Rubber fuel line failure

[42Ford M-H]

So I've been dealing with hard starting due to having fuel drain back to the tank after a week or so. I've gotten sick of trying to chase down the issue, so i went the route of adding an Airtex 8902 for priming. Not sure the pump i got is flow thru, thats another story. Anyways, fired the pump up for 10 seconds, heard the pump pitch change and turned it off. Then i started smelling fuel, so got under the truck looking for leaks nadda.... Was the pump pushing to much pressure for the carb?? Fire the pump up again while looking down the carb.... nadda Now i can really smell fuel.... I'm eyeballing everything for fuel leaking and finally find it.

flex the line and this is what a not even 2 year old rubber line looks like.... maybe it was on the shelve for a long time?? I got the line from either macs or dennis. But wouldn't be surprised if they were all made from the same place. The cracks were not obvious until i flexed the hose, guess thats my fault for only looking and not flexing to find cracks. It is just me that thinks a fuel line should last a whole lot longer than 2 years?

 

[Jack E/NJ]

Avoid rubber hoses on the pressure side of pumps. Jack E/NJ

 

[joe 1950]

Those old rubber hoses don’t work with ethanol fuel either had that problem myself switched my hoses to fuel injection rubber lines and quit using the corn fed fuel

 

[KGS]

Get in touch with Robert Shewman.
He makes a modern flex line to replace your
bad hose. Made with material that is not affected
by ethanol and will easily handle the pressure from
your electric fuel pump.

Robert Shewman
PO Box 163
Kimberton, PA 19442

1-610-933-6637

Email: gadgiteer@aol.com

Ken

 

[42Ford M-H]

Thanks for the lead. I wasn't real keen on using another line from the same place.

 

[Ford46]

Shewman also offers a fuel pump line with a check valve to prevent draining back, made from the same modern but stock looking product.

 

[itslow]

Avoid rubber hoses on the pressure side of pumps. Jack E/NJ

The pump he is using is not outputting enough pressure to cause an issue with the rubber line. It's fine in that respect.


I suspect he has a fuel incompatibility issue with the type of rubber in the hose he used.

 

[42Ford M-H]

This is kinda of a FYI post more than anything. I bought the hose from either mac or dennis less than 2 years ago. I'm sure I bought one that was rated for ethanol. I'm guessing thats not what came in the mail or the product was poor quality. But just in case someone ordered one along the same time frame it may be worth checking under the hood. It wouldnt be a stretch to say it could very well drip on my exhaust = bad day.

 

[Bob NH]

Might want to check with Joe's Antique. I asked who his supplier was and he gets them from the "early V8 sales" in S.C. I sent them a note asking who their supplier was and it was a surprise to find they came from Taiwan . I had issues as far as mating surfaces being two different angles and not enough threads. I ended up taking a little piece of modern fuel hose and making an 1/8" thick gasket with a little tapered seat. It so far has worked well with no leaks on either vehicle .

 

[Jack E/NJ]

42Ford M-H>>>This is kinda of a FYI post more than anything.>>>


Agreed. That's why it's best to avoid using rubber hoses on the pressure side of pumps. 8^) Jack E/NJ

 

[philipswanson]

42Ford M-H>>>This is kinda of a FYI post more than anything.>>>


Agreed. That's why it's best to avoid using rubber hoses on the pressure side of pumps. 8^) Jack E/NJ

It's fine if you use FI fuel line. Modern FI systems use rubber all the time with no problems but you must use the proper hose.