Cleaning small vent lines??

[pwilletts]

I need to clean out the small(1/4") x 8 '...fuel vent and anti siphon lines....need something small and flexible....air is not an option unfortunately unless I use a small hand pump....any ideas?

[wingless]

Gasoline or diesel fuel vent?

Why not get a small portable air tank w/ a blow nozzle? Mine is sooo handy. I use it frequently.

A hand pump will have no effect.

[UNCIVILIZED]

A piece of #10 wire wrapped with some athletic tape to the proper diameter. Or similarly size wire, roughed up with sandpaper, sprayed with 3m spray adhesive, & then lightly wrapped with cloth.
Basically DIY, custom sized pipe cleaners.

[a64pilot]

Either blow them out or replace them.
What is in them?

[sailah]

Going to be hard to thread something through. That sounds like a good candidate for replacement vs repair.

If I had to do it, I'd use either some thin TIG welding rod that I tacked together to get 8'. If I could move the hose and use gravity maybe attach a tiny lead sinker to a piece of mono or thread and pull a rat line through?

Plumbing fish tape?

1/4" hose is cheap

[Diesel Bill]

Originally Posted by pwilletts

I need to clean out the small(1/4") x 8 '...fuel vent and anti siphon lines....need something small and flexible....air is not an option unfortunately unless I use a small hand pump....any ideas?

I'm having a senior moment. What is the name of the flexible wire like a speedometer cable for pulling new wire called. I would use that.

[DeepFrz]

You all make it sound so complicated. Just a piece of wire long enough and stiff enough to push through the hose with a piece of lint free cotton rag captured in the end. Think of running a cleaning swab through a rifle barrel but using a piece of wire. Push through, pull back or if its plugged up then push the free end of the wire through and pull the swab through after it.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by pwilletts

I need to clean out the small(1/4") x 8 '...fuel vent and anti siphon lines....need something small and flexible....air is not an option unfortunately unless I use a small hand pump....any ideas?

How many bends are in it and what sort of radius?
Also, exactly what are you trying to remove - some blockage or just stuff on the wall of the line?

These questions will dictate or limit what might or might not work.

[carlheintz]

Speaking from experience... cleaning those is a pain. Just replace them with new, supple material. In the long run you will be very happy you did.

[Avionics_Joe]

Originally Posted by Diesel Bill

I'm having a senior moment. What is the name of the flexible wire like a speedometer cable for pulling new wire called. I would use that.

Fish tape.

[Diesel Bill]

Originally Posted by Avionics_Joe

Fish tape.

Right. Thanks Joe. Got one in the garage and couldn't remember what the heck it's called.

[Dave22q]

Go to any construction supply outlet and buy a roll of tie wire. It is generally used for tying reinforcing steel together inside a concrete form. Easy to bend but stiff enough to act as a snake. Bend one end around you rag swab, cramp it tight and push it through. It is stiff enough to track well but maybe not right angle turns. I find dozens of uses on my boat. When kept in a dry toolbox, rust is not an issue.

[Paul Elliott]

I have some old stainless 7x19 halyard wire (removed from a dinghy a long time ago), that is quite useful for pushing through small-diameter tubing. The wire is stiff enough to push, but still flexible enough to go around bends.

But for cleaning a diesel vent tube, I would use compressed air.

It is important to run the vent lines so there are *no* low spots where liquid can accumulate. I had to re-route some of mine because they would eventually become plugged by condensate. Blowing them out was only a short-term fix.