Need help disconnecting fuel lines

[69gmachine]

Hello,

I'm helping my son replace a blown head gasket, and we're stuck. I was able to get one of the fuel lines off, but the other one won't budge. I bought the plastic tools that slide in around the line, and it worked on one of them, but I'm afraid to just keep pulling on it. Are there any tricks we should know about?

I'm used to carbs and V8s, so we're both newbies on the fi 3.8.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

[Skymarshal]

Just make sure the disconnect tool is pushed all the way in, and then try pushing the fitting together before pulling it apart. One of the spring blades inside the fitting might be up against the flange on the line and isn't releasing.

 

[69gmachine]

Thanks for the reply, but still no joy. With the tool pushed all the way in the hose prevents me from pushing the fitting together.

 

[wmburns]

Push the connector together and THEN insert the tool. You will be able to feel when the tool releases the spring. Keep pressure on the tool as you are trying to separate.

Sometime they CAN be hard to separate. The challenge is to positively verify that the tool has released the spring. If so, try twisting and pulling at the same time.

The O-rings are stuck to the inside. Be sure to replace the O-rings. Lub with clean motor oil before putting back together.

 

[69gmachine]

I just wanted to post a follow up of how I solved the problem in case anyone else encounters this.

I destroyed the plastic tool trying to force it in. Then I used a metal pick, similar to a dentist's pick and ran it all the way around the inside of the fitting between the spring and the steel line. The fuel line easily came apart after that. On close inspection, the spring had corroded to the metal fuel line.