Don't know if anybody has busted one of these apart yet. I would imagine so. I took one off of my truck that wasn't switching, and decided to see if it could be fixed. Dang thing at the ford house is like $480.00! I don't think so! So, I busted it apart to see what went wrong. I would appreciate any input. Keep me on the right track. Pics and stuff next.

 

I just drilled out the 1/8" rivets, and it snaps apart. the contact surfaces shown are for the motor power. They look like they are having a bad connection problem. The other side has contacts for the fuel gauge. I took some crocus cloth and cleaned up the contacts. Then polished them with a pencil turned around in a drill. The eraser will polish the heck out of copper. There are a couple of diodes down inside, you could test those with a ohm meter. If they are good, it will read short one direction, and infinity the other. If they ready infinity both directions, or ohms in both direction. They are trash. Cheap part, easily changed if so. I could use a wiring diagram, if somebody has one, for an obs diesel? I used to have one, can't find it. I got everything cleaned up, I'll get some dielectric grease to put on the contact surfaces. That keeps them from building up carbon, it is a must. I will keep posting on this, until it is fixed and done. Or, in the trash. lol I hope it helps somebody save some money. Not much to these for $480 freakin dollars!

 

Easy way to polish contacts.

 

I know a couple guys have attempted this only to have them crumble upon disassembly. Good luck!

 

Definitely watching. Is Ford the only place to get a new one? I am guessing so.

 

Not much better in price but just in case this repair doesn't work I found this:


Fuel Tank Selector Valve 1987 2011 F250 F350 F450 F550 Brand New | eBay

 

On my truck I'll be doing away with the 2 tanks and running one large rear.

 

That's my plan also........55 gallon rear!

 

Or run both like I did 20 gal front sd"44" gal more like 50gal. Merry Christmas

 

Ha ha ha, I have absolutely no use for that much fuel in one sitting. If it's a trip I'm taking, I don't mind stopping every few hours to stretch my legs. I'm a tad on the tall skinny side. Lol

 

Tall drink of fuel, I mean water. My father-in-law used to say that. Anyway, I can hold 90 gallons now and have a write-up on a bigger front tank that I'm thinking about adding. I hate getting fuel when I'm towing! With the 5er you can stop anyway and you have your own bathroom.

 

On my next truck, I think I might go to one big tank... Or, make one tank feed the other somehow. get rid of this valve. I do, have this one working. I am fixing to install it, back into the truck. Seems, all it was, was dirty contact surfaces.. Works like a champ now..

 

I've got another one apart now. Fixing to do it. Seems to be the same problem. It will go on my dually, which seems to have the same issue. Then, i'll fix the one on my dually to go back on my old 89. LOL Saving me about 1200 bucks! so far! I like it.

 

Never really thought through this much, but it would be worthwhile to toss in a large capacity rear for that sort of change holds more than the duals do anyways.

There are quite a few quality 6 or 4 port fuel selector valves out there that are much cheaper than our factory unit. I'd rewire the switch to an updated valve and be done with it.... or run 1 tank.

Cant beat the price on the tank....

 

What are you seeing is the problem, the dirty contacts?