Fuel tank breather blocked?

[Valk_ca]

I've been having issues with the fuel tank on my '98. I've been going 150-160 miles and not hitting reserve. Yippeee! Right? But I would then put 5 gallons into the tank. Yikes! What's going on? I have switched to a Pingel and done the pipe extension so it should be going on reserve and then filling only 4 gallons. Today I decided to find out just what was going on. Loaded an extra gallon in the saddlebag and headed out. Went 170 miles and she hit reserve. Actually she started to sputter and then died. Turned the Pingel to reserve and nothing. Just as I suspected. No reserve. BUT... when I opened the tank to add some gas I heard a tremendous amount of air suck into that thing. And it seemed like there was still a little gas in there. So I add a gallon and go straight home.
Remove tank and with a little poking around I discover the tank breather is blocked. Blow it out and add another couple of gallons, close the lid and try the Pingel out. Everything now works as designed. Put my thumb over the breather and she slows right down. When it gets down to reserve she will run only a few drips at a time with the breather covered. Seems that was my problem.

Question: Is fuel tank breather blockage a common occurrence? Can't find anything about it in the Tech section. How do I prevent it from happening again. Doesn't instill a great deal of confidence for those long rides on lonely roads.

[Hoser]

It happens, just check it once in a while.  Hoser

[Valk_ca]

Any idea what causes it?

[sugerbear]

are you talking about the vent tube?

if so, does it have the "tee" in it?

[Valk_ca]

The vent tube that attaches to the tank has a T and everything appears to be clear in the hose. The breather I'm talking about is the part that's actually INSIDE the tank. The part that the breather tube attaches to on the tank itself. We pushed a small wire thru it to clear it and then air seemed to flow thru better. I'm wondering if rust or something (ethanol remnants?) builds up in the tube and restricts air flow. No evidence of rust anywhere else in the tank that we can see, even with the use of a small mirror. Sort of baffled as to the cause.

[chrise2469]

Has the tank ever been repainted or had a coating inside.  From my understanding the internal vent line travels up the tank to the neck, I've never heard of it plugging. The tank would have to have overfilled many times to get that much fuel in there.

I do blow air through mine with the cap open when I take the tank off just o check.  Damn, I knew I should have bought that inspection camera the last time it was on sale at princess auto.

[Valk_ca]

Hey Chrise2469,

Small world! No, it hasn't been painted or coated inside. It is from Missouri and had been standing for a while so that may be a factor, but we've got a few thousand miles on it since we picked it up. Problem has only been showing itself over the last month or so. May have been the sitting around in a humid environment that caused it. At least now we're aware of it.

Princess Auto? What's that? 
My 2nd home.

[sugerbear]

humid............Missouri..................
say it ain't so............................LMAO