How the #$!% do I disconnect this '95 fuel line? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

10-19-2005, 18:01

Heya, working on a 1995 Ford E250 cargo van 4.9L L6 with 176k miles. The
fuel filter looks like it hasn't been replaced since it came off the
production line.. My old '93 Taurus had those easy to remove plastic clips
that secured the fuel line to the filter. The lines on this van are
secured to the fuel filter by these metal nozzles, which I'm assuming are
the 'quick connect' type. While the filter itself is thoroughly rusted,
these connectors on the ends of the fuel lines actually still look decent
with no rust...perhaps they're aluminum? I bought one of those
scissor-style fuel line disconnect tools from carquest with a 3/8" and a
5/16" end. I've been pulling, pushing, yanking on both the filter and the
line, and cussing for an hour here with no luck and I don't want to end up
tearing the line apart just to get this disconnected. The illustration on
the tool packaging indicates I am supposed to clip the tool around the
filter input/output and push it into the nozzle of the fuel line.. and then
the line is supposed to disconnect, right? Laugh at my problems if you like
as I'm still learning things, but as the topic states.. How the #$!% do I
disconnect this?

Thanks,
Jay

10-19-2005, 18:01

"Ford Warrior" <fordwarrior@fordwarrior.com> wrote in message
news:d_A5f.597$fm7.61@fe06.lga...
> Heya, working on a 1995 Ford E250 cargo van 4.9L L6 with 176k miles. The
> fuel filter looks like it hasn't been replaced since it came off the
> production line.. My old '93 Taurus had those easy to remove plastic
> clips
> that secured the fuel line to the filter. The lines on this van are
> secured to the fuel filter by these metal nozzles, which I'm assuming are
> the 'quick connect' type. While the filter itself is thoroughly rusted,
> these connectors on the ends of the fuel lines actually still look decent
> with no rust...perhaps they're aluminum? I bought one of those
> scissor-style fuel line disconnect tools from carquest with a 3/8" and a
> 5/16" end. I've been pulling, pushing, yanking on both the filter and the
> line, and cussing for an hour here with no luck and I don't want to end up
> tearing the line apart just to get this disconnected. The illustration on
> the tool packaging indicates I am supposed to clip the tool around the
> filter input/output and push it into the nozzle of the fuel line.. and
> then
> the line is supposed to disconnect, right? Laugh at my problems if you
> like
> as I'm still learning things, but as the topic states.. How the #$!% do I
> disconnect this?
>
> Thanks,
> Jay

Sounds like you're going about it the right way, the problem is all the dust
and dirt that has got into that coupler over the years. Lots of brake
cleaner and compressed air usually cleans them up good enough so they come
apart.
Bob

10-19-2005, 18:01

In article <d_A5f.597$fm7.61@fe06.lga>,
Ford Warrior <fordwarrior@fordwarrior.com> wrote:

> Heya, working on a 1995 Ford E250 cargo van 4.9L L6 with 176k miles. The
> fuel filter looks like it hasn't been replaced since it came off the
> production line.. My old '93 Taurus had those easy to remove plastic clips
> that secured the fuel line to the filter. The lines on this van are
> secured to the fuel filter by these metal nozzles, which I'm assuming are
> the 'quick connect' type. While the filter itself is thoroughly rusted,
> these connectors on the ends of the fuel lines actually still look decent
> with no rust...perhaps they're aluminum? I bought one of those
> scissor-style fuel line disconnect tools from carquest with a 3/8" and a
> 5/16" end. I've been pulling, pushing, yanking on both the filter and the
> line, and cussing for an hour here with no luck and I don't want to end up
> tearing the line apart just to get this disconnected. The illustration on
> the tool packaging indicates I am supposed to clip the tool around the
> filter input/output and push it into the nozzle of the fuel line.. and then
> the line is supposed to disconnect, right? Laugh at my problems if you like
> as I'm still learning things, but as the topic states.. How the #$!% do I
> disconnect this?
>
> Thanks,
> Jay

Your using the right tool and technique, it's the connector
that's being stubborn. Give 'em a shot of penetrating oil and
blow 'em out with compressed air a few times and just keep
working at it.

10-19-2005, 20:01

Bob wrote:

>
> "Ford Warrior" <fordwarrior@fordwarrior.com> wrote in message
> news:d_A5f.597$fm7.61@fe06.lga...
>> Heya, working on a 1995 Ford E250 cargo van 4.9L L6 with 176k miles. The
>> fuel filter looks like it hasn't been replaced since it came off the
>> production line.. My old '93 Taurus had those easy to remove plastic
>> clips
>> that secured the fuel line to the filter. The lines on this van are
>> secured to the fuel filter by these metal nozzles, which I'm assuming are
>> the 'quick connect' type. While the filter itself is thoroughly rusted,
>> these connectors on the ends of the fuel lines actually still look decent
>> with no rust...perhaps they're aluminum? I bought one of those
>> scissor-style fuel line disconnect tools from carquest with a 3/8" and a
>> 5/16" end. I've been pulling, pushing, yanking on both the filter and
>> the line, and cussing for an hour here with no luck and I don't want to
>> end up
>> tearing the line apart just to get this disconnected. The illustration
>> on the tool packaging indicates I am supposed to clip the tool around the
>> filter input/output and push it into the nozzle of the fuel line.. and
>> then
>> the line is supposed to disconnect, right? Laugh at my problems if you
>> like
>> as I'm still learning things, but as the topic states.. How the #$!% do I
>> disconnect this?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jay
>
> Sounds like you're going about it the right way, the problem is all the
> dust and dirt that has got into that coupler over the years. Lots of brake
> cleaner and compressed air usually cleans them up good enough so they come
> apart.
> Bob

Well, glad to hear I at least have the method correct.. What sort of genius
thought up this design? It seems to me some sort of miniature hose clamp
would have been more logical. Manufacturers who choose to use these "quick
connect" fittings on their fuel lines should mention the caveat "hacksaw
not included." I ran out of daylight today and so will give this another
shot tomorrow morning. Had enough rust in the eyes for one day. Maybe some
WD-40 will do the trick..

thanks
Jay

10-19-2005, 20:01

Try to push the fuel line on the old filter and then push the tool inside
stainless steel fitting and then pull fuel line

I know , you need 3 hands to do that
Don't pull the fuel line while pushing tool in, it will not unlock that way

"Ford Warrior" <fordwarrior@fordwarrior.com> wrote in message
news:d_A5f.597$fm7.61@fe06.lga...
> Heya, working on a 1995 Ford E250 cargo van 4.9L L6 with 176k miles. The
> fuel filter looks like it hasn't been replaced since it came off the
> production line.. My old '93 Taurus had those easy to remove plastic
clips
> that secured the fuel line to the filter. The lines on this van are
> secured to the fuel filter by these metal nozzles, which I'm assuming are
> the 'quick connect' type. While the filter itself is thoroughly rusted,
> these connectors on the ends of the fuel lines actually still look decent
> with no rust...perhaps they're aluminum? I bought one of those
> scissor-style fuel line disconnect tools from carquest with a 3/8" and a
> 5/16" end. I've been pulling, pushing, yanking on both the filter and the
> line, and cussing for an hour here with no luck and I don't want to end up
> tearing the line apart just to get this disconnected. The illustration on
> the tool packaging indicates I am supposed to clip the tool around the
> filter input/output and push it into the nozzle of the fuel line.. and
then
> the line is supposed to disconnect, right? Laugh at my problems if you
like
> as I'm still learning things, but as the topic states.. How the #$!% do I
> disconnect this?
>
> Thanks,
> Jay

10-19-2005, 21:01

"Ford Warrior" <fordwarrior@fordwarrior.com> wrote in message
news:d_A5f.597$fm7.61@fe06.lga...
> Heya, working on a 1995 Ford E250 cargo van 4.9L L6 with 176k miles.
The
> fuel filter looks like it hasn't been replaced since it came off the
> production line.. My old '93 Taurus had those easy to remove plastic
clips
> that secured the fuel line to the filter. The lines on this van are
> secured to the fuel filter by these metal nozzles, which I'm assuming
are
> the 'quick connect' type. While the filter itself is thoroughly
rusted,
> these connectors on the ends of the fuel lines actually still look
decent
> with no rust...perhaps they're aluminum? I bought one of those
> scissor-style fuel line disconnect tools from carquest with a 3/8" and
a
> 5/16" end. I've been pulling, pushing, yanking on both the filter and
the
> line, and cussing for an hour here with no luck and I don't want to
end up
> tearing the line apart just to get this disconnected. The
illustration on
> the tool packaging indicates I am supposed to clip the tool around the
> filter input/output and push it into the nozzle of the fuel line.. and
then
> the line is supposed to disconnect, right? Laugh at my problems if you
like
> as I'm still learning things, but as the topic states.. How the #$!%
do I
> disconnect this?
>
> Thanks,
> Jay
>

Buy the proper one and it will work. The 95 uses a QD that takes a
deeper flange than that tool has to disengage the locks. If you want to
save some money make a tool out of steel tubing that fits the line.
Split the tubing and slide the two pieces in the QD at the same time.

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10-20-2005, 09:01

On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 18:55:08 -0500, Ford Warrior
<fordwarrior@fordwarrior.com> wrote:

>Heya, working on a 1995 Ford E250 cargo van 4.9L L6 with 176k miles. The
>fuel filter looks like it hasn't been replaced since it came off the
>production line.. My old '93 Taurus had those easy to remove plastic clips
>that secured the fuel line to the filter. The lines on this van are
>secured to the fuel filter by these metal nozzles, which I'm assuming are
>the 'quick connect' type. While the filter itself is thoroughly rusted,
>these connectors on the ends of the fuel lines actually still look decent
>with no rust...perhaps they're aluminum? I bought one of those
>scissor-style fuel line disconnect tools from carquest with a 3/8" and a
>5/16" end. I've been pulling, pushing, yanking on both the filter and the
>line, and cussing for an hour here with no luck and I don't want to end up
>tearing the line apart just to get this disconnected. The illustration on
>the tool packaging indicates I am supposed to clip the tool around the
>filter input/output and push it into the nozzle of the fuel line.. and then
>the line is supposed to disconnect, right? Laugh at my problems if you like
>as I'm still learning things, but as the topic states.. How the #$!% do I
>disconnect this?
>
>Thanks,
>Jay
Those things get pretty crudded up and stuck after 10 years or so. Had
the same problem and though it was going to break. Hit it with WD-40
every day for a few days and it then came loose, albeit reluctantly.
FWIW
YMMV

10-20-2005, 16:01

johanb wrote:

> Try to push the fuel line on the old filter and then push the tool inside
> stainless steel fitting and then pull fuel line
>
> I know , you need 3 hands to do that
> Don't pull the fuel line while pushing tool in, it will not unlock that
> way
>
>
>

The tips were appreciated.. After another 20 minutes of soaking the
couplings with WD-40 a couple times and working the scissors tool around
every edge of the couplings I finally was able to get them off. Another
newbie passes through the quick connect gates of hell...

thanks
Jay