick from under the tractor, or forgot about some protruding casting or panel .. :(

I'd have to guess they were introduced by kids into the tank, or perhaps they were used in a tank tumble, to try and clean the rust out, sometime in the past?
I think Stephen has nailed their use and origin.

[Cysco]

I was pretty surprised as to how clean the tank was after I washed it out with my steam cleaner. There was a very little bit of rust and really no dirt.May have been something to keep the rust and dirt stirred to capture it in the filter. I will probably put them back as it didn't hurt for 50+ years.
Thanks for the thoughts everyone.......have a good day..........Bill

[timbo1946]

I have seen stones and other items with sharp edges used in tumbling operations to clean the insides of tanks before. I would think that they may have been used for that and these didn't come out.

Tim

[J D in AUS]

Cysco I remember cleaning out the fuel tank on a D4 7U years ago and finding one (1) of those "stars" in the tank. I said to farmer "do you want it in or out" He said "I'am the only one that puts fuel in and I did"nt put it in there, so it must be part of the D4,toss it back in" Probley still in the tank :) J D

[Jason 10/D4]

Cysco where did you get those new steering clutch handles? Need some for my 9U D6. Jason

[chugwater crawlers]

This is a great thread! I couldn't figure out what those could be until the tumble theory came up. It makes sense.

[chugwater crawlers]

Jason,

You can get the handles from Cat.

[Cysco]

Well I opted to put the "stars" back in the tank. I figured after 50+ years and that tank looked that good then who am I to say they don't have "magical cleaning powers" .......*L*

BTW Jason did you get the handles from Cat as I mentioned in the PM to you.....I have one that has a small crack but nothing better.......Bill

[MARTYN WILLIAMS]

Looks like spurs,maybe a cowboy drove it in the past:)
Are you the Cysco kid off the blazzing saddles movie
Martyn

[SJ]

One time at the dealer they towed a truck in that wouldn,t run so I tried to get it started and no fuel.For some reason I took my flash light and looked down the saddle tank and guess what, there someone I guess was looking down in the tank with a flash light and the lens fell off and laid in the bottom of the tank and covered the outlet hole. I removed it and bled the system out and the problem was solved.You do run in stupid things working on them every day and that was one of them.I mentioned this one a short time ago but here it is again. Trucker came in with no power and he told me he stopped at three other shops and still no power.One shop even put a new turbo charger on and seeing lots of these engines with the air fuel ratio control on them I took the cover off in a few minutes and there the diaphragm had a slit in it so I installed a new part for a $1.75 and in a few minutes put things back together and we road tested it and was back up to full HP. He probably spent $2,000 at the other shops and still no power and the $1.75 piece corrected it.

[Gordon.]

Cysco........wait for it,.... the three wise men will be along next !!.....none of us mind !!! ask one of them if they've lost anything Lol
Regards Gordon

[Cysco]

I am glad to get a laugh out of this...:-)...... and it does make for some interesting conversation....the big who/why dunnit !!!! *L*
SJ......Believe it or not that very thought crossed my mind....what if one gets lodged over the fuel outlet......and we all know when and where that will happen.......it has to be raining ,in a gulley or on the side of a hill....*L*