Fuel leak, please help!

[jopizz]

You need to have that fitting. It is two different threads. Normally a flare fitting doesn't need an o ring. It looks like you have one so I would either take it out and try it or replace the o ring.

John

[GeoffInCarlsbad]

Flare of Fuel Line Fitting

Here's the flare of the fuel line. Should there be an o-ring around this? Nope, it was just a lot of sludge/gunk that looked like a failed o-ring. But I just can't get a good seat in the female fitting. Maybe a little emery cloth around the edge. I did feel a little burr.

[GeoffInCarlsbad]

No O-Ring, just dirt

Hi Joe:

Actually, there is NO O-Ring, just very dirty. I tried cleaning it with acetone and brake cleaner, but perhaps that's the real issue on not getting a seat. I am going to replace the fitting.

[jopizz]

The female fitting needs to be perfectly clean and smooth to get a good seal. If you feel a burr on the flare use some fine sand paper or emery cloth. As I mentioned that type of fitting doesn't need an o ring.

John

[simplyconnected]

Flare nuts are easily cross threaded. They need to be started by hand with NO tools, for the first couple threads.

It happened to my wife's brother... In winter, with snow on the ground, I noticed red dots going up his driveway. I went inside and asked, 'who is leaking trans fluid?' His face turned pale as he explained, he just came back from the oil change place where they changed his trans fluid.

The 'mechanic' cross threaded one of the radiator fittings then wrenched it tight.

Now you know why I do my own work. - Dave

[GeoffInCarlsbad]

Mission Accomplished.

Ok, folks. I soaked the fuel pump fitting in brake cleaner fluid for 10 minutes. Using Q-Tips, Pipe Cleaners and 2000 grit sand paper, I was able to clean out a lot of the stuff that did not allow a good seat from the flare on the steel fuel line.

I also used Teflon tape on both sets of male threads, tightened down 1/2 turn from tight fit. I didn't see torque settings so I wanted to be careful.

WARNING: Make sure that you then check your fuel line connections at your fuel filter ends and carb. All the jiggling around of the steel fuel line loosened those connections so when I first turned her over, no leak at the fuel pump, but it sure was flowing out of my fuel filter connection!

I replaced the cheap crimp clamp that was on there with an appropriate hose clamp. I also checked/tightened the hose clamps on the fuel line. On a '61, there's the steel line, to a rubber hose, to fuel filter, back to rubber hose and into the carb. Check them all!

Let me know if anyone wants pictures other than those that I have already posted, but this is pretty basic stuff.

Next projects:

• Front Seat Belts
• Speedometer
• PCV Tests
• Transmission Leak at the Linkage from the steering column to the tranny (or so I'm told)!