Took the T34 for a last sunday spin today before it goes on club plates. Pulled up at Mentone beach after a long burn down to Frankston about 20ks. Took the dog for a run on the beach then back to the car. Hit the starter and it popped and burbed but would not fire up. Tried for a few more times then my wife started to complain about petrol fumes. Stepped out and there is a trail of fuel pouring out of the back. Electric pump is spewing fuel down on the side of a still quite hot motor.
Fark, start having visons of magnesium fires and remember that I hadnt fitted an extingushier yet. Not that it any good for a magnesium fire anyways.
Lucky for me it didnt go up and I was saved the embarrasment of having a T34 bonfire right on Melbournes main beach road.
Problem was a simple one. A hose had popped off the connector, probably because it was a poor fit. Managed to refit it to get me the few k's home. It was a tense few k's I can tell you.
Still the moral of the story VW brothers and sisters is to check those fuel lines on our aircooled beasties. They run hotter and vibrate more than other cars and burn really well when they get going. So if they look a little dodgy then spend the dough and replace them.
My next job will be to go right thru this Karmenn and replace the lot and get better fittings and decent hose clips. Might not be so lucky next time hey.
bertie_beetle ·
lucky dude.:duhI'd check mine if i knew where to look:puke
11CAB ·
That could have been a disaster........:cry
MUD BASHING ANYONE ?? ·
Change you fuel line offten to for the sake of a few dollars its well worth it and for about $20 you can get a extingushier
Dannyboy ·
I have just changed the set up in my Notch for just this reason. It had filter in engine bay etc and was an accident waiting to happen. Gone to electric pump , 2 cut-off's and relocated filter etc.
Dan😉
Anthiron ·
i replaced mine when i bought my car. where my rubber hose met the solid hose from the tunnel wasnt even clamped on:duh everything is tight and new now.
bertie beetle have a look in your engine bay. and look for the hose the meets your carbie. (not the thin vacumm hose that goes to the distributor) trace it back to the fuel pump. replace that hose. then the other hose that comes off the fuel pump leads back through the firewall and links up with a solid line that will from from the gearbox tunnel. u will need to get under your car. to see where it meets the tunnel. replace that hose.
under the fuel tank in the front there is another section of rubber hose where it joins the solid mount from the tunnel to the fuel tank. to get to this u will have to remove the fuel tank. get a freind to hold the tank up (after u unbolt it)and keep their finger over the outlet. and replace this line. make sure it doesnt contact with your tie rod as u turn the wheels as this can wear away the rubber.
Nick
bertie_beetle ·
Hey, thanks mate. I'll check and replace it all today.
:thumb
helbus ·
Yep I had the hose under the back where it goes from near the tunnel to the engine tinware crack and lost a whole tank of fuel. I wondered why it was so fumy in the car while driving home.
If a VW mechanic says you need new fuel lines, don't skimp and say you think they look ok - no thank you. Just get it done. Also if you don't think they have ever been replaced, ask your mechanic at the next service to check them. They should be supple, not crusty and on Viagra.
Anthiron ·
oh and whack a fuel filter in there somewhere bertie beetle. just 1 other wise the mechanical pump might not have enough pressure to pull the fuel through. just one of the in line ones. i have mine before the pump but ive seen quite a few after the pump before the carby.
Nick
Beaker ·
Don't put a filter between a mechanical pump and carby. Mechanical pumps are designed to suck not push the fuel, so having a filter between the pump and carby will put undue strain on the pump. Some people will disagree, but they don't know what they're talking about. 😉