Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2014 13:51:32 -0800
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Shopping list or kit for Molotov fuel lines?
In-Reply-To: <547F7A11.5000405@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Those are not original, so some work has been done. I think the most dangerous connection is the slip connection between the hard plastic fuel line and the hose under the vehicle. It can slip apart, there are no barbs, the tube is just stuffed into the hose and clamped. It happened to me on my '84 long ago, and it was amazing that it didn't go up in flames. I was lucky. Some folks have had the plastic firewall fitting break, but the three I've replaced over the years were fine, I could not break them with my hands anyway.
I'm surprised to see you still have the original intake manifold tubes, they usually rot and leak by now! Those are ancient braid covered rubber from the '70s, but at least will not cause a fire! I'd replace them and add clamps while you are at it, but you do need to remove the intake pipes, which means a new intake gasket too. Oh, just forget it until they leak, if it ain't broke . . . ;-)
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Rocket J Squirrel
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 1:01 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Shopping list or kit for Molotov fuel lines?
Hm. No, I don't think I have braided lines here. Here's what I have:
<http://thatjacksblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/fuel-lines-and-clamps.html>
What about them clamps?
--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.
On 12/02/2014 07:52 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Rarely will a fuel line burst except for that cloth braided covered
> stuff used in the 70's and early 80's. It would need to be really
> decayed or extremely over-pressurized the fail that way. What does
> happen is that they develop leaks usually at the connections. They can
> be inspected and clamps checked. The best clamps are those that can
> expand/contract with temperature changes and regularly compensate for
> the hose taking a set or compressing over time. At the final recall VW
> changed the hoses and clamps to the spring type commonly known as a
> constant tension band clamp. Even the crimp style clamps have the
> advantage that they can give with hose expansion if crimped with the
> correct tool. Pinchers are not the correct tool.
>
> For the hose in the engine compartment the correct part number is now
> N 90339702. You need 5 pieces, it is not sold on a roll. Note that
> this is spec'd just for the engine compartment on the pressurized side
> of the regulator. This should also be sleeved part number N 0180154.
> Outside of the engine compartment and on the return side of the
> regulator you can use the roll stuff. If you want to use the late OEM
> clamps the part number for those is N 90619501.
>
> Note that the short hoses on the injectors are a special case. The
> hose itself is a self-lock type and barb fitting on the injector is
> designed for that "push-on" hose. When using a regular hose and clamp
> the sharper barbs can damage the inner liner of the hose and cause
> leaking between the layers. If doing this you really need a spring
> type clamp. A damaged hose here will leak directly onto the manifold
> or cylinder head and will be hard to detect especially once the engine
> is warm.
>
> The right hose properly installed should last for many years sort of
> like tires. Five to seven years should be good. Again, regular
> inspection is important as things do happen.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Rocket J Squirrel
> Sent: Tuesday, December 2, 2014 7:22 PM To:
> vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Shopping list or kit for Molotov
> fuel lines?
>
> Okay, okay, fine.
>
> I reckon that since our 1.9L AT is approaching 100k miles and 30 years
> of age, I'd best heed the repeated (like a drumbeat!) advice and
> replace all the fuel line bits that are apparently ticking time bombs,
> waiting for the right moment to burst causing a gigantic fireball that
> lights up the sky.
>
> So -- do any of our venerable vendors vend complete upgrade kits
> including the firewall fitting? So I don't have to spend hours piecing
> together everything I need.
>
> If not, does anyone have a handy-dandy shopping list?
>
> -- Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott 1984 Westfalia, auto trans, Bend,
> Ore.
>
