RobertFord

Hi All,

As I've mentioned in the what did you do on your truck today? topic, the previous owner of my F150 messed up the connectors on the braided stainless steel fuel lines, near the fuel filter.

Although it functions now, I want to replace the filter. The previous owner apparently just pulled on the lines with all his power, bending parts of the connector. One connector will slide off, the other wont.

I can't seem to find new lines online, nor do i doubt that those would be very expensive to get over here in the Netherlands.

As this is my weekend hobby truck, I thought about maybe cutting off the connector, attach a new piece of tubing and attach that to the filter (using regular wormdrive-clamps. I know this is not the best thing to do, but I don't really see another option.

Does anyone have any recommendations regarding this procedure? What hose and or clamps to use?

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

You would have to use the proper size fuel line. It has to be specifically fuel line, not just rubber hose. Double clamp it either end with gear clamps. Still not the best - there's a lot more pressure than there used to be once upon a time.
The locking piece in the connector can be fished out of there if you can get at it and have some patience. I used the point of a test light. If you get the little locking piece out, you can try and get a new one or sometimes even straighten it out.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

Pull the whole line off the truck so you can see better to pick it out.

RobertFord

Thanks for the tips guys... On Rockauto i saw that there are fuel line repair kits, such as:
It seems that would be the way to "do it right". Am I correct in assuming that the stainless steel braided line, is just an outer shell, with a rubber hose inside of it, in which this repair kit would fit? The 5/16th inch diameter seems to be the one RockAuto advises, any thoughts on that?

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

The line to the front or the line to the back ?
Either way, that thing looks like just another problem. It would be easier to fish the clip out.
Disconnect the line that you can (if you look inside, you'll see the little clip). Pull the filter out of it's bracket, and pull the whole filter and line away from the frame as far as you can. Cut the tube on the filter, leaving as much as you can to grab on to.
Using a little pick or whatever you have, work at the little spring clip inside to free it from the line. It's not a full circle, it has a split on one side. Once you get it loose, you should be able to pull everything out of the line. Most times you can straighten out whatever's bent on the little clip and reuse it if you can't find another.
I'd suggest you try that first. If that doesn't work then go to your plan B.

RobertFord

Thank you for your small how-to, chris It seems that would be the smartest way out of this.

It is the line to the rear that is stuck on, and difficult to reach as the front tank is limiting access to that part of the frame rail. Once it becomes dry enough here, I'll give it a go

ncranchero

It's pretty difficult to destroy the hose ends, not impossible. Here are the clip and o-ring numbers.
http://s11.photobucket.com/user/ncra...tml?sort=3&o=9


Fuel Line Springs



OEM FORD numbers are E9UZ-9B307-A & E9UZ-9B307-B. Dorman part numbers are 5/16" (800-007) & 3/8" (800-008) fuel lines. The kit containing both sizes is 800-017.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

nchranchero; good pics - pretty much explains it really well.

RobertFord

Ok, so I think the PO dropped the front tank to get to the filter, otherwise it's damn near impossible. (Couldn't get a pair of cutting pliers in there if i wanted...)
I'm going to just delete the front tank. The sending level is not working, and it's not like I'll ever use it around these parts, no need to keep a stock of fuel that's getting older.

Once the front tank is gone, there will be enough space to work on it, though I might just order a new set of fuel lines I saw over at bronco graveyard, for a single tank.

Unfortunately I did just fill up the front tank, so now I need to get that out drop it, cap the two lines coming out. (I read somewhere that people just cut off the old connectors from the pump, weld them shut and just put them back in the lines)

I thought I'd let the front tank pump (each tank has its own pump) empty the tank by attaching a piece of tubing to the front of the filter, seeing how that's still connected. Any thoughts on that?

I'll post some pics tonight

[edit] images

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

Doesn't matter how much gas is in it, down is easy just lower enough to disconnect the lines then let it fall. Welding fuel lines is not smart unless you like fire. If your truck is '90up eliminate the tees in the lines to delete the tank.