[dcobbett]

The fill hose on mine was pretty well foamed in as well. I managed to start it a few inches from the fill cap end. That let me remove the fill cap. then I snaked a doubled length of 1/2" dia. rope down the hose and inserted a piece of dowel in the loop (just a little longer than the pipe's O.D. I could apply enough force with that setup to eventually start the hose and get it out, but it was not easy.