Fuel Line Stuck and stripped

Glad to hear you got it done. Some heat can really help with the flair but it’s tuff when it’s a gas line.

 

Little hard to find but I use these on all double flares that are old and fragile...that I have to reseat.....

usually, one auto zone in the city will stock em...




None of em have leaked in ten years of using....
they're rated for 200+ psi hvac service,
so 45lb fuel pump shouldn't be nothing...

 

Good job getting it loose! For next time, this particular vise grip has saved me many times on rounded flare/brake nuts. If you have room to get it in there.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...liers/ptt2/gm8743?q=power+torque+pliers&pos=6

 

Another way to ensure a seal on that connection is exactly what I have wanted to find.
I’ve never used anything like that before so just to make sure, these are installed by dropping them into the female hose connector, concave side facing out(concave side to fuel hardline), and then inserting the fuel hardline on top of it and compressing them together with the flange nut ?

 

The concave side faces opposite the flare on the tube.

The #8 I all ready had were barely too big.
SO I had to get the next smaller size.......#6's


Santech Washer No 6 Flare 5 Piece (autozone.com)


these allow you to get leak free connections without having to over clamp questionable old double flares.......

The replacement fuel line to filter and after filter fuel lines are $200 each.....you do not want to damage those seats on either.


You can get these already compromised......if the previous mechanic wrenched down on that nut without the end tube being square on the receiver....
creases or deforms the flare end on the tube......

and reflaring 20 yr old steel tubing is sketchy at best.....it just wants to split.

 

Just as a final update, got the truck started yesterday.
Didn't have it tight enough on the first try, but tightened it up and its holding pressure.

So this tube nut: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/edd-121069
It seems to be out of stock now, not sure if thats temporary or not. I bought an extra, so if you need it send me a message.
Autozone carries a similar tube nut, but its too short.

and this cheap Harbor freight flaring kit: The flaring kit was an absolute pain to use. You have to tighten the hell of it onto the line so it doesn't just get pulled off when you start pressing the flaring end into it.
And the pipe cutter tool was too big to spin fully around the line, may have been able to get more flex out of the fuel line by removing some clips but I didnt try. I had to do half the tube at a time, which left the final cut less than perfect.

But as an alternative to a like $200+ fuel line replacement, definitely worth it.

 

Yeah that nut is a PIA......it is super easy to cross thread that because your dicking with keeping that end tube/flare square when screwing into the receiver.

that nut just wants to naturally cross thread....guess its the larger diameter......way harder than any brake line I've ever done.


I've got a number of war stories on these.....this is one of them.

 

Somebody in the past overtightened it. Guys get spooked because there's fuel in there, so they tighten the shit out of them to make it "more safer"

I see it with brake lines a lot too

 

And any leak drips directly onto the drivers side headers, I'm pretty spooked about it too.

 

I read somewhere to put a light coat of motor oil on flare connections to get them to seat. Have used this trick on crush washers on fuel line banjo fittings to good effect.

 

The service manual says to use some oil on the threads.
I was unable to loosen my brake lines. A mechanic friend used a small pipe wrench and easily broke them free. I think I'll take my buggered fuel line to a shop.