Fuel line replacement

Topic: Fuel line replacement (Read 1932 times) previous topic - next topic

Fuel line replacement

October 16, 2013, 07:38:49 pm

I'm at FT for some small scheduled maintenance items, the biggest being replacement of the engine compartment insulation. When I started the main engine yesterday to pull it over to the service bay, it died five seconds later. It wouldn't restart until I hit the auto prime at the back. You guessed it-air being sucked through cracks in the supply line. Since I read the forum continually, I always arrive for FT service with an empty tank. Good thing! 17 man-hours to replace. Oh, well. No better place for the problem to occur. For the past two years I've asked them to check the fuel lines.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #1 – October 17, 2013, 08:56:54 pm

Brett:

Where are you staying while they change your fuel lines?

Bob

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #2 – October 17, 2013, 09:18:08 pm

Had all the fuel lines changed including generator and aquathot at FOT earlier this year. They did it in less than a day but had more than one crew working on it. I think 17 hours was about right.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #3 – October 17, 2013, 09:48:04 pm

Did they have to go inside the coach for
Replacement, or did they do everything underneath?
Don

Quote from: Felix and Gail – October 17, 2013, 09:18:08 pm

Had all the fuel lines changed including generator and aquathot at FOT earlier this year. They did it in less than a day but had more than one crew working on it. I think 17 hours was about right.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #4 – October 17, 2013, 10:20:22 pm

All the work on the fuel lines were outside the coach. They did have to empty and partially pull the fuel tank from the passenger side. I also had them replace the old primary fuel filter system with the racor 700 series since the old system was making a grinding sound when priming the last time I changed the filter.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #5 – October 17, 2013, 11:49:53 pm

My 98 coach had the same repair last Oct., drove in for service work, then could not leave Camp Foretravel later. Location is every thing when the coaches will not start.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #6 – October 18, 2013, 07:22:53 am

Yes, no intrusion on the living space. Stayed in Camp FT each night. Russell Lantier was in yesterday for an HWH problem-had a problem starting his '99. Oh, oh. He's heading for Nebraska before he can address his fuel lines.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #7 – October 18, 2013, 02:20:33 pm

We had fuel lines and air bags done at FOT in January. We never had to move out of the coach. Fuel tank came most of the way out the driver side on ours. I think we were in the shop for most of five days. About a day for fuel lines, a day for air bags, parts of a couple of days for air system stuff including some check valves and regulators.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #8 – October 18, 2013, 09:38:56 pm

Final FT cost to replace all fuel lines in 42' coach with Aqua Hot and generator-$2,550 after club discount. $867 for materials, 18 hours labor. Basically 3 techs working for 6 hours. I can't imagine doing it by myself, even 30 years ago.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #9 – October 18, 2013, 10:52:28 pm

Brett,

What hose did they use? Want to make a note of the "preferred" replacement.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #10 – October 18, 2013, 11:21:01 pm

HTFL on our coach in January.

Old Fuel Lines

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #11 – October 19, 2013, 12:14:09 am

Maybe a dumb question but where do the lines go from tank to engine filter. Do they follow the channel across the top of each bay ceiling??
I am thinking that once I have it over the pit I can run them (out and return) from tank to outside of bulkhead wall then down and along the underbelly of coach then back up into the engine area.? Simple and all I have to do is protect them from damage. Sound silly?? Thoughts anyone.
JohnH

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #12 – October 19, 2013, 07:40:32 am

It's been a while since I've looked in on the forums... Sometimes life gets in the way of plans! Anyway, Dot and I still have our Foretravel... we're taking great care of it... we're just not getting to use it much because of having to take care of an elderly parent.

So... back to fuel line replacement discussion. I think Brett jinxed me. We brought our coach in to FT to have the HWH looked at. And Thursday morning, when we cranked up to move the coach into the shop... the coach shuttered to a stop after running only about 20 seconds. I was immediately suspicious - IT HAD NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE. But I was ready to blow it off, and continue on our trip. When it did the exact same thing again Friday, I was no longer in the "blow it off mindset." And so we left the coach at FT and our plans were cancelled.

Hopefully, FT will be able to inspect lines this week, and when I learn anything, I'll post.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #13 – October 19, 2013, 09:55:09 am

Good to hear from you, Russell.

I often wondered what was going on.

Via con Dios ...

best, paul

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #14 – October 19, 2013, 09:56:26 am

John, All the fuel lines run down the center of the coach in the channel on the ceiling of the bays. You will have to remove the sheetmetal covers and then pull lines thru. Some have used a length of PVC as a guide.
Gary B

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #15 – October 19, 2013, 10:12:06 am

John, I don't know about the tank end of the fuel lines but mine run in the center raceway under the covers in the bays. JMHO but most of the leaks are going to be found at the connections and bends in the lines. I have had the covers off of mine the fuel lines inside look new, where the start looking bad is where they come into the engine and generator compartment. One may do a little inspection, and replace the end sections rather than the entire line. Also keep in mind that the feed lines are the important ones, as long as the returns are not leaking they don't have much pressure on them. I don't know how comfortable I would feel running them underneath, it would expose them to the cold and and all manor of road damage.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #16 – October 19, 2013, 12:10:36 pm

That is what I thought about the location of lines being in the "ceiling of bays" I would imagine that they are strapped in with the bundle of wires etc and that makes it a devil to pull out (or just leave in and add the new ones. I wouls not leave the lines exposed under belly if I do it this way, but have them laying in an aluminum shallow channel which is held to the cross tubes by self tappers. The depth of it would only be 3/4".
John H

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #17 – October 19, 2013, 12:25:13 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – October 19, 2013, 12:10:36 pm

That is what I thought about the location of lines being in the "ceiling of bays" I would imagine that they are strapped in with the bundle of wires etc and that makes it a devil to pull out (or just leave in and add the new ones. I wouls not leave the lines exposed under belly if I do it this way, but have them laying in an aluminum shallow channel which is held to the cross tubes by self tappers. The depth of it would only be 3/4".
John H

"Abandon in place" is the term one shop mentioned to me.

I assume my old ones are still there. Did not ask my old buddy who is an x Foretravel factory dealer technician as to the details

The fuel lines in the top of the bay are in the area of the heater line to the dash so maybe the track area keeps the fuel line from jelling the fuel in serious winter.

I had the std fuel gel out in an ored at below zero weather once 25 years ago.

Bob

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #18 – October 20, 2013, 01:09:15 am

When we had our fuel lines (all) replaced by FOT this January, I believe they used the old lines to the Cummins to pull the new ones through the center channel, since they didn't have to remove things from our center compartment to get access to the center raceway (compartment was packed to the gills...) The new line (Parker HTFL) is very slippery, so would pull easily. They did have to remove the fuel tank to get access to the top fittings.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #19 – October 20, 2013, 09:44:51 am

After reading through several of these "replacing fuel lines" threads, it seems most of the affected coaches being discussed are from the late '90's or early 2000's era. Can one deduce from this that any Foretravel coach around 15 years old has either had all the fuel lines replaced, or if not is "living on borrowed time"? And what about the even older models? Is it possible there are still late '80's or early '90's model Grand Villas running around with the original fuel lines in place? If so, how have they managed to "dodge the bullet" this long? Would really like to hear from some current or past GV owners on this subject.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #20 – October 20, 2013, 09:52:26 am

M-11's and later Cummins engines suck fuel to the injection pump instead of being pressurized by a lift pump. I can imagine B and C engines going longer with bad fuel lines without stopping the coach.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #21 – October 20, 2013, 11:10:22 am

Having a 2001, I assume this will be an issue, however so far it appears the 95-99 models are suffering this issue, Any GV;s have this issue also ?
Maybe I should schedule the line replacement for my buggy before it becomes a road block like others.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #22 – October 20, 2013, 05:18:39 pm

Brett H mentioned that 3 different sizes were used on his, I do not have Aquahot so any ideas on sizes?? I was thinking just use 1/2" on all, if I do it.
John h

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #23 – October 20, 2013, 06:04:30 pm

John,
Been thinking of replacing my fuel lines also, we have used Eaton Synflex TYPE R, SAE JR44, DOT 1913, 1/2" O.D. for supply and return on many DIesel Generators. It is some sort of PVC/Nylon/?. White inside/Black outside, we use the normal air brake brass correct fittings, and it is approved for Diesel, Oils and Antifreeze. Fleable. The good part, it is available at any truck supply house. It meets 21835-10021ONE

Think the 3/8"O.D. for the genset and the 1/4" for the Aqua Hot. Not sure what exactly the size needed until I get into it. Hoping we can use pipe threads and eliminate all the push on hose fittings with hose clamps.

The good part, an employee that I use on the Foretravel here is a smaller type and he fits in snug areas real good, call it job security

Moe Later.

Re: Fuel line replacement

Reply #24 – October 20, 2013, 06:21:11 pm

Interesting subject.
I too, I think, need to change my fuel lines, but my fuel line carry gasoline for the engine and generator.
Is the typical rubber fuel line OK or is there something better?

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