Fuel Sender/Pickup

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Mar 10, 2012 | 12:43 PM

JonathanN

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From: Garden City, KS

Fuel Sender/Pickup

I'm an SD guy so I need a little help with this '97... what exactly is in the tank? I'm not sure this truck is getting fuel. I won't know without an external gauge, but it kinda acts like this is the case. I know there's a foot... does it have a screen? How about a strainer? I know the feet like to break off. Both tanks are almost empty according to the gauge. I don't want to fill them up to see if that's the case and then wind up having to drop them anyways. I might as well drop them while they're empty... anybody have any input before I drop the tanks? I don't want to have to drop them if I don't have to. Thanks, guys!

Mar 10, 2012 | 12:48 PM

Ken_C

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From: Michigan

people here agree that pulling the bed off is an easier way of getting to the top of the tanks. all thats in there is the pickup and its screened. and the level sender. and the pickup tubes do break and the easiest way to check if thats the case is fill em up. i would also check fuel pressure at the port on the left side of the fuel filter.

Mar 10, 2012 | 03:22 PM

DRRXR

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From: Texas Coast

What Ken said.

The fuel pressure at the schrader valve should be around 45 to 65 even shimmed it should be under 75. It will swing some so triple check it to get the swing readings

Using a cheap tire gauge can roughly let you know whats happening.

All of the above plies if you still have the diaphragm fuel pump & fuel bowl and have not modded that.

Mar 10, 2012 | 04:30 PM

JonathanN

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From: Garden City, KS

Bowl is gone... have a Super Duty pump with pre and post-pump canister filters installed. I pulled the stuff outta the tanks and they look good, nothing but a foot and screen like you said. I didn't think to make sure the air was purged after I fired it up and it ran bad and died, almost running like it was before. After the pressure came back up (there's a gauge on the regulator), it fired up and ran pretty good. All this was after I switched to the fuller (is that the right word?

) tank... I'm thinking that some full tanks and a fuel pressure gauge (visible while driving) are in order. Thanks for the input, fellas!

Mar 10, 2012 | 04:34 PM

Hussler

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From: Medford Oregon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken_C

people here agree that pulling the bed off is an easier way of getting to the top of the tanks.

But Ken, ... that spoils all the fun trying to lower an empty tank, which is never empty anyway. Breaking a strap trying to lower the tank down is fun and with 2 people and a jack, it slips, and all the wiring is ripped out of the connector and you don't have a replacement. Then you get the tank out and everything is fine, except the busted wires and strap so you have buy all that crap , put it all back together, wishing you never started the project.