Help! - Fuel Line Disconnect

[Bill MacLeod]

Replcing the intake manifold and valve cover gaskets. Can't get the fuel lines disconnected. Have the OTC 5/16" & 3/8" (gray/blue plastic sleeve) tools as well as the Lisle set for fuel and a/c fittings. The OTC sleeves are not big enough to fit over the male tubing, while the Lisle tools are and seem to slid inside the fittings, but I can't see if they are lifting the garter springs, or riding over them. Can't move the fittings in or out with the tools inserted, maybe if I had been born with 3 hands I could get them apart. lol
Naven't resorted to yelling, screaming or throwing things yet, but that may come very soon. Anyone help me here?
What about taking apart the fuel lines at the fuel rail and pressure regulator, anybody ever unscrewed those fittings, or too much risk of damading them.
Need your help!!

Thanks in advance.

Bill

 

[Josh S.]

Yo man-I just replaced my fuel filter yesterday and ran into the same problem you have. I finally realized I needed the damn tool to get the thing off, but it was already 10pm. So I waited till sunday, got the slip tool thing and started. The first one came off relatively easy compared to the next one. I just pushed the tool in, moved the fitting around a little and there it was; the fitting slipped right out and I got gas everywhere...Oh well...cleaned it up and went on to the next one. That one pissed me off. I pushed the plastic sleeve tool all the way in and pulled like hell but nothing happened. After like 10 minutes of bucking around with the damn thing and yelling and bashing it, I finally got it off. What worked for me is not to push the tool in as hard as you can to get it in there, but maybe about a 16th or so from all the way into the fitting. Just push it in nice and easy, then pull and it should slip right out.

If you push it in all the way, the tool just jams in between the ring on the hose and the spider clip things on the inside of the fitting, leaving no space for the fitting to slide off. Good luck and hopefully you won't get to the cussing/bashing stage like I did

 

[Bill MacLeod]

I know what you mean about the fuel filter fittings Josh, they are a real mother also to get apart.Those fittings have spring fingers that lock on to the flared end, BUT, the fittings up by the intake have the garder spring which locks on to the flared end.
I went and bought the clam shell type tools yesterday and was able to get the lines apart first thing this morning. Now after replacing the lower intake gasket and torguing the lower down, I can not get the lines together. The garder spring won't go up and over the flare. Just my luck on this job, the fuel lines are going to make this a long, dragged out affair as well as really pi$$ing me off.
Anyone have any secrets to share or words of wisdom other than a big torch/bomb!

Thanks

 

[Josh S.]

Yah man in my Haynes manual it says that it is recommended to replace the springs on the inside of the flare. I bought a pack of new ones from autozone, but I couldn't get the old ones out of the flare. I think it will be ok though cuz they snapped back into place when I put the new filter on. I tried needlenoze pliers and stuff to get the old spring out, but they were in there pretty good. Even if they do come out, there are safety clips around the lines so its like a double safety thing. I personally think its overkill and they could just use two hose clamps to mak eeveryone's life easier, but maybe the current set-up is besst because of the higher pressures in the lines than carburated engines

wait a second...are you talking about the fittings that you pried off the lines with a small screwdriver? The ones that snap over the fuel line and the female end? If you are, let me know...:smoke:

 

[Bill MacLeod]

Problem Solved

Talked to a mechanic friend this morning and he mentioned that sometimes dirt gets in the fitting. Well tonight I blew out the fittings around the garter spring and did get some dirt, crud, crap out. Could also see the garter spring moving around from the compressed air. Sure enough, the fittings went together with a click.
Well now its just button everything up and I'll soon be back on the road.
Just a little tip for anyone that runs into a similar situation.
That's for your input Josh.

 

[Josh S.]

no prob man. Hey did you figure out how to get the garter springs out?