Fuel tank pickup
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Pulaski, NY
Fuel tank pickup
I am not totally sure what is going on in my rear fuel tank, but I took it out this morning because when I blew the lines clear last week (the truck kept running out of fuel when I switched to the rear tank), I heard a bunch of junk going back to the tank, then a definite thud inside the tank. When I got the sender out, the strainer had broken off the end and was rolling around in the tank. If you look at this thing, the strainer end is about 3" in diameter, then necks down to 3/8" inside diameter, and press fits onto the pickup tube. It has sheared off right at the pickup tube.
When I drained the tank out, I strained the fuel through some old t-shirts (don't worry, it's not going back into the truck, it's headed for the garage heater) into a bucket, expecting to find a bunch of stuff, but didn't really find anything. There was a little bit of pasty stuff, but nothing that I figure would block the fuel line.
Does anybody know where I can get the strainer that goes on the fuel tank pickup? So far the places I have called can only sell me the entire assembly - too many $$$. I was considering one of those epoxy repair kits if I can't find a new strainer. Any ideas?
When I drained the tank out, I strained the fuel through some old t-shirts (don't worry, it's not going back into the truck, it's headed for the garage heater) into a bucket, expecting to find a bunch of stuff, but didn't really find anything. There was a little bit of pasty stuff, but nothing that I figure would block the fuel line.
Does anybody know where I can get the strainer that goes on the fuel tank pickup? So far the places I have called can only sell me the entire assembly - too many $$$. I was considering one of those epoxy repair kits if I can't find a new strainer. Any ideas?
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
i wouldnt worry about it, i'm sure a lot of ppl will tell you that it is needed. i did the bronco fuel tank mod b/c the exact same thing happened to me and it was a good excuse. all i did was get a compression fitting and some stainless steel (brake line from NAPA for $5) and ran it as close to the bottom of the tank as possible. it works beautifully. been drivin it with the mod for about 2 months now and have loved every minute of it!
-cutts-
-cutts-
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
did the steel line break or did the hard rubber break off? If the steel just broke cut the steel line north of the bend and use a compression fitting and 3/8 break line to make a new end to put the strainer back on. If its the hard rubber that broke some epoxy might work.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Pulaski, NY
The hard rubber broke off, right where the inside diameter necks down so that you can't put the strainer on too far. My plan right now is to drill it out a bit and put some 3/8" steel line it, give it a 90 degree bend, and make a union there (that's where the fittings will actually fit). Otherwise, it's gonna be strainer-less for me!
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Pulaski, NY
What I did was attach a piece of rubber fuel line to the pickup tube, made sure it was long enough to reach the bottom of the tank, and then took a piece of 3/8" brake line, and stuffed it inside the rubber line (so that it wouldn't collapse under suction, like old radiator hoses).
But now I am totally confused. I put about 7 gallons into the rear tank, and checked to see that the gauge still worked. It came up to almost 1/2. I drove it home on the front tank, just in case something still wasn't right. When I got home, I idled it off the back tank for about 30 minutes, drove it down to the road and back, etc, and everything seems fine. This morning, I drive it to the convenience store (still on the back tank), and when I left the store, I got the fuel filter light. The tank level had dropped to 1/4. I switched to the front tank, and the light goes out. Switch back, get the light and fuel level goes back up to almost 1/2 again, switch to the front tank, light goes out. I am not losing any idle quality like I did when I originally had these problems. I am thinking that the return line may also be clogged. Any suggestions? I have to take a trip this weekend, and sure would like both tanks...
But now I am totally confused. I put about 7 gallons into the rear tank, and checked to see that the gauge still worked. It came up to almost 1/2. I drove it home on the front tank, just in case something still wasn't right. When I got home, I idled it off the back tank for about 30 minutes, drove it down to the road and back, etc, and everything seems fine. This morning, I drive it to the convenience store (still on the back tank), and when I left the store, I got the fuel filter light. The tank level had dropped to 1/4. I switched to the front tank, and the light goes out. Switch back, get the light and fuel level goes back up to almost 1/2 again, switch to the front tank, light goes out. I am not losing any idle quality like I did when I originally had these problems. I am thinking that the return line may also be clogged. Any suggestions? I have to take a trip this weekend, and sure would like both tanks...
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
if I remember correctly ... when I pulled my sender out there was a plug going to it. Somewhere downstream of this plug there was a ground that had a ring terminal on it that attatched to the frame near the tank. Did you forget to put it back on maybe?? That might be causing the irratic level. The light.... maybe your hose is too close to the bottom of the tank and is sucking down to it blocking off the line which the FF sensor would see as a clogged filter.
The stock screen has square notches cut into the bottom so it doesn't make completed contact with the tank bottom.
Just a couple thoughts. Hope this helps
The stock screen has square notches cut into the bottom so it doesn't make completed contact with the tank bottom.
Just a couple thoughts. Hope this helps
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