Yes times 100!
Funny we have not had this discussion recently that I remember, but it's been a huge part of the whole new tank experience just about forever.
Even with a basic cleaning by the manufacturers (sometimes) there is still plenty of stuff left inside to warrant a good cleaning before installation. I guess I'd better re-check the status of our M1A1, but with the old Sherman and definitely the old NWMP a good cleaning was a must.
Either that or be prepared to clean/replace filters fairly often for the first few months/years.
To be fair, my old NWMP from approx. the mid-nineties was clean as a whistle (or at least I thought it was) when I installed it and I never had any filter problems. I did occasionally have carb issues with stuck needle-n-seat action, which could have been ascribed to "dust" particles in the gas, but had that issue with the old original tank as well. Might have been dust and debris that finally got sucked up, or it might have just come in the gas I was using, but it never became a huge or constant problem.
In later years we did hear about that a lot here on the forums. Almost every tank install instigated a rant about crap in the tank and the need for pre-cleaning.
Take heed then!
Paul
