Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): B/S 5 H.P., metal shaft, dirty gas

Question
Marc...5 h.p. B/S on my tiller. pick-up screen clogs after 1 hour running. I've cleaned tank, and screen several times. 3" metal shaft  to 3" plastic shaft on pick-up. Need to raise pick-up off bottom of tank. Can I cut 1" off plastic, or remove screen?...or cut 1" out of  metal and splice in with flex tube gas line to raise pick-up from bottom of tank?
  Thanks Dawg

Answer
I wouldn't recommend modifying the pickup at all.  The carb doesn't have a really strong fuel pump circuit and alteration may result in no fuel delivery.  What, exactly, is the screen getting clogged with?  Generally, the pickup will be 1/8" - 1/4" from the bottom of the tank and if the tank isn't rusty or contaminated from a dirty gas can's contents, these tubes rarely ever require cleaning.  I would recommend you use a piece of broom handle (non-sparking wood) and dimple the inside of the tank a bit to give more clearance for the pickup tube than modifying.  If the tank is rusty, you need to remove everything from the tank and put a handful of small rocks and a bit of weakly diluted (with water) varsol.  Shake this mixture around in the tank to loosen the rust and debris and flush thoroughly afterwards.  Then you should make sure your gas can(s) are clean too.  Hope this helps.