Upshot of problem: auxiliary tank sending gas, main tank not.

After filling up both tanks and driving for 15 minutes with no issues, the truck started losing power. It traveled like a vehicle that is being started on compression, e.g., that feeling of resistance until the engine turns over. Only in this instance, the engine did not turn over. I had to coast a long way in neutral until I could find a spot to pull over. All electrical functions worked during this event.

I waited 10 minutes before trying to start, and managed to get the engine to fire. This only lasted 90 seconds or so, and then the engine died, forcing me to pull over again. One last time I was able to turn the engine over, but only for a couple of seconds.

A guy came by, and asked me to work the accelerator while he checked for gas. He said gas was not reaching the carburetor. He told me to switch tanks. The truck fired right up. He suspected the dual tank switch was the problem, but suggested that fuel lines or a fuel filter could also factor in.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

One other (unrelated?) factor: Right as the truck started the 2nd time, I heard this bang or loud knock as the engine fired. When I popped the hood after the second attempt to start the car, I found a big chunk of the fan shroud on top of the battery. The guy who helped me didn't know what to make of it.

 

To my knowledge there is no pump in the behind the seat tank, so there has to be a blockage somewhere. It is something that you are just gonna have to find.

As for the shroud, if everything is still where it is supposed to be you had something that got in the way and is no longer there. Any signs of blood anywhere? I'm thinking rat, maybe.


John

 

When was the last time you opened the hood an checked stuff like oil, water, wind shield washer fluid, coolant ect.. ???

Or maybe had the oiled changed may be the belts changes or some other work done where someone had left a rag that may have dropped between radiator & the shroud an got sucked up from the fan if you had revved up the motor keeping it running?

Or like John asked any blood or guts or fury stuff any where



Also had you switch tanks after filling up.?
Orich

 

Thanks for the replies.
No blood anywhere. The chunk of shroud was the only unexpected object under the hood.
I check the fluid levels frequently and use the truck sparingly. I did not switch fuel tanks after filling both tanks.
I'm certainly no mechanic, but I suspect the loss of power and the broken shroud are separate issues, whatever their timing. Once I switched the tanks after the power loss, the truck ran flawlessly. Now that I have the truck home, I'll switch the tanks back tomorrow and see what happens. I'll share the results in the thread.
Again, thanks for the replies, jowilker and orich.

 

Could be a small leak in one of the rubber lines coming from the tanks at the fuel tank switch. Causing it to suck air instead of gas.

 

Check the fuel filter to see if it's picking up and junk from the tank that's not supplying gas.
On the shroud, check your motor mounts. I'm guessing at least one is broken and the engine torqued up. Putting the fan blade in to the shroud.

 

I'm with Jeff on the broken motor mount. Hold the brake, step on the gas pedal and watch the engine move.

 

OP,try it in both Drive and Reverse. If Alex and I are correct the engine will move up. Drive checks one mount and Reverse checks the other.

 

Ah yea geez, I forgot about the mounts. Wonder if, I'm getting old and loosing it.
Orich

 

Nope. You and I are just two of the many that "tag team" an Op's problem there neighbor. Was just my turn to punch a jab at the issue.

 

If ya got dropped in here in the late 40s like I was, could be. Somewhere along the way my rememberier got broke. My forgetter is still working fine.


John

 

Ah John, I had been swimming in circles until 1943 as, I arrived to the new world, I was beaten so hard that, I cried out loud. Then soon after, I found my way to two like little pillow things until, I open my eyes.

But the funny thing ever since that day still like looking at those things, I though were pillows.
Okay sorry for the
Orich

 

Looks like ya got 5 years on me, think my daddy was in the WW2 bout that time.


John

 

Sorry about not getting back to the thread to thank everyone for their replies. I had a total knee replacement 2 days after the last posting (still recovering), and finally feel up to expending some energy.

Prior to my surgery, a neighbor and I assessed the motor mount issue; neither of us could see any engine block movement in either forward or reverse. We each made a number of attempts while the other watched. We did find a wiggly water pump that needs replacement.

I've inserted a picture of a part of the shroud on the passenger side of the vehicle. I can't tell if this is a former shroud repair gone bad or the original connector pulled apart by the incident I described above. Perhaps somebody on the forum knows?

It will be sometime before I can do anything to the truck; my physical movement will be hampered for a while. But I would appreciate any comments that might help when I am able to tend to it.

Thanks again for all the responses.

 

I know about having the knees done. I screwed up and had both done at the same time. Anyways get better. If you want to fix the shroud, take it off of the truck. Take the stitches out, and clean both parts. I used Gorrilla Epoxy glue on mine and added a couple of pieces of plastic plumbers tape(for strength) in place of the stitches. Let it cure 24 hours!!