While we had the coach over the pit at Bean Station, we noticed that the
rubber bits on the fuel inlet plumbing was in rather poor condition. Given
that I replaced all of these in 2004, it's a little disappointing--I would
have thought that if the stuff installed in the 70's is still not leaking
for many folks, the stuff installed in the 2000's should still be good.
I don't want to use the special elbow, because it's too...special. And the
tee even moreso. I want to find metal couplers, elbows, tees, and adapters
so that I can use straight sections of hose to fit things together. I have
found a website that sells metal fuel filler tubing and fittings in these
shapes for those who are starting from scratch (Filler Neck Supply Co.) and
I think they will have what I need. But they only change sizes in straight
couplers. That leads to some questions.
First question: The books don't identify sizes, but I know they changed
between early coaches (like mine) and later coaches. I also know that the
filler hose bits I got from Cinnabar when I did this before didn't fit and
had to be adapted to different sizes. Does anybody recall the size of the
inlet on the tanks, and whether that size remained the same over the whole
production? I have Cinnabar tanks, which I am sure were sized to match
later coaches, if there is a difference between early and late.
Second question: Does anybody recall the sizes of the metal tubing bits on
early coaches? Sure, I can get under my coach with calipers, and will if I
have to, but I'm no longer over the pit at Bean Station and have to jack up
the coach over a gravel driveway to do that. I'd rather have parts in hand
when I do that.
Third question: Does anybody know of a material that is better than the
nitrile rubber used for the usual replacements? I wondered about pure
silicone, which is magic stuff on vacuum hoses (nitrile rubber seems to
crack in about 15 minutes when I use it for vacuum on the engine), but I
have read that silicone is not recommended for fuel applications. I might
have more choices if I am using straight sections instead of tees and
elbows.
Rick "who could see metal filler tube through the cracks, but surprisingly
they weren't leaking--yet" Denney
--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
rubber bits on the fuel inlet plumbing was in rather poor condition. Given
that I replaced all of these in 2004, it's a little disappointing--I would
have thought that if the stuff installed in the 70's is still not leaking
for many folks, the stuff installed in the 2000's should still be good.
I don't want to use the special elbow, because it's too...special. And the
tee even moreso. I want to find metal couplers, elbows, tees, and adapters
so that I can use straight sections of hose to fit things together. I have
found a website that sells metal fuel filler tubing and fittings in these
shapes for those who are starting from scratch (Filler Neck Supply Co.) and
I think they will have what I need. But they only change sizes in straight
couplers. That leads to some questions.
First question: The books don't identify sizes, but I know they changed
between early coaches (like mine) and later coaches. I also know that the
filler hose bits I got from Cinnabar when I did this before didn't fit and
had to be adapted to different sizes. Does anybody recall the size of the
inlet on the tanks, and whether that size remained the same over the whole
production? I have Cinnabar tanks, which I am sure were sized to match
later coaches, if there is a difference between early and late.
Second question: Does anybody recall the sizes of the metal tubing bits on
early coaches? Sure, I can get under my coach with calipers, and will if I
have to, but I'm no longer over the pit at Bean Station and have to jack up
the coach over a gravel driveway to do that. I'd rather have parts in hand
when I do that.
Third question: Does anybody know of a material that is better than the
nitrile rubber used for the usual replacements? I wondered about pure
silicone, which is magic stuff on vacuum hoses (nitrile rubber seems to
crack in about 15 minutes when I use it for vacuum on the engine), but I
have read that silicone is not recommended for fuel applications. I might
have more choices if I am using straight sections instead of tees and
elbows.
Rick "who could see metal filler tube through the cracks, but surprisingly
they weren't leaking--yet" Denney
--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
