fuel pick-up lines plugged up

[rileysaurus]

Hey everyone, great news! got my wing running today! She took her first breath in 7 years! so now that shes running, Id like to see her running off her own fuel tank. Like I said, that fuel was 7 years old and my pick-up tubes are plugged solid. I derusted the tank with vinegar and filled it with gas. I ran some mech wire through the tubes but no dice. The reserve tube seems to be getting getting gas because my wire has fuel on it when I pull it out but when I put a siphon on the petcock I get no fuel to come out. Im going to soak the tubes with carb cleaner tonight but dont know if thatll do the trick.

[HALBUDD]

I would try some seafoam instead of carb cleaner,put in a whole can and let it set for a couple of days. Then flush it out and see if it did the job. Also when you get her cleaned out and put fresh gas in add some seafoam in with the gas it will help clean you fuel system out too. good luck Hal

[RBGERSON]

Best solution get an old speedo cable put it in a drill and run it into the tube from the petcock end. Or if you work at it the right size wire can be pushed all the way through the tube.

[rileysaurus]

good ideas guys. Im going to drain the fuel and try to dry the sludge out. I rebuilt the carbs this winter and the stuff in the float bowls looked like baby poo then dried up to dust. I think ill air dry, roto root and then seafoam the whole tank. Triple whammy!

[D2D]

After you drain your tank, take a look inside at your screens and pickup tubes. If you see any rust or sludge build up a real quick fix would be to add 2 bottles of a product called "The Works". It's a bowl cleaner you can find for around $1/bottle in any supermarket laundry aisle.
Mix it with a gallon of water and slosh it around then let it sit for about an hour or two ( depends on condition of your tank). if your pickup screens and tubes are real dirty, let it sit longer. Once you have liquid flowing out through the petcock, dump the mixture out and rinse your tank with a baking soda/water rinse, then blow dry and spray a little wd-40 around the inside. Be sure to keep your gas tank full to prevent it from flash rusting after this proceedure.

[rileysaurus]

So my tank is squeaky clean now and looking like new. I put 2 quarts of "the works" in there and filled it with water, let it sit for a week and scrubbed the walls of the tank with a toilet bowl brush. That thing looks like new now! Speedo cable worked slick on the pickup tubes too. Primary pickup required an acetone soak before she came loose but it did finally. Thanks for the great tips guys!

[gc33]

hey all, yup having same problem at this end of the world. Main line is clear and reserve seems to be good until you reach the strainer/filter. Ive tried all sorts of concoctions ...thinners, carb cleaner, brake cleaner, degreaser, contact cleaner, hydrochloric acid, with the speedo cable and drill on slow,....No cigar. It feels like it is hitting something like steel plate, and feels solid, not like rust. Ive put my compressed air gun on it and not even a squeek of air coming out.
The bike has been sitting for 15 years, Tank internally was a disgrace. Ive managed to clean that out but just want to get the line clear. I bought a tank treatment kit to day but not going to put it thru intil i get this line clear

[Rambozo]

There is always the option to remove the old lines and weld in new ones.

[gc33]

There is always the option to remove the old lines and weld in new ones.

Yeah I'm considering that as a last resort action.. Those lines were obviously put in there before they put the 2 halves of the tank together...

[saganaga]

I would not put anything nasty on it while the petcock is hooked up.

Any chance of hitting the intake with a pressure washer? A 110V electric one would probably work fine enough and may not remove the paint on the tank.

My final step would probably be boiling water. Obviously plan for a way to siphon it out if it doesn't work, and rinse the tank with something to absorb the extra water. (HEET?)

[gc33]

my tank is already stripped...nothing is working so far...
i need to get this line clear before I start the treatment for tank liner and external painting

[gc33]

And so it looks like Im down to cutting tank open and replace the lines. Reserve is so clogged up. been sitting for a while now with various cleaning solutions and the one last spot in the line, just past the last bend before the screen. Blocked solid. Tried the speedo cable trick...stuffed my speedo cable...was getting a new one anyways. Tried thicker tie wire, no good..in the end that snapped in the line so im down to what I had originally planned...cut tank open and replace all the lines and screens...bugger.