clogged fuel line?

[Bart]

OK, pretty sure the fuel line is clogged (haven't removed the tank yet) am I right in assuming the next step would be to remove the tank and attempt clearing it that way? I've tried a vacuum pump and blowing from the rear, the vacuum achieves a slow trikle of petrol. Can I replace the fuel line if this doesn't work? thanks

[whobba]

Hey man, there's a tiny screen at the bottom of your gas tank right where the fuel line tube comes out of the bottom of the tank, take the tank out after draining it, and use a wrench to remove that little tube, the screen actually fits over the tube inside the tank, alot of times those screens are clogged by crud and really need to be replaced. Then you can get a good look inside your tank, too and see if it's full of crud. Good Luck!

[Bart]

Got the tank off this morning to discover that the line was full of crud, at least to the first right angle. The tank appear to be full of crud as well, planning on replacing it if I can't clean it. Has anyone been usccessful in cleaning out the fuel line? It's not totaly clogged, so what about running degreaser through it or something like that?
Anyone have a souce for fuel line? Can I use the rubber stuff?

[[email protected]]

YES IT IS POSSIBLE: TOOLS RQD; AIR COMPRESSOR,SMALL FUEL PROOF PLASTIC BOTTLE(JIF PENUT BUTTER WORKS WELL), STEEL TIRE VALVE STEM, AND B-12 CHEM TOOL CARB CLEANER.
DRILL SMALL HOLE IN BOTTOM OF JAR TO INSTALL TIRE VALVE (SEAL TIGHT), ATTACH RUBBER FUEL LINE TO JAR AND FUEL LINE, POUR B-12 IN JAR AND LET DRIP THROUGH LINE TO FUEL PUMP (DISCONNECT LINE TO FUEL PUMP. LET DRIP OVER NIGHT AND THEN BLOW LINE OUT WITH COMPRESSED AIR, REPEAT AS NECESSARY, OURS TOOK ABOUT 7 DAYS BUT IT WAS PLUGGED TIGHT. TAKE TANK TO CAR WASH AND BLAST H--- OUT OF IN DONT FORGET TO USE A BLOW DRYER OR ECT TO DRY TANK TO LIMIT RUST STARTING UP. PT

[bigtoe]

I just cured the same problem with the 62 Bug I'm restoring. My clog was about 8" from the end of the line where it exits the wishbone. See Beetle forum. I used a throttle cable from a lawnmower and a drill. It only took a few minutes After numerous failed attempts using other methods.

[orange_crush]

Mine was clogged too. 1st disconnected line from fuel pump and put it in a glass jar to check my progress. Sprayed carb cleaner in (using small red tube) Nothing came through other end. I kept sprayeing carb cleaner down it for a week, hoping to soak and bust up the clog. (a lot squirted back out from spraying too fast...)

Then this past weekend rented an air compressor from True Value. Gave it another good dousing, then blasted the gunk out! Kept spraying/blowing air for about 1/2 hr. Eventually clear carb cleaner came through.

Was messy (went through a medium size can of cleaner), but it worked.

[orange_crush]

Actually, forgot I switched cans - make that a LARGE can of cleaner I used

[Davcriv]

I know this is a REALLY old post but thought I would put my method on here.
It was actually VERY easy.
All I used was carb cleaner, metal wire similar to this (thicker is better):
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100242844/...ogId=10053
and a torch.

First:
1. Pour carb cleaner in both ends let it stand for a few hours
2. From Tranny end stick metal wire as far as it can go in the gas line. You will get to the point where you reach your clog.
3. Move the metal wire in and out several times to try to break the clog.
4. Every so often remove the wire and clean the sludge that is left on the wire.
5. You may get to a point where the metal wire begins to bend.
6. Replace the metal wire with a new wire and repeat.
7. Heat the metal wire until it is red hot and stick it down the gas line (make sure that the carb cleaner has evaporated at this point before sticking the hot wire down the line).
8. Move the metal wire in and out until the clogged line is free.
9. If the clogged line is near the opening by the gas pedal simply get the torch and heat the gas line by the gas pedal opening.
10.Once the gas line is hot stick the metal wire in the tranny end again and feed it until you feel that you break through the clog.

Once you break through do this:
1. Get a bucket with carb cleaner.
2. Stick a hose in the bucket and attach it to the gas line (at the front axle)
3. Get a manual vacuum pump (a brake bleeding pump will do) and attach it to the tranny end
4. Suck all the carb cleaner through the gas line several times until the clog has completely gone.
5. To make sure - use high pressure air and force anything else out.


This worked for me - and it worked VERY well. Probably took me about 1-2 days of work (a couple of hrs each day.

Hope that this helps out other people with the same issue I had.

DC

[Karmann Gheezer]

Some very good ideas here. I thought I'd share my experience.

Materials and tools:
25' roll of 1/8" stranded wire I purchased from hardware store. (see image #1)
Lacquer thinner or carb cleaner
Cordless drill
Wire cutters or heavy duty electrical pliers (to cut the wire)
Vice grips
Rags

Here's how I did it:
Remove the screws holding the fuel tank. When lifting the fuel tank to remove the fuel line be careful to avoid fuel spillage. It may be helpful to use vise grip pliers and clamp the fuel line before removal. Next, I carefully poured lacquer thinner into the clogged fuel line. If you do this a day before you begin it allows time to help dissolve the clog. I pushed the stranded wire as far as possible into the fuel line (from the tank end) to get an idea where the clog was. With the wire in as far as it could go I cut the stranded wire approximately 6" from the fuel line opening. I pulled the wire out and attached the other end into the cordless drill. I fed the wire back into the fuel line and slowly began drilling into the clogged area. (NOTE - IMPORTANT: Because of the spiral direction of the stranded wire I had make sure the drill was going in the 'reverse' direction. If not, the stranded wire would become unwound in the fuel line and be ineffective). I would try to penetrate the clog as the drill was spinning the wire. Once the wire would go in as far as I could drill I would slowly pull the wire out catching the oily goo with a rag. I then cut another length of wire 6-10" longer and proceed again. Each time when you pull the wire out catch the goo into a rag. I kept using a longer wire each time until the wire was protruding out the other end. Be sure to put more cleaning fluid into the line each time you pull the wire out. This helps dissolve the goo as you go.

Next, (this is the cool part ) with the wire completely protruding out the other end I took pliers and bent a few of the strands of wire out (see image #2) to act as a wire brush. Be sure to bend only a few strands of the wire so the wire won't get into a bind. With the drill spinning the wire very slowly pull the wire out. This allows the bent strands of wire to act as a wire brush inside of the fuel line. Do this several times to completely clean the fuel line. Each time I would put fresh cleaning fluid into the line, drape several rags over the other end of the fuel line and blow the line out with a high pressure air hose.

All this took almost two hours. For some, it may take longer. However, this worked out very well for me. Lastly, I found some flexible electrical wire and fed it all the way through the fuel line. I attached a pipe cleaner on the other end. Then carefully pulled it through the line, making sure there would be no bind as I pulled. Luckily, the fuel line was very clean. The bent strands of wire slowly being pulled out with the drill spinning is what really did the trick cleaning the fuel line.

Hope this is of help.

#1. Wire to unclog fuel line. #2. Wire flared to create a "wire brush" for cleaning inside fuel line.

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[rustberry]

This has to be the best thread I've seen on cleaning the fuel line. After cleaning the tank and finding that there's no fuel coming in (Sucking on the fuel line on the end of the engine doesn't seem to work) we'll try this.
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69 Karmann Ghia
#rustberry🚘
http://instagram.com/rustberry69