Clearing blocked fuel hard line

[gen4maxima536]

so we're working on getting dallas' (velvetpants) 510 to the point where we can start it. but the fuel line is plugged.

not really sure how this happened, so looking for some advice on how to go about clearing it.

 

tried air, from both ends, but that didn't help.

 

any ideas?

[phatdave]

Take it out and blow it out with compressed air.

[gen4maxima536]

Take it out and blow it out with compressed air.

 

we tried that to no avail

[Bleach]

wow... that's a rediculous blockage. :D

 

I unded both ends of a Datsun fuel line and blew 60psi through it. Done deal.

[datsunaholic]

Maybe the fuel line got crimped by bottoming out on something. Either way, gonna have to remove it... if it's that plugged it's probably full of rust or bits of rubber hose.

[hang_510]

18g/solid/insulated wire? then more air

 

may be time for new lines...

[dat521gatherer]

i thought you said you had fixed this? if you can hear air coming back into the tank at a good rate then it's not plugged. just undo the fuel hose at the filter and blow with your mouth. if you can hear air passage with such low blowing pressure then it cant be that clogged. compressed air would really let you know how much air is passing by the sound.

 

1. unhook the fuel hose at the carb.

2. pour gas down the carb and start it.

3. if fuel squirts out of the hose you know the line,pump,filter are fine.

 

pay close attention to the fuel filter it will give signs. if the fuel in the filter is really low or fluctuates you have a air leak from the hose clamps. not all air leaks into the line will drip fuel out. change the old style wire clamps to new style.

 

also if you have a hitachi carb with the front window plate that has the little circle for a window change it out and find the full 2''x3'' glass plate from the older carbs to put in. then you can watch the fuel level in the float bowl much better. i find that alot of the hitachi inlet valves at the hose get stuck open or closed. if you dont have the big glass plate to look into tap on top of the inlet with a hammer as it starts to die. that will seat it temporarely for a moment. atleast you'll know your onto something good luck bro.

[dat521gatherer]

this may have already been said but for process of elimination get 4 feet of hose and run it between the tank side of the filter or tank side of the pump and a fuel can. if it runs fine your line is clogged. if it does the same thing it is probably one of the other issues i mentioned.

[gen4maxima536]

at the moment the tank isn't in, and there are no rubber lines hooked up in the front. so we're just trying to clear out the hard line that runs front to back

 

next step is to run a "pipe snake" through it, probably hang_510s idea. a welding rod wasn't long enough or flexable enough.

[LenRobertson]

Is this a car that sat without running for years? Maybe old gas dried out in the tank? I had a plugged hard line on my "sat for 5 years in a field 510". I sprayed carb cleaner in both ends of the line and let it soak for awhile, then hit it with compressed air. I just kept doing this over and over (maybe a dozen times) until no more brown gunk came out. You may use most of a can of carb cleaner, but that stuff is pretty cheap. If you do have brown gunk in your line, I'm not sure you will be able to get any sort of wire or rod through it. Dried up gas is similar to hardened glue. You need to dissolve it. I think acetone would work too, but spray carb cleaner is way more convenient. You should stick a couple of feet of rubber line on each end of your hard line if you do this, so you don't blow brown gunk onto your car.

 

Len

[datzenmike]

I used a speedo cable on a drill to loosen sediment/rust.

[gen4maxima536]

Just to update this, old gas had gelled ijn the fuel line. I took out the line and tried cleaning out both ends w/ carb cleaner.

it ended up getting left out, where it sat in the sun for about a week. the gelled gas melted and ran out out end, so after two more soakings of carb cleaner, the line is now clear and ready to go back in the car.

[Steroid]

On a 1979 620, which is the fuel line? The line on the SIDE of the tank, or from the top? The side is working supplying gas to the engine. The top line is plugged. A 1977 manuel indicates the top line for vapors going to the seperator. If it ISN"T the side line and I drive with it that way, when the fuel level drops below, I will starve for fuel. Not a good thought!! Thanks.

[motavated]

I took it off and heated it... Unblocked it.... Dont do it when its connected to the gas tank though... Not a good idea believe me!