Sparty was a potential fireball
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
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From: Forked River NJ
Sparty was a potential fireball
I am about done working on David's 71 as most of you know it as Sparty. I asked if there was anything else I should check on the car. David responds with yes there is some residue on the muffler which looks like black paint dribbled on the muffler and some fuel stains on the tank. With everything being new, fuel lines, tank, and vent I thought no way was it leaking. I looked and sure enough it looked like a fuel leak. All lines look good tank and vent look good, the nipples are all good. I report back to David and he says let's change the vent anyway, I have a new one here. I agree and it arrives today. I pull the old one out and sure enough I seal off one tube and blow in the other and it is leaking at the seam
Where the screwdriver tip is the case is split. Now I don't know if it was defective or got cracked on the original install or whatever but with a full tank of gas this could have poured fuel onto the muffler. I checked the new one and it did not leak. So on it went. Bugger of a thing to get on with no room to work but it's in there and should not leak now. I guess now I would check every valve before installing. This could have been a real bad fire had it leaked raw fuel on a hot muffler.
Where the screwdriver tip is the case is split. Now I don't know if it was defective or got cracked on the original install or whatever but with a full tank of gas this could have poured fuel onto the muffler. I checked the new one and it did not leak. So on it went. Bugger of a thing to get on with no room to work but it's in there and should not leak now. I guess now I would check every valve before installing. This could have been a real bad fire had it leaked raw fuel on a hot muffler.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
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From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I know I said it a few times already Gordon but thank you, thank you, and thank you. The aftermarket parts quality scares me and this is a good example of why. Now I'll clean up that muffler when Sparty comes home.
Best regards,
David
Best regards,
David
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 115
From: Yelm Wa
Nice detective work GordonM.
I'm installing a new tank in my '72, when transferring the "fuel separator rollover shut off valve" (pictured), I noticed that it rattles. Should it?
I'm thinking this is correct, as It must be a one way check valve.
I'm installing a new tank in my '72, when transferring the "fuel separator rollover shut off valve" (pictured), I noticed that it rattles. Should it?
I'm thinking this is correct, as It must be a one way check valve.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
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From: Forked River NJ
Yes that is correct. It does tattle. Both the bad one and the new one rattled.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I strongly suggest that you and all that install these do a form of water pressure test to make sure it does not leak. Cracked housing was the issue for this one. Just a thought.
Best regards,
David
Best regards,
David
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,093
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From: Midlothian VA
The rattle in these units is a simple ball float (think ping pong ball) that prevents raw fuel from running out the tank (think full tank + hard turn) into the evap hose. I would not pressure test the unit too rigorously - the case will rupture at the seam. It's not designed to hold much more pressure above the vapor pressure from the tank.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
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From: Forked River NJ
The rattle in these units is a simple ball float (think ping pong ball) that prevents raw fuel from running out the tank (think full tank + hard turn) into the evap hose. I would not pressure test the unit too rigorously - the case will rupture at the seam. It's not designed to hold much more pressure above the vapor pressure from the tank.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 297
From: Midlothian VA
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 33
From: Lokeren, Belgium
That picture looks familiar!
Took me a while to find the fuel smell I all of a sudden had. Exactly the same issue as yours and it was new ... There also was a crack near the base of the nipple
Nick
Took me a while to find the fuel smell I all of a sudden had. Exactly the same issue as yours and it was new ... There also was a crack near the base of the nipple
Nick
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
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From: Forked River NJ
It should not be a problem with this as these were designed to have gas on them. This valve was brand new and maybe had gas on it once. It was only a few months old. I know some original ones still working after 40+ years. I think it is crappy workmanship more than anything.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 362
Likes: 11
From: MARSHALLVILLE OHIO
