|
Still cleaning up a few maintenance items the PO sort of let slide... Have been smelling gas recently, a bit, so this evenings oil change also included a perusal of the fuel system. Lo and behold, my main filter was rusted to the point of seeping gas right through its metal shell. No excuse, really, for letting a good inspection of this critical area go undone for so long. I knew this was gonna be a fun one.
The Trouble, of course, began with the attempt to remove the inlet line; despite a sincere and dedicated effort to grapple the forward nutted end of the filter all heck broke loose. Literally, for the thing was so weakened that it ripped right off the filter, destroying on it's journey the little piece of hard tubing that connects the filter and the pump. My heartfelt expletive no doubt startled the neighbors, but I pressed on unswayed. I might mention at this time that a 5am departure for points distant is scheduled, and already the sun has gone west and over the horizon. And did I also previously divulge my location, an hours drive from the closest Volvo dealer, which will most likely not be selling parts on the 'morrow.
Removal of the outlet line proceeded a bit more smoothly, so much so that I had nearly threaded the nut out before I noticed that the clamp which secures the rubber pump inlet line to the metal line from the tank had disintegrated in a dark shower of rust and fuel droppings, leaving the hose hanging dejected and alone. Well, I thought, this is a fine kettle of fish, I wonder how many spare clamps are rattling around in the bottom of the toolbox? At this hour?
One benefit of the destruction taking place around my ears was that the whole pump/filter assembly was now largely unencumbered, so I went ahead and pulled the whole thing out from under the car, through a greasy mess of fuel-soaked undercoating and cardboard. I must say that this hearalded a great turn of fortune, for with things elevated to a cleaner and brighter locale it became apparent that perhaps a pre-dawn departure was not entirely out of the question. A final hurdle was the severely decayed 10mm nut securing the filter clamp itself, but the last frugal drops of WD-40 scavenged from a previously discarded can proved their worth, and at last the offender was free. Quite possibly the Original Filter; the Volvo logo was quite distinguishable once I peeled the rubber thingy away.
I found that the worthless bit of tubing melded to the pump and filter fittings is easily replaced with a short length of high-pressure fuel hose, which I had maintained in good supply, although a decade old, due to a previous association with Datsun Z cars. A quick trip down the road to our steamfitters shop yeilded a wealth of assorted clamps, nestled new and shiny in their packages, sufficient to secure this as well as the aforementioned disintegrated bits. The finale was a glorious test drive; my euphoria delayed only slightly by a temporary reversal of the pump wires. Sure does go now that she's getting some gas.
All in all a great evening.
Shifted
--
'87 745t 205,000
|
