The Ford Barn

cars56 · 08-20-2011, 10:15 AM

Hi All
Need some Barn expertise
The fuel line that goes into the fuel bowl leading to the carb (1930) is leaking at the bowl fitting. Tried to tighten, no go.
Thanks All

Tom F OHIO · 08-20-2011, 10:18 AM

Fitting with ferrule must be bad. The best thing to do would be to replace the gas line with new fittings on the ends. Once the ferrules are out of shape they will not seal properly.

Kurt in NJ · 08-20-2011, 10:28 AM

A distorted ferrule usually can be sealed by soldering it, you need good flux, it is like soldering a plumbing fitting, you don't want much solder but you want it to suck in, the solder will conform to slight damage to the seat in the carb , but you should look in there to see if it has rust pitting that is deep.

Overtightening can crush the pipe.

cars56 · 08-20-2011, 10:29 AM

Thanks Tom and Kurt will give it a shot, have to jump on this one

glenn in camino · 08-20-2011, 07:30 PM

Don't tighten too much. I once cracked a cast iron filter bowl by tightening the gas line too much.

Tom Endy · 08-21-2011, 12:26 AM

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I get cited by the Model A police every time I suggest this, but if you want to seal off a fuel leak at either end of the fuel line, wrap it with white nylon plumbers tape. It will seal the leak off.

The argument is that it will get inside the carburetor and plug the jets. This won't happen because the tape is only around the ferrule, which is outside the fuel line and the carburetor. Over years of use and installation of different carburetors the ferrules get whacked out of shape and does not seal against the taper in the boss at either end of the fuel line. The tape will seal it off.

I test out rebuilt Zenith carburetors on my Vic and each time I remove a carburetor I also remove the fuel line and wrap both ends with new tape as shown in the photos.

It certainly works for me.

Tom Endy

Mike V. Florida · 08-21-2011, 12:42 AM

The fuel line after the ferrule may extend too far not allowing a good fit in the carb.

700rpm · 08-21-2011, 10:42 AM

Old-timer's fix: run a small length of string over a bar of soap, then wrap the threads on the fitting with the string and snug it up firmly, but not overly tight. I've had this cure work for a year or more.

glenn in camino · 08-21-2011, 11:49 AM

The threads don't make the seal. The ferrule does.

Purdy Swoft · 08-21-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

The threads don't make the seal. The ferrule does.

Glen is right on . If the ferrule is not fitting tightly the fuel line can easily be pulled out of the fitting or may even slip out of the fitting from vibration. Could be a fire hazard. Wrapping plumbers teflon tape arround the ferrule MAY stop the leak but the ferrule will still be loose and run the risk of the fuel line slipping out of the fitting.

700rpm · 08-21-2011, 01:20 PM

Yeah, my string method has to include a ferrule.

Purdy Swoft · 08-21-2011, 02:33 PM

I use to keep a bar of soap in my tool box and scrape the threads of the fittings over the bar. The soap would stop gas leaks around the threads. Bratton sells a handy sealer that comes in a container with a handy little brush applicator. I now use it on fuel fitting threads. The best that I remember its called high tack, of course it won't help a loose ferrule.

Ron Lowe · 08-21-2011, 04:11 PM

I've had the same problem. First try to replace the ferule and snug the fitting. This will work most of the time. Ron

08-20-2011, 10:15 AM	#1
cars56 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Queens, NYC Posts: 212	Fuel leak Hi All Need some Barn expertise The fuel line that goes into the fuel bowl leading to the carb (1930) is leaking at the bowl fitting. Tried to tighten, no go. Thanks All

08-20-2011, 10:18 AM	#2
Tom F OHIO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 408	Re: Fuel leak Fitting with ferrule must be bad. The best thing to do would be to replace the gas line with new fittings on the ends. Once the ferrules are out of shape they will not seal properly.

08-20-2011, 10:28 AM	#3
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: Fuel leak A distorted ferrule usually can be sealed by soldering it, you need good flux, it is like soldering a plumbing fitting, you don't want much solder but you want it to suck in, the solder will conform to slight damage to the seat in the carb , but you should look in there to see if it has rust pitting that is deep. Overtightening can crush the pipe.

08-20-2011, 10:29 AM	#4
cars56 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Queens, NYC Posts: 212	Re: Fuel leak Thanks Tom and Kurt will give it a shot, have to jump on this one Last edited by cars56; 08-20-2011 at 10:33 AM. Reason: update

08-20-2011, 07:30 PM	#5
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Fuel leak Don't tighten too much. I once cracked a cast iron filter bowl by tightening the gas line too much.

08-21-2011, 12:42 AM	#7
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Fuel leak The fuel line after the ferrule may extend too far not allowing a good fit in the carb. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-21-2011, 10:42 AM	#8
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: Fuel leak Old-timer's fix: run a small length of string over a bar of soap, then wrap the threads on the fitting with the string and snug it up firmly, but not overly tight. I've had this cure work for a year or more.

08-21-2011, 11:49 AM	#9
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Fuel leak The threads don't make the seal. The ferrule does.

08-21-2011, 01:20 PM	#11
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: Fuel leak Yeah, my string method has to include a ferrule.

08-21-2011, 02:33 PM	#12
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Fuel leak I use to keep a bar of soap in my tool box and scrape the threads of the fittings over the bar. The soap would stop gas leaks around the threads. Bratton sells a handy sealer that comes in a container with a handy little brush applicator. I now use it on fuel fitting threads. The best that I remember its called high tack, of course it won't help a loose ferrule.

08-21-2011, 04:11 PM	#13
Ron Lowe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 184	Re: Fuel leak I've had the same problem. First try to replace the ferule and snug the fitting. This will work most of the time. Ron