JIM CHALOUPKA
11-18-2010, 07:07 PM
Follow this recommendation to trouble free travels.
REPLACE YOUR RUBBER FUEL HOSES AT TEN YEARS OF AGE or there about.
How do I know, mine were at thirteen years and failed.
When your coach starts and runs briefly and then stops, don't panic, just get busy. I hope you will be safe where this happens, you will be there for awhile.
To confirm the diagnosis, remove the top of the Racor filter, if you have one and see if it is full of fuel, as it should be. If it is down obtain diesel and fill it. It is doubtful you carry a priming pump, so put the lid back on to keep dirt out and go read a book. After awhile, couple hours you may go back and find the level down again. Look closely in and around the engine compartment and you probably will find no leaks. Dah, ah, ha, go to Home Depot, if one is near by and buy a pump sprayer and 5gal diesel can. You will need them, oh yea get a barbed hose fitting for the sprayer hose and some fittings to attach same to the Racor at the side port. Close the system and begin pumping and looking for leaks. In my case most of 2gal was pumped in before I noticed a slightly wet and weeping hose (it also sucked air) to the inlet of the fuel transfer pump. Get ready to get dirty, your going IN! Find a suitable container to drain any opened lines of diesel (the EPA is watching) as well as many bystanders (they all want to make sure you are doing it correctly) Ha!
Disassemble the offending fuel line and take it to your nearest competent hose supplier. Pray your in an area that has such, not all NAPA, Advanced, Orielyes, Pepboys and such are equipped to make hoses. Be sure to take the old hose for a sample as all hose ends are not created equal.
Reassemble the new hose into the system and fill the Racor and reseal the lid.
Refill the pump sprayer with diesel and connect (after getting another hose for the sprayer, a fill hose for R-12 a/c system) to the R-12 port/fitting on the side of the secondary fuel filter block (this fitting seals with a schraider valve and will not let air into the system when the hose is disconnected)
[my bus has this fitting, yours may not] [you can buy a set male and female at Caterpillar for the outrageous price of $40.00] Pump about 2gal of diesel into the system and disconnect the fill line before the sprayer is empty so as not to introduce air. Start your engine and check for leaks
It is my opinion that one should change the fuel lines as routine maintenance at about a 10 year interval +-
I changed mine inconveniently during a road trip. Changed all I could access from the engine compartment. I turned one two piece line from Racor to the fuel pump into a one piece line.
Each line was about $30.00.
I used Teflon line covered with braided stainless steel and swagged brass ends.
Some Pictures for your enjoyment;
A little difficult to take pics of the conglomeration, but nevertheless, enjoy.
REPLACE YOUR RUBBER FUEL HOSES AT TEN YEARS OF AGE or there about.
How do I know, mine were at thirteen years and failed.
When your coach starts and runs briefly and then stops, don't panic, just get busy. I hope you will be safe where this happens, you will be there for awhile.
To confirm the diagnosis, remove the top of the Racor filter, if you have one and see if it is full of fuel, as it should be. If it is down obtain diesel and fill it. It is doubtful you carry a priming pump, so put the lid back on to keep dirt out and go read a book. After awhile, couple hours you may go back and find the level down again. Look closely in and around the engine compartment and you probably will find no leaks. Dah, ah, ha, go to Home Depot, if one is near by and buy a pump sprayer and 5gal diesel can. You will need them, oh yea get a barbed hose fitting for the sprayer hose and some fittings to attach same to the Racor at the side port. Close the system and begin pumping and looking for leaks. In my case most of 2gal was pumped in before I noticed a slightly wet and weeping hose (it also sucked air) to the inlet of the fuel transfer pump. Get ready to get dirty, your going IN! Find a suitable container to drain any opened lines of diesel (the EPA is watching) as well as many bystanders (they all want to make sure you are doing it correctly) Ha!
Disassemble the offending fuel line and take it to your nearest competent hose supplier. Pray your in an area that has such, not all NAPA, Advanced, Orielyes, Pepboys and such are equipped to make hoses. Be sure to take the old hose for a sample as all hose ends are not created equal.
Reassemble the new hose into the system and fill the Racor and reseal the lid.
Refill the pump sprayer with diesel and connect (after getting another hose for the sprayer, a fill hose for R-12 a/c system) to the R-12 port/fitting on the side of the secondary fuel filter block (this fitting seals with a schraider valve and will not let air into the system when the hose is disconnected)
[my bus has this fitting, yours may not] [you can buy a set male and female at Caterpillar for the outrageous price of $40.00] Pump about 2gal of diesel into the system and disconnect the fill line before the sprayer is empty so as not to introduce air. Start your engine and check for leaks
It is my opinion that one should change the fuel lines as routine maintenance at about a 10 year interval +-
I changed mine inconveniently during a road trip. Changed all I could access from the engine compartment. I turned one two piece line from Racor to the fuel pump into a one piece line.
Each line was about $30.00.
I used Teflon line covered with braided stainless steel and swagged brass ends.
Some Pictures for your enjoyment;
A little difficult to take pics of the conglomeration, but nevertheless, enjoy.