Gas Tank Sending unit

[Roper]

On the tube of the sending unit that draws the gas from the tank there is a screen/filter. How important is this filter?
See im replacing my 15 gallon tanks with 20 gallon tanks. The screen on my old sending unit is shot. Also my 20 gallon tanks have bafles where the smaller tanks didnt have any. Because of the baffel the sceen is going to interfear with the fuel gauge. The baffel even interfears with the fuel gauge but I reshaped the fuel float so it wont interfear anymore.
Anyway I cut what was left of the screen off and im just about to put things back together. Do I need that screen?
Should I buy a new sending unit? The old one is 26 years old.

[shadetree]

Those screens are not absolutely neccessary. Make sure you always have a filter before the carb.

[Roper]

Thanks
Im going to put it back together without the screen. I have a filter right before the fuel goes into the carb but I was worried about the unfiltered fuel screwing up the junction thing that regulates which tank the motor draws fuel from. Well that and the fuel pump.
By any chance does anybody know why those gas tank sending units have three fuel lines going to each tank? I dont need to know in order to replace the tank but im kind of curous. The 3/8" line takes the fuel to the motor, the 1/4" im guessing is return but what does that 5/16" line do?

[shadetree]

The 5/s16" line is usually a vent line (goes to the charcoal canister).