How do i clean a suspected blockage in the petrol pipe between the tank and the carb?

removed tank following suspected fuel starvation. old car 1972 imp, recently bought and fuelled up by previous owner. fuel guage sender unit siezed so suspect car standing for some time. have rodded the fuel line with grass strimmer plastic wire and found a solid obstruction (or something) 40 cm from tank. cannot blow air through the line in either direction. i have not got a compressor.

Answers:
This problem is quite common with imps, some of their fuel tanks were lined with a rubberised coating to stop the tank from rupturing in event of an accident.

As they get older bits of this coating have a tendancy to come loose and block the pipe.

I'm afraid you are going to have to remove the tank and pipework and get it cleaned properly.
Suck. Really hard.
Someone has a compressor, try them.
replace it. what ever is in there could leave a residue regardless if you remove it. lines get old and cracked over time they probably need replaced anyway.

rubber hose is cheap.
Although it is an old car, it doesnt mean it could not use a new piece, my honest advice, replace the pipe for brand new one. Is safer, cleaner, easier and smarter. All other techniques may complicate the situation and maybe you will not just need a pipe later, but something else that also got broken for trying to clean up the choked pipe.
get a compressor and blow it through
If this section of fuel line is accessible just cut it and replace the damaged section with a neoprene fuel line and clamps and be on your way. If not you can try your luck with stiff wire.
either replace the tube or soak it in some petrol, find the blockage, and squeeze it with Ur fingers, this will help brake up what ever is inside, then use something quite long thin and hard to push down the pipe to clean it out
You can buy a liquid from halfords for that. Not sure what it is called but go in and ask someone.
Yeah - replace it BUT make sure its proper fuel line!

Rubber will perish and some rubber or plastics may be attacked by fuel.

If its metal fuel pipe most Autofactors and spares shops will make one up, or have a patterned part.
You've located the blockage, so you can replace the entire line or get a short piece of fuel line hose that has the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of your fuel line and a couple of clamps. Using a tubing cutter, make 2 cuts on the fuel line, one before and one after the clog. Rejoin the fuel line using the hose and clamps.
I wouldn't think twice about taking this opportunity to renew the entire rubber fuel-line from the tank to the carb. It's not a great length on an Imp, and the old rubber hose won't last forever. Often rubber hoses get pin-holed, and air leaks into them, causing erratic fuel supply to the engine. So just change it, OK?
Your local motor factors should keep a variety of diameters on a long roll, just remove the old one and measure it for length, and take a short piece with you to get the correct diameter. Use new fuel hose clips, rather than Jubilee clips, which can work but just aren't as good, and if any parts are steel or copper pipe, give them a good clean and a protective paint before you replace them.

Be careful to drain the fuel from the tank before starting! Honestly, hose and clips, for an IMP, you maight have change from a tenner, and it has to be worth it for peace of mind.

All the best.
Replace the blocked section with petroflex + correct size clips

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