The drip that won't quit

[showbizkid]

Hi all,

I've spent about an hour troubleshooting a fuel leak that I cannot fix. The leak is right at the union of the pipe and its attaching nut, on the end that screws into the fuel pump fitting (as shown in the pic below).

I've R&R'd it about 5 times, adjusted the fitting angle on both the fuel pump end and the carb end, and still gas comes welling up out of this joint. The nut is as tight as I can get it - I'm certain it's bottoming out in the 90-degree fitting.

Any suggestions as to how to fix this? I'd really like to run my engine The fuel pipe is from SASCO; it's for a '62 Lark with a WCFB (since that's what I'm running).




[img=left]http://members.cox.net/clarknovak/lark.gif[/img=left]

Clark in San Diego
'63 F2/Lark Standard

http://studeblogger.blogspot.com

https://www.studebakersandiego.com

[StudeDave57]

That brass elbow isn't cross-threaded, is it? My eyes might be playing tricks on me, but that's what I think I see. (the line looks lop-sided)

StudeDave '57 [8D]

[Tom Bredehoft]

Try this, just a guess.

Wrap the end of the flared pipe and the threads with teflon tape. Tighten them down and try it.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Avatar1.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe (since 1959)
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
(Under Construction 510 hrs.)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[showbizkid]

I'll pull the elbow off and check the threads, Dave.

Tom, I thought you weren't supposed to use Teflon tape on fuel line?


[img=left]http://members.cox.net/clarknovak/lark.gif[/img=left]

Clark in San Diego
'63 F2/Lark Standard

http://studeblogger.blogspot.com

https://www.studebakersandiego.com

[Tom Bredehoft]

In that case I'd suggest the paste, but that probably wouldn't be an improvement. I understand, I had a similar problem with my 55, I thought I was going to bend the brass before it stopped leaking, but it didn't bend and did stop leaking.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Avatar1.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe (since 1959)
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
(Under Construction 510 hrs.)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[bowss@aol.com]

I'd pull the elbow, check the seat and check the seat on the line where it screws into the elbow. There could be a problem with the seat or possibly a hairline crack. You might check the seat inside the elbow to see if it has a flare seat. Could be a pipe fitting and not a flare.

[ROADRACELARK]

You should not have to use Teflon tape or paste. The flare and the seat make the seal, not the threads. If nessessary, replace the brass fitting and make a new double flare on the end of the line. Hope this helps.

Dan Miller
Atlanta, GA

[bige]

I agree on the seat vs the flair on the tube. Pull the whole line off and look at the flair in relation to the nut. Is the flair spread out far enough, is a nice full circle matching the nut and is there are mark on the brass to indicate that it's not seating completely against the seat.

ErnieR

[BobGlasscock]

If that leak is coming from between the pipe and the fitting, which is what it looks like, your problem has to be in the pipe flair not seating against the brass fitting. Did the nut and fitting come as a set or did you use different 'sources' for the 2 pieces? If they didn't come together, they might not be mated properly between 2 manufacturers. The nut may not be threading into the fitting far enough to squeeze the pipe flair. Can you feel ANY looseness in the pipe length? Is there a crack lengthwise in the pipe? That can happen to old steel.

'50 Champion, 1 family owner

[64V-K7]

Years ago, I was told by Autometer, that teflon liquid should be used on fuel lines vs teflon tape..

Bob Johnstone

http://www.studebaker-info.org

55 President State Sedan
64 GT Hawk
70 Avanti (R3)

[DilloCrafter]

I put my dual carb setup together by myself, and my mechanic tested it recently - gas leaking everywhere! He mentioned that I should have used fuel line instead of brake line. I thought they were the same, but he went on to say that the right line for fuel fittings is an inverted flare, not a double flare. Any experts out there who can shed light on this?

[img=left]http://simps.us/studebaker/misc/images/Avacar-hcsdc.gif[/img=left]
Paul Simpson
"DilloCrafter"

1955 1/2 Ton Pickup
The Red-Headed Amazon
Deep in the heart of Texas

[bige]

I've never heard of that. A double flair is used universally. It's stronger and less prone to cracking.

ErnieR

quote:Originally posted by DilloCrafter

I put my dual carb setup together by myself, and my mechanic tested it recently - gas leaking everywhere! He mentioned that I should have used fuel line instead of brake line. I thought they were the same, but he went on to say that the right line for fuel fittings is an inverted flare, not a double flare. Any experts out there who can shed light on this?

[img=left]http://simps.us/studebaker/misc/images/Avacar-hcsdc.gif[/img=left]
Paul Simpson
"DilloCrafter"

1955 1/2 Ton Pickup
The Red-Headed Amazon
Deep in the heart of Texas

[DilloCrafter]

I probably just misunderstood him.

[img=left]http://simps.us/studebaker/misc/images/Avacar-hcsdc.gif[/img=left]
Paul Simpson
"DilloCrafter"

1955 1/2 Ton Pickup
The Red-Headed Amazon
Deep in the heart of Texas

[bige]

You would use the liquid on pipe style threads, a piece of tape could break off the tape and clog something. On flair syle fittings the sealing is between the flair and the seat.

ErnieR

quote:Originally posted by 55Prez

Years ago, I was told by Autometer, that teflon liquid should be used on fuel lines vs teflon tape..

Bob Johnstone

http://www.studebaker-info.org

55 President State Sedan
64 GT Hawk
70 Avanti (R3)

[rkapteyn]

It sure looks like the nut is cross threaded!!!