Duh! Now I know about copper fuel lines, although it is brand new and the engine only has 1100km on it so far.
Over-tightening the nut is bad, correct? Yes, I determined the fuel was leaking from around the pipe where it goes through the nut. A judicious bit of teflon tape has been applied and a cursory running test (at idle only) indicates no leakage. A more rigorous driving test will occur to day. I sure don't want my new (old) motor to catch fire! Tim Osburn, Head Mechanic, Ralph Spoilsport Motors. Home of Fine, Old Volkswagens and... Grand Canyon Nut. The Blues Notions website- www.bluesnotions.com ----- Original Message ---- From: Mike <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Air-Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 7:28:50 PM Subject: Re: [vintagvw] leaky gas line at carb I've heard that some of the earliest ACVW's had copper lines, but I doubt they were actually copper. More like to have been brass for this application. Many people have replaced their original line with copper, which, as you have mentioned, is not a good idea. Due to the fact that copper work-hardens and eventually cracks due to vibration, it has NO place on an automobile, particularly a fuel line on an engine! Mike B. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Kuecker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Air-Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 7:17 PM Subject: Re: [vintagvw] leaky gas line at carb > That's supposed to be a steel line, with compression fittings. If it's > copper, you are in danger of developing a crack in the pipe - copper is > not good where there's vibration, it work hardens and cracks. > > If it's the original steel line, you can try teflon tape - wrap the > compression ferrule, and make sure none of it gets into the fitting. A > small bit of tape that goes into the carb can ruin your whole day! Only > tighten the fittings until they are snug - over tightening can cause > leaks. > > Another fix is to solder the ferrule to the pipe, and get a coating of > solder over the outside of the ferrule. This will fix leaks due to over > tightening, where the leak is between the pipe and the ferrule. Use > acid-core solder and flux, and clean the joint real good before putting > it back on the car. > > Chuck Kuecker > > Timothy Osburn wrote: >> My 36hp motor has the copper line running from the pump to the base of >> the carb. I have noticed that it leaks at the nut where it connects to >> the carb. Can someone advise me, would it be possible to use teflon >> pipefitters tape to help stop the leak? Has anyone else had this problem >> and how did you approach it? >> >> Tim Osburn, Head Mechanic, Ralph Spoilsport Motors. >> Home of Fine, Old Volkswagens and... >> Grand Canyon Nut. >> The Blues Notions website- www.bluesnotions.com >> _______________________________________________ >> > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.2/1561 - Release Date: 7/18/2008 > 6:35 PM > > _______________________________________________ > vintagvw site list > [email protected] > http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw
