Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[gresham flyer]

The vehicle has been stood many years,part of the recomisioning proceedure has been to drain the fuel tank.
On the fuel tank there is the sender mechanism and also a threaded outlet pipe at the bottom of the tank but no drain bung.

I unthreaded the pipe that goes to the petrol pump,but no petrol came out of the tank.

I drained the tank by removing the sender unit,putting in a small pipe and syphoning the fuel out.

I have put a rubber pipe on the outlet and tried blowing though but there is resistance.

I have even pushed,proded and poked with a stiff wire but to no avail,the wire goes into the tank about 12 inches,then hits the back of the tank.

And yes, there is fresh fuel in the tank,about 2 gallons.

Is there a one way valve in the oulet?

I have not come across this before.

To get the vehicle running I have put a plastic pipe on the fuel pipe going to the pump,and the other end into a gallon can in the boot,all works fine.

Any suggestions please. Gresham

[Phil - Nottingham]

Odd - if there was a one way valve then poking the wire through will open it - if it is hitting back of tank then it must be clear. Is tank level ie is petrol at the outlet end?

Can you not see into the tank via the sender hole? There are probably baffles but these should not drop near to the bottom of the tank but if they are low sediment can harden rock hard nad block off a section of the tank but I doubt it

May be secret compartment for smuggling!
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[gresham flyer]

I brought the car from London,you never know who owned it in the past.

It had been off the road since 1991,briefly put on the road prior to this,and had been laid up before this from what I can gather.


I have put a rubber pipe on the outlet and put my airline on the rubber pipe,still no joy,I just can not seem to clear the outlet.

[victor 101]

Hi Gresham, im confused, which isnt difficult these day. are you saying that you can poke a wire through but you cant blow through the outlet. If you can poke a wire into the tank then fuel should come out, unless their is a tube on the outlet that rises above the fuel level. Is it possible to see the outlet pipe by looking through the sender aperture. A photo or two might make the whole thing clearer. Regards, Rod.

[Roger-hatchy]

Could there be a mess filter, cone shaped, over the outlet.
There is one in my tank, if, as has been suggested, there has been a build up of sediment that has hardened around the base of the mesh screen it could be why the wire goes in/through but nowt else.

Might be the mesh is tube or can shaped and completely gunged up

[Richard H]

Sounds like exactly the same problem I had with the garage find A35 - the pickup pipe in the tank appeared to be blocked and due to the angle of the pipe I couldn't get anything in there to unblock it. In the end I replaced the tank with a secondhand one that luckily was ok. I'd imagine finding a replacement tank for one of those Minxes would be tricky though
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Richard Hughes

[Nic Jarman]

Torch and mirror on a stick might come in handy. If there was a mesh filter on the end of the pipe I doubt there is now. Good luck.
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

[gresham flyer]

Hello,
Its all sorted.

I removed the tank,cut out a 3inch inspection hole in the top of the tank above the outlet.

I could then see the small pipe inside the tank,about the diameter of large brake pipe. No wire gauze or filter,I have since fitted an inline filter.

Pushing a wire into the outlet I could see the point of the obstruction.

With a hacksaw blade and plenty of patience I cut out the blocked section of pipe.

All the time working with one of those battery powered flexible inspection lamps with an optional tilting mirror on the end.

I then pressure washed the inside of the tank,removing any debris.

The tank looks like new inside,remarkable for a vehicle 54 years old.

I then fitted a plate over the inspection hole and refitted the tank.

All worked fine,I have yet to find out what blocked the pipe,I will do this in the morning.
A beer or two is now in order.hic hic.

Gresham