Have been trying to get fuel to engine, runs fine when fuel poured into bowl. Pump works. There is a curve pointing upward before the fule fump (upside down U), would this stop fuel getting to the motor?

Is it an electric or mechanical fuel pump ? How do you know it works ? Try taking the coil lead off completely (both ends so there's no spark anywhere) and then the fuel hose off the carb , get someone to crank the motor a ciouple of times (or turn the ign on if it's electrical) and see if fuels getting through . If fuel pumps out the hose and the engine runs if you fill the bowl then look for a blockage in the carb (needle and seat stuck perhaps) . If fuel doesn't pump out and you're certain the pump works (do the same with the hose off the ppump and see if it pumps fuel) then the blockage has to be somewhere between the pump and the carb , perhaps in the U bend you described or some crud in there somewhere . Just make sure you've cleared the fuel you pumped out before refitting the coil lead and starting the engine again .

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Just re-read your post and you say the bend is before the pump , it could be stopping the fuel syphoning through to the pump if it was high enough and there wasn't much in the tank , can you reduce theheight of it at all ?

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Also if the tank is nearly empty, and you are trying to pump it up to the engine on a mechanical fuel pump. Then you will be there for a while.

Always diabolical on a mini when you run out of fuel, you wander off to a petrol station, get your five litres and wander back. Only to flatten the battery trying to get the fuel up to the carb.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.