Date:         Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:33:55 -0500
Reply-To:     Dan Hall <elektro@WESTAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dan Hall <elektro@WESTAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Fuel lines (injector hoses)
In-Reply-To:  <480C0157.9010908@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

BE VERY CAREFUL when removing old hose from plastic pieces.   I've
learned the hard way they can be very brittle and easily broken.
Perhaps there is a special tool to remove those metal crimps.  I think
I remember using some wire snips to gnaw away at them until they
broke.  Then the fuel hose will be hard to get off as it has been
baked into form onto the injector.
I've used carpet cutters to slice them a bit to loosen them up.
But I don't recommend that now.  Last time I replaced the hoses, I'd
actually sliced a hairline cut in the injector which leaked a bit of
fuel when I test-pressurized the system.
I sanded this cut back down and reattached the hose to that injector
and it has worked fine for several months.

But I've always had trouble removing old hose, especially from plastic
without busting something.  Go easy.  If I had to do it over, I'd use
a dull blade to slice a bit of hose at the crimped area to loosen it
up and be careful not to go too deep and cut the plastic injector.

This method could very well be heavily frowned upon by the List and
I've thusly donned armor and awaited any salvos headed my way over it.

Hopefully, Yoda will speak to us on this topic soon.

Needless to say, after completing the job, be very observant for fuel
leaks for a while.
One thing I've done as a matter of course since owning my van is use
my nose.   Whenever I've stopped and turned the van off, I walk to the
vent on the left side of the van at the rear, about head high.  This
vent is open to the engine compartment.  As the heat from the engine
vents out this opening, it brings along the various odors out of the
engine compartment with it.   A quick sniff or two here 10 or 15
seconds after stopping can tell you a lot.
Dan Hall
86 Westy Wolfsburg Weekend
"Das Boot"


On Apr 20, 2008, at 9:52 PM, Slloth wrote:

> When replacing the small 2 inch lines on the injectors how do you
> remove
> the hose from the injector?  It has a small metal washer looking thing
> that seems to be crimped to the injector.
>
> I read instructions on replacing the lines and they said to use WD40
> to
> help if the new line won't slide through the old heat sleeve.  Do
> solvents like WD40 dry out rubber quicker?  Or am I looking to far
> in to
> this.
>