83 F250, 460 Fuel Issues

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Jul 6, 2010 | 11:53 AM

djdsc

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From: North of the GG Bridge

83 F250, 460 Fuel Issues

First post but I have been reading and searching here and this site has been invaluable in getting the ‘83 F250 I inherited running. The truck has a 460, dual front and rear tanks with the return fuel line and is an automatic. It has a fresh tune with plugs and wires, cap and all.

It is having fuel issues; a new oil pressure switch solved the initial starting problem along with a jumper on the inertia switch. When starting cold the he truck will start now with one pump and run for a minute then die. Some coxing will get it started and it will usually idle fine. The big problem is It drives great up to about 35 mph then it cuts out and bucks and can die without working the accelerator peddle. When warm it idles and drives great up that 35mph then just it craps out and is un-drivable beyond that speed.

I couldn’t fine a method for isolating and testing the fuel pumps and fuel pressure. Does the carb go on these? Help is greatly appreciated.

DJ

Jul 6, 2010 | 01:04 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

A guy I work with just had this same problem with the exact same type of truck. He found the return line gizmo up at the carb stopped up with some weird plastic looking stuff. He cleaned that thing at the carb out, and it fixed it. Looking at it, we figured the stuff that clogged the orfice at the carb was the pickup screen in the tank. He already had the screen in the front tank disintegrate, so we figured that's what happened when he went to the rear tank, and the problem started.

The return line gizmo has a small orifice inside, but the fuel filter in the system is AFTER this device.

Jul 6, 2010 | 08:43 PM

djdsc

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From: North of the GG Bridge

Excellent on the information, much appreciated and I will look into it and post back my results. Getting familiar with this fuel system has been interesting. My thoughts are to just replace the fuel pumps and blow out the lines too.

How much did your friend disassemble the carb for cleaning?

Jul 6, 2010 | 08:58 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

No need to mess with the carb. The piece that clogged up is outside the carb. It's the piece the fuel lines hook to, not the carb.

Aug 19, 2010 | 02:59 PM

djdsc

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From: North of the GG Bridge

Well, it has taken me a while to get to this but you were totally correct. The the incoming and return fuel line "T", right up by the coil was clogged just as you mentioned. It looks to be some kind of black rubber like stuff.

The truck now runs fine well up to 75 which is as fast as I needed to go as a test as I don't have much history on the vehicle accept it just turned 100,500 miles. It still coughs above 55 a bit if I romp on it from a stand still all the was to 75. But if I back off and slowly accelerate it seems fine. I need to take the "T" back apart and look to see if it has plugged back up a bit. I have just been running on the front tank so as not to confuse the issue.

Your advice was right on so a big thank you to you and this forum. However I feel like I found the problem but not the source.

Thanks,
DJ

Aug 19, 2010 | 03:29 PM

bashby

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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va

Glad to see you got it fixed and reported back, maybe someone will be able to fix theirs using the search feature down the road. I'm not familliar with the setup you're talking about but it seems like an inline filter before the restrictor would prevent a reoccurence. If it persists you may need to clean or replace your fuel tank.

Aug 19, 2010 | 05:01 PM

beetle

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From: sunny san diego

This 3 way fuel device is designed to prevent vapor lock. It allows a small amount of fuel to be metered back to the fuel tank(s). I recommend just replacing instead of cleaning. If you cut it open, you will find a mesh screen inside.