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#71

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: My Mini stinks!

Last post by BruceK - November 20, 2025, 03:51:32 PM

Okay. I now know what didn't work.

Striking the mesh filter to knock it off the end of the tube didn't budge it and resulted in the tube bending from a position in the center of the tank to pushing it to one side. The mesh filter is now half collapsed but still completely attached to the tube. I'm concerned that hitting it more may cause the pick up tube to crack or break off entirely where it joins the tank wall.

Next I tried fishing a thin, solid rod through the tube into the tank to try and knock off the mesh filter, but the curvature of the tube at the end is too too tight to get the rod all the way through.

Then I bought some stainless steel wire rope cable, frayed one end so it was expanded, greased it up, and fed it through the tube, and spun it with a drill in the hope that it would provide sort of a rotor-router effect and break off the wire mesh filter so I could retrieve it through the sender hole. All that did was to pierce the wire mesh filter, but it did not entrap it.

So, I am devising Plan D now...

#72

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: My Mini stinks!

Last post by MPlayle - November 20, 2025, 03:49:43 PM

Do you have any long handled needle-nose pliers to reach in and try to unscrew it or break it apart to remove it?

#73

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: My Mini stinks!

Last post by BruceK - November 20, 2025, 12:04:13 PM

Aw crap. Not having luck removing the fine filter screen at the end of the pickup tube in the bottom of the tank.

I've tried hitting it through the sender hole to dislodge it. But just succeeded in bending the pick up tube. Gonna try to get something flexible enough and strong enough to go through the pickup tube and try and push it off...

#74

The Lounge / Re: A new game... Post pics fr...

Last post by BruceK - November 20, 2025, 10:05:36 AM

Could be worse...

#75

The Lounge / Re: A new game... Post pics fr...

Last post by MiniDave - November 20, 2025, 09:36:22 AM

Don and his wife both got tickets for not running a front plate (he lives in Missouri), cost $80 each! So he went and bought one of the aftermarket solutions that bolt into the front tow hook mount. I agree about not needing to run a front plate, Kansas doesn't.

In England they make those full size stickers like you'd run across the nose of an E-Type, I always thought those looked horrible.....

#76

The Lounge / Re: A new game... Post pics fr...

Last post by BruceK - November 19, 2025, 09:15:54 PM

It almost looks legitimate.  It has the vertical curly-ques that supposedly cannot be copied and what appears to be the barcode in the lower left corner.

Maybe Texas started issuing those for cars without a front plate mount?

I can't imagine that happening. What I can imagine is the police getting all upset and claiming that the sticker constitutes a state license plate that has been counterfeited.

I think the safer thing to do is what I've been doing for 23 years on my Cooper S: don't run a front plate, but be prepared to deal with the consequences if ever challenged. I think that beats trying to manufacture a solution with a sticker. 

I just wish Texas would join the 21 (and growing) other states that not require a front plate.

#77

The Lounge / Re: A new game... Post pics fr...

Last post by MPlayle - November 19, 2025, 07:32:44 PM

It almost looks legitimate.  It has the vertical curly-ques that supposedly cannot be copied and what appears to be the barcode in the lower left corner.

Maybe Texas started issuing those for cars without a front plate mount?

#78

The Lounge / Re: Non-Traditional Mini Parts...

Last post by BruceK - November 19, 2025, 07:14:41 PM

Nice to see it broken out like that on eBay. Wonder if it's the seller doing that or a policy/feature of eBay itself?

#79

The Lounge / Re: A new game... Post pics fr...

Last post by BruceK - November 19, 2025, 06:48:16 PM

I just spotted this tonight. And it was a new one to me. A sticker representing a not-mounted front license plate stuck  on the inside of windshield.

The owner should at least get some credit for coming up with this. But I don't think the po-po will go for it.

#80

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: My Mini stinks!

Last post by BruceK - November 19, 2025, 06:05:19 PM

So, how did it turn out? How did you block off the sender unit hole to clean the inside of the tank? How long do you leave the cleaner and metal etch in it before you rinse it out? Does it all just rinse with water? How dry does the tank have to be before you can put the sealer in it? Did you find the actual place where it was leaking?

I'm planning to pull the tank on the green car next week.....

Haven't started yet. I just received the POR kit 2 days ago. But I've been reading the instructions and watching videos. Tomorrow I'll start with the degreasing process. There's 2 degreasing steps and each one is at least 4 hours long, or longer. You've got to put the solution in the tank and move it around to different positions to let all interior services soak for several hours. Then you rinse it, and repeat with the second bottle of degreaser. The goal is to remove all gum and varnish and crud and loose rust that has built up over the years. I'm going to add a bunch of drywall screws to help scrub the inside of the tank. No doubt that will take up most of my day tomorrow. 

The second big step is to put in the metal prep and again rotate it around to cover all surfaces before eventually draining it out.

Now the clock starts ticking because there's a strong possibility of the interior of the tank flash rusting after the metal prep step. So the interior must be quickly dried with warm air to ensure there is absolutely no moisture in the tank. They recommend using a hairdryer or heat gun. And they say to definitely not use an air compressor because minute amount of oil will get in the tank and keep the sealant from adhering properly. 

Final step is to carefully mix the sealant and put it in the tank and rotate it all over to coat every surface before draining the excess out. Then it's a 96-hour wait time before the sealant fully cures.

I will update my progress here.

This guy's video on the process is pretty easy to follow as he goes by the detailed instructions written by the British distributor of POR15.