Rock Hornbuckle
Well-known member
But not as much as my 6V alternator does.
But not as much as my skinny girlfriend does.
Clothes Pins On Fuel Line
- Thread starter davehc
- Start date
But not as much as my skinny girlfriend does.
Clem Clement
Well-known member
The clothes pins do 2 functions: Keep eternal heat away from the fuel lines; make excellent conversation starters; a fuel line is as good a place to store them as any, I use several as antirattle wedges.
theHIGHLANDER
Senior Member
One time I put all the fuel mileage improvements I could on my A. Special distributor gave 25% better mileage, special carb gave 60% better mileage, special plug wires gave 30% better mileage. Imagine my surprise when the fuel tank overflowed!
Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
Now if someone had these I could say that it is acting like a heat sink and removing heat from the line.
Mike V., I don't think so. To remove heat from a fuel line, the surrounding air has to cooler than the fuel in the line, BUT that is not the case! We have cool fuel entering the engine compartment from the fuel tank at maybe 80-90 degrees on a warm day. Meanwhile underhood temperatures may reach 200 degrees. This is what heats the fuel. Aluminum clothes pins will only conduct heat into the fuel line faster!
Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
If the air was stagnant then the case could be made but the air is moving through engine compartment, more surface area by way of the aluminum in the air moving by could be argued that it may be of help reducing the heat on the line (but most likely not), but it sure makes better sense than wood.
steve s
Well-known member
Not surprising that this topic can never be resolved when we can't even agree which way heat wants to flow. Sorry, Mike, I'm with 40 Deluxe on this one: the problem is caused by hot air in the engine compartment heating the fuel line. Circulating hot air would be even more efficient at heating the fuel line since a layer of somewhat cooler air can not build up between the line and the larger heat reserve. Adding aluminum "fins" to the fuel line would only make it a more efficient heat sink for the engine compartment.
Now, if the fuel line were wet, so there could be evaporative cooling, it would be different.
Steve
quickchange
Well-known member
I have a custmer with 28 roadster that has had a problem for past few years, (a female) Carb & electrics fully rebuilt , The problem is she starts up, heads down the hiway & after about 7 miles the vehicle drops onto 2-3 cly,s, by stopping turning the engine off for a short time ,then fires up ,runs on 4 with no problem , I suggested the two wooden clothes pegs on the fuel line, Well this morning she turns up from a 50 mile trip sining my praises, for the 1st time it never did it , ??? On inspection it has a short steel pipe from the sediment bowl to a rubber hose , then another filter onto rubber hose & back to steel line as it enters the carb, I beleive the problem is the fuel line & it gets a vapour lock, the line as it enters the carb has a tight bend which brings it closer to the heat source, She is about to head off on a long tour so gave her an original fuel line & instructed her to take the micky mouse line she has on it off, BUT keep the clothes pegs on ,?Why well if they don,t work she can always use them to hold the washing out while on tour. Besides two must be better than one ? I expect a report after the tour as to the vapour lock problem , Thats my 2 pegs worth,
Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
Not a problem at all! What I did a poor job of saying was given wooden or metal clips, metal clips would make more sense but I also said "(but most likely not)".
I don't beleive anything hanging off the fuel line will help cool the fuel in that line.
I agree. Been following this just havnt posted. Ive heard a lot of old timers remedies but I think most are just BS.
Arthur in AK
Junior Member
Although I've never had a vapor lock problem on my A, I did experience terrible problems with it on my '51 Buick Roadmaster. It has a huge straight 8, and a very poorly designed path for the fuel line which crosses the front of the engine just south of the radiator.
My son and I drove it from Oklahoma to Alaska many summers ago. It was incredibly hot that summer - small wildfires alongside some of the interstates.
We kept getting vapor lock, until an 'crusty old' local mechanic we met along the way told me about the clothespin trick.
Honestly, at first I thought the guy was kidding. Or just plain nuts. But after getting stuck again for hours in the middle of nowhere, I found the closest store I could and bought a bag of wooden clothespins.
They sure looked ridiculous on the fuel line, but by God they worked! Got us all the way home without another vapor lock episode.
It doesn't get that warm up here in Alaska, but I still carry them in the Buick's trunk,along with my tools and parts.
My son and I drove it from Oklahoma to Alaska many summers ago. It was incredibly hot that summer - small wildfires alongside some of the interstates.
We kept getting vapor lock, until an 'crusty old' local mechanic we met along the way told me about the clothespin trick.
Honestly, at first I thought the guy was kidding. Or just plain nuts. But after getting stuck again for hours in the middle of nowhere, I found the closest store I could and bought a bag of wooden clothespins.
They sure looked ridiculous on the fuel line, but by God they worked! Got us all the way home without another vapor lock episode.
It doesn't get that warm up here in Alaska, but I still carry them in the Buick's trunk,along with my tools and parts.
Clem Clement
Well-known member
Did I mention that all the ladies ask about my clothes pins. I tell 'em we gotsta hang our clothes someplace...
5window
Well-known member
No,no. I have a set of brand new special clothes pins just perfect for your fuel line. Just send me$50 and $20 for shipping (insurance is extra). At absolutely no extra charge, I will even have my five yr old granddaughter print Ford rather neatly on them. She's a pretty good printer.
For that price, I will send you as many sets as you'd like.
For that price, I will send you as many sets as you'd like.