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Topic: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot (Read 1973 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #25 –
Quote from: bbeane –
If driving in sub-freezing temps, you can over-cool fuel with a fuel cooler! 😬😬😬😬 that ain't going to happen 30s and I'm outa there. Just saying
Wife Kelly knits - maybe she can make a cover.  I am thinking kitchen garbage bag and some duct tape.  I am not like some of our brave forum mates that do single digits.  I am cool with nights in the 20s.  Last Year, I bought one of those hunting coats with the removable inside jacket, draw-string hood, zippered this, velcroed that.  I should have bought one half a century ago.  I LOVE that coat!
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #26 –
Quote from: craneman –
Just mount it on the outside of CAC just like my factory set up. On the return line.
Yes fuel cooler can be cooled by engine hydraulic driven radiator fans no need to add another issue down the road. Good to see you are addressing the generator and aqua hot. You also have several lines on the engine. This would be the time to change those also. They have crimped ends and any hose shop should be able to take your hose and make new lines. IMO removing drain plug helps to protect floor from tank damage when removing. No problem getting out, but care must be taken to put back in. Too hot for me, I'd wait for September. I used a forklift to side tank onto and made a spoon to reinstall out of some 1/4 x 2 inch strap. Keep all your lines fuel free till you have verified a good kink free installation. I used the  trident and would again. I also reused fitting, just be careful removing them from old line and I had extra plugs I screwed into fitting so I could use a dead blow hammer to reinstall. Pulling new line in with old is the way to go. Cut off fitting and install barbed splice fitting to pull. When tank is removed this is the time to repair your failed vent holes.

Basement floor pass thru vents

I also painted forward bulkhead and applied moisture proof tape to corners of tank compartment to seal. If your tank has fiberglass end covers they should be also sealed to prevent spilled fuel from getting under tank.
Scott

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #27 –
Lots of good advice there, Scott.  I will look at the vents.

I am interested to see how much the tank weighs, or maybe I am not!  I removed the 100-gallon tank in our previous coach to get a split welded, and I was able to get it from skids into the back of my truck by myself.  I am guessing this one will weigh a lot more.

I have already thought through removal of the old fittings.  We had a dash AC refrigerant leak on the coach when we got it.  Someone had cut off a leaky fitting and reused it with hose clamps.  No issue with that.  When they cut it off, they left a cut in the fitting itself that could not be stopped by the clamps.  A nice little channel from end to end.  Disassembly, a little sand paper, and all is good now.

This will be a big and nasty job.  I plan to replace all of the hoses I can - those on the engine will be sent out.

So far, I am OK with the heat.  Days of 100 degrees or more, I take more breaks.  Days over 110, I will stop work by late morning and do stuff inside.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #28 –
Matt, Monaco tanks are steel our Foretravels are aluminum. I manhandled mine out onto a motorcycle lift to roll around. Reply #15

Fuel lines
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #29 –
I had no trouble manhandling the tank out and in. The Monaco I had the tank
was aluminum.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #30 –
Primary reason for fork lift was it was onsite, and easy to adjust height. Ie use what you have available. Absolutely not needed but then again I am kinda lazy. Biggest thing is having a place to accommodate sliding tank out. Coach is eight feet and so is tank. Couple extra feet minimum on both sides and some additional working room. I used a cable across two of the mount holes for a handle to help pull out.
Scott

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #31 –
Quote from: dsd –
Primary reason for fork lift was it was onsite, and easy to adjust height. Ie use what you have available. Absolutely not needed but then again I am kinda lazy. Biggest thing is having a place to accommodate sliding tank out. Coach is eight feet and so is tank. Couple extra feet minimum on both sides and some additional working room. I used a cable across two of the mount holes for a handle to help pull out.
Scott
I would be using the forklift too!  Nice thing to have around.

I recently bought one of those hydraulic lift tables, which should be handy for supporting the tank.  I have a heavy-duty come-along which will be a good persuader when I get the path otherwise clear.  The winch on the FJ would be overkill - more likely to damage something.

I still need to get some barrels to store the fuel.  I am around 1/4 tank, which is still a bunch.

All of you - thanks for the guidance on preparing for this job.  I will report the amounts of hose used, and likewise anything unique I learn.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #33 –
That's what I used and got it for twenty.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #35 –
When did California taxes go down to 50%????

Tim Fiedler
Gen-Pro.biz
630 240-9139
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #36 –
Quote from: turbojack –
I would use different color zip ties.  I don't like the idea of painting the hose due to possibility of paint chemicals causing the hose to degrade. Good probably that nothing would happen but I always seem to be the one that hears "I have been doing this for a long time and I have never seen that happen before"
The paint was on the old hose and fittings, onto the tank by the fittings.Zip ties are great if you can reach fittings.My tank didn't come out far enough with hoses attached to reach much. I didn't paint the new hoses. I ended up cutting one line to get tank out!
I see lots of great idea's posted here, but also see a lot of overthinking it. I did mine myself in 2 6hr 100 degree days, none of it was a big deal. Pumped tank into 50 gallon drum, slid it out, dropped belly covers,pulled hoses, had new ones made up with new fittings, installed them. Used snake over rear area. Also did gen. Put tank in, pumped fuel in. Used small drill pump to prime to filters. Engine fired right up. Have fun, just more stinky then anything.
Chris

Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #38 –
Fuel line project is finished.  A few things:

1.  A box of 50 feet of fuel line costs about as much as 35 feet.
2.  It is nice having some extra - run it and trim to fit.
3.  I wondered a lot about a sealer for the existing fittings.  Turned out I never loosened them.  Other than the Aqua Hot supply... for reasons unknown, I wanted to see how long the dip tube was.  Probably about 1.5 inches from the bottom of the tank.
4.  That woven plastic sleeve makes the lines slick for easier pulling.
5.  I pulled the engine lines from front to rear, using a hose barb splice.  I pulled from the fuel tank compartment to the storage bay, with one side of the metal tray loosened.  Then to where the fuel lines exit the bulkhead, Then to the engine-transmission area.
6.  I added a fuel cooler, and it was a convenient time to do that.  Between the grill and the CAC.  Much easier than I thought.
7.  The generator fuel lines were stuck in the front metal chase.  I cut them, left the bits in there.  I ran the new lines through PVC pipe for protection.
8.  The supply line for the generator got pinched.  I had to pump out the tank and nearly remove it again to get access.
9.  The AH lines were easy, just push them through the hole.
10.  I used the fuel filter purge pump to prime the engine.  Started, coughed, stayed running.  After fixing the generator line kink, I used a vacuum hand pump to draw the fuel through the fuel filter.  For the AH, I turned it on and it started right up!
11.  I didn't drain the fuel lines before I started.  I probably drained about a quart into a pan from the cut ends, and later drained another quart from the removed lines.
12.  This was a dirty, stinky, hot, painful job.  (It was 100-105 degrees for several days.)  Still glad I tackled it.  Were I to do it again.  I would pull the coach on 4-6 inches of wood for additional lift.  The space from the suspension blocks was helpful, but a few inches would have make it easier.

Thanks to you guys for great advice on this project.  I thought for a bit about hiring this job out, but the stories of permeable hose, having two stooges failing to start the engine for an entire day, and other hijinks convinced me I was the guy.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #39 –
-Are the push connectors better than the original threaded fittings?
-Will push connectors work with trident?
-I have known the rigid air lines can work with push connect, even the Pex water hoses do,
Doesn't trident have soft layer on the outside?
-Can you please describe why the expandable vinyl covering will make the hose slide easier? Is it because its shiny and slippery?
-How can be dressed on the existing wires?
Specially in the tunnel?
-I have heard that pushing generator's hoses through its too hard due to bunch of turns
Will these covers help or create a larger diameter and get harder to follow the twists and turns?
-Aren't the tank fittings right in the middle, in line with the tunnel? If yes why i read above , 3 extra fit of hose from tunnel's exit to the tank connectors?
Asking all these questions is to do this project professionally

Edmond
Edmond
1998 Foretravel U295
Turlock Ca

Re: Fuel hose project - 1998 U320 36-foot

Reply #40 –
Three extra feet to reach the tank fitting when the tank is still half-way out.  I could not creach them with the tank in.  No usable access from the tunnel to the tank.

The sleeve does make the fuel line slicker, and maybe a little less likely to kink.  Not very thick.  Recommended to me,and I recommend it to you.  Pushing it on the fuel line expands the weave so it slides on.  Slide and pull, slide and pull...  Good abrasion resistance when installed.  You will likely see one or two old hoses nearly worn through.

Our coach has press on? Slide on?  Fittings. They are slightly tapered, and I dampened the hole in the hose with some fuel and shoved.  If I remember right, the only fittings I bought were barrel connectors to temporarily attach new hose to old.

Our generator hoses would not move.  I ran plastic conduit to protect them.

I THINK I left a full write up with new line lengths, procedures, etc around the Forum somewhere.

Ask us anything!
Matt B
1998 u-320