Dropping the tank but f**ck'n fuel line won't budge!

[bigd]

Hey all,

discovered that I have a nice bit of crap in the bottom of the tank so am in the process of removing it and cleaning it BUT i can't undo the bloody flare nut connecting the fuel hose to the solid line under the car - how the hell do you do it without stripping the nut? (which I have partially done already!) If worst comes to worst I'll just cut the bloody thing off and get some more lines made up.

[dirtygalant]

are you using decent quality flare wrenches, and doused the thread with CRC/WD40? I find the cheaper flare wrenches start expanding when you put some pressure onto them.

[bigd]

Cheers Phil - Yeah good point quality might be an idea, have doused in WD40 - what's everyones view of teng tools? - Some dude is selling Teng flare wrenches on trademe so might just do that.

[dirtygalant]

I've got some 'Great Neck' flare wrenches from PartMaster, think it was only $30 for four of them, they haven't slipped on me yet.

[Lunacy]

I found heating the female side of that nut with a butane torch worked a treat on mine, just drain the line first :)

[Alspos]

Use two spanners, hold the solid line in place and undo the nut. SHould come off fairly easily then.

Or remove it from the fuel pump end.

[Entaran]

Get some penetrene.

[plasticdash]

or give it a good zap with some freeze spray.

[vr4gone]

If you can, try using some vice grips around your pipe spanner.

[bigd]

OK stripped the smaller of the two nuts even with a good flare nut spanner so I guess now it's vice grip time. I've got the tank out by unscrewing the pump mount so now the pump is still attached to the car. To replace the rounded nut (on the hard line side) do I need to replace the whole fuel line?

[Nosaki Faki]

could possibly cut the fuel line replace the nut and re-join the line with rubber fuel hose and clamps, replace fuel pump while your tank is out anyway, it might be a good time to upgrade depending on your plans and funds of course.

[enthuzed]

Just remember that it's high pressure so do it properly and use quality fittings.

[JPC]

OK stripped the smaller of the two nuts even with a good flare nut spanner so I guess now it's vice grip time. I've got the tank out by unscrewing the pump mount so now the pump is still attached to the car. To replace the rounded nut (on the hard line side) do I need to replace the whole fuel line?

The smaller of the two nuts is the front one (on the metal fuel pipe). I had this happen to me as well. I cut the fuel pipe with a tube cutter, and then bought a tube flaring kit (you need a double-flaring kit from a tool shop, not a single-flare like you find in Supercheap). I got a replacement flare nut from Pirtek (Enzed also have them), put it on the fuel pipe and then flared the end of the pipe. Don't forget to put the nut on first!

Works great, and you still have a standard fitting.

[bigd]

Cheers guys will do what JPC said I think - did you take the lines off to flare them or can you do the work while the lines are in place and car upon axle stands?

Cheers

David

[Nosaki Faki]

Shouldn't be a problem to do it without removing the lines, I did some work for a brake/clutch guy many years and from memory the tool will fit in the palm of your hand.
The important thing is as JPC said you need a DOUBLE FLARE TOOL.