GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » the list of discoveries never ends (fuel selector switch)
the list of discoveries never ends [message #284896] Fri, 14 August 2015 16:09 Go to next message
budworks521 is currently offline  budworks521   United States
Messages: 137
Registered: October 2013
Location: Grand Rapids MI 1974 Pain...
Karma: 4
Senior Member
So the list of stuff wrong, goofy, or broken continues. So I crawl under the coach to clean all the fuel lines off for a better inspection and I found the electrical connection for the fuel selector switch is not connected. I am thinking that I finally got by problem solved. Not so fast! I reconnect the switch connection, tighten the nut for the lead on the switch (slightly loose) and jump in the coach and the beast fires up pronto and strong. It idles for five minutes and stalls yet again. So I am looking at the filter and it barely shows signs of gas going through it. So how dumb am I, I really don't know how much a flow an in line filter (plastic visible one) should have. Quite the gurgle or just a small steady trickle??? Also, say the selector switch has not been connected for a LONG Time what can happen to the fuel delivery with that? Anyways, I am trying a new in line filter tomorrow to see if the gummy crap I sort of see is hindering the flow of the gas. Crazy, I had a small hole in the line before the fuel pump and and switch was never hooked up! When it rains it pours. How comical can it get!

1974 Painted Desert 455 upper half rebuild constant project inexperienced mechanic Grand Rapids Mi Always trying to learn
Re: [GMCnet] the list of discoveries never ends [message #284904 is a reply to message #284896] Fri, 14 August 2015 17:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
powerjon is currently offline  powerjon   United States
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
Senior Member
Larry,
I would suggest that your replace the fuel selector switch as it was unhook for a reason. Do an Ebay search on “Electric fuel selector valve”. To be honest you don’t know how the fuel was flowing thru the valve or if it was hung up halfway

Fuel filter should be half full or more.

JR Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMC Eastern States
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMCMHI
78 GMC Buskirk 30’ Stretch
1975 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

> On Aug 14, 2015, at 5:09 PM, Lawrence Harrison wrote:
>
> So the list of stuff wrong, goofy, or broken continues. So I crawl under the coach to clean all the fuel lines off for a better inspection and I found
> the electrical connection for the fuel selector switch is not connected. I am thinking that I finally got by problem solved. Not so fast! I reconnect
> the switch connection, tighten the nut for the lead on the switch (slightly loose) and jump in the coach and the beast fires up pronto and strong. It
> idles for five minutes and stalls yet again. So I am looking at the filter and it barely shows signs of gas going through it. So how dumb am I, I
> really don't know how much a flow an in line filter (plastic visible one) should have. Quite the gurgle or just a small steady trickle??? Also, say
> the selector switch has not been connected for a LONG Time what can happen to the fuel delivery with that? Anyways, I am trying a new in line filter
> tomorrow to see if the gummy crap I sort of see is hindering the flow of the gas. Crazy, I had a small hole in the line before the fuel pump and and
> switch was never hooked up! When it rains it pours. How comical can it get!
> --
> 1974 Painted Desert
> 455 upper half rebuild
> constant project inexperienced mechanic
> Grand Rapids Mi
> Always trying to learn
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #284906 is a reply to message #284896] Fri, 14 August 2015 17:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Joe Weir is currently offline  Joe Weir   United States
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
Senior Member
budworks521 wrote on Fri, 14 August 2015 16:09
How comical can it get!


When I did my fuel system it was a laugh riot; first the fuel system, then the brake lines... Laughing

The good news is everything you find and fix is one less issue that would have been trouble on the road far from home.



76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center... Columbia, SC.
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #284915 is a reply to message #284896] Fri, 14 August 2015 19:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Larry,

There are a huge number of possible failures with the OE tank selector valve. Right now, you need a win.
Take a piece of anything close and use it as a splice between the fuel filter and the main tank.
Plug the line from the rear tank because if it is any good, it will leak.
Alternatively, T the lines together and wait a long time for the tanks to equalize.

To answer your question, at idle there will be very little flow though the filter.

If my own coach was not on jacks, I would make the run out there..... (damn)

Matt


budworks521 wrote on Fri, 14 August 2015 17:09
So the list of stuff wrong, goofy, or broken continues. So I crawl under the coach to clean all the fuel lines off for a better inspection and I found the electrical connection for the fuel selector switch is not connected. I am thinking that I finally got by problem solved. Not so fast! I reconnect the switch connection, tighten the nut for the lead on the switch (slightly loose) and jump in the coach and the beast fires up pronto and strong. It idles for five minutes and stalls yet again. So I am looking at the filter and it barely shows signs of gas going through it. So how dumb am I, I really don't know how much a flow an in line filter (plastic visible one) should have. Quite the gurgle or just a small steady trickle??? Also, say the selector switch has not been connected for a LONG Time what can happen to the fuel delivery with that? Anyways, I am trying a new in line filter tomorrow to see if the gummy crap I sort of see is hindering the flow of the gas. Crazy, I had a small hole in the line before the fuel pump and and switch was never hooked up! When it rains it pours. How comical can it get!



Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #284928 is a reply to message #284896] Fri, 14 August 2015 20:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
Senior Member
If you connected the lead and left the switch on main, the valve doesn't know of any change. There is only 12V there when you flip the switch to reserve.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #284947 is a reply to message #284928] Sat, 15 August 2015 01:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bullitthead is currently offline  Bullitthead   United States
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
Senior Member
And maybe it was disconnected because the valve got stuck in reserve...

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #284950 is a reply to message #284896] Sat, 15 August 2015 07:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
budworks521 is currently offline  budworks521   United States
Messages: 137
Registered: October 2013
Location: Grand Rapids MI 1974 Pain...
Karma: 4
Senior Member
So if I assume the connection was off on purpose why would my dash show different fuel levels and the low fuel light come on when the secondary tank was engaged? Maybe I undid the connection when I was cleaning the fuel lines above the frame for a better inspection of the hoses. The unit was replaced new in 2006. I do know that my fuel pressure did increase after I fixed the small hose leading to the pump. I do remember when I first bought the coach that the line just behind the pump pulsated quite a bit. Almost a jumpy twitched action and now I have half of that or a little more. That twitch created the small hole because the hose was rubbing on the AC bracket. Isn't anymore. My in line fuel filter is one year old and it has a very slight movement inside at idle. All the hoses pulsate before the filter but after the filter and to the tank it barely moves you get the sense fuel is barely moving through the hose. The filter in theory could be plugged at the end??? Are you saying (Matt) that if I find a way to hook up the hoses directly without the selector valve and let the system run without it maybe it would tell me if the valve is binding inside???

1974 Painted Desert 455 upper half rebuild constant project inexperienced mechanic Grand Rapids Mi Always trying to learn
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #284951 is a reply to message #284896] Sat, 15 August 2015 07:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
budworks521 is currently offline  budworks521   United States
Messages: 137
Registered: October 2013
Location: Grand Rapids MI 1974 Pain...
Karma: 4
Senior Member
"plug the line from the rear tank" does that mean between the two tanks or plugging the line at the selector valve. I plan on trying a new fuel filter first and maybe applying a small amount of air pressure to the lines for evidence of a leak. What precautions should I take in regards to the air pressure? I was just planning on plugging some hose ends prior to the tank. Applying maybe 20 lbs pressure ???

1974 Painted Desert 455 upper half rebuild constant project inexperienced mechanic Grand Rapids Mi Always trying to learn
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #284999 is a reply to message #284951] Sat, 15 August 2015 14:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bob de Kruyff   United States
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
budworks521 wrote on Sat, 15 August 2015 06:25
"plug the line from the rear tank" does that mean between the two tanks or plugging the line at the selector valve. I plan on trying a new fuel filter first and maybe applying a small amount of air pressure to the lines for evidence of a leak. What precautions should I take in regards to the air pressure? I was just planning on plugging some hose ends prior to the tank. Applying maybe 20 lbs pressure ???

I'm not sure which direction you are going to blow, but never allow that much pressure to get to the tank unless the fuel filler cap is off.


Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #285050 is a reply to message #284950] Sat, 15 August 2015 18:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
budworks521 wrote on Sat, 15 August 2015 08:19
<snip>
Are you saying (Matt) that if I find a way to hook up the hoses directly without the selector valve and let the system run without it maybe it would tell me if the valve is binding inside???


Yes Larry, that is what I was saying. I have seen these valves fail in a number of ways now and the only way to diagnose the system is to remove it. Then, you can test the system and the valve separately. (And in my case, find out that you have two problems that interact.)

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: the list of discoveries never ends [message #285093 is a reply to message #284896] Sun, 16 August 2015 06:06 Go to previous message
budworks521 is currently offline  budworks521   United States
Messages: 137
Registered: October 2013
Location: Grand Rapids MI 1974 Pain...
Karma: 4
Senior Member
Matt, never got around to the coach this weekend. Decided to work on something more my pay scale. My riding lawnmower! I will be visiting my parents in Clinton Twp next few days. I might try ringing you if that is ok. I still have your number around. Thanks

1974 Painted Desert 455 upper half rebuild constant project inexperienced mechanic Grand Rapids Mi Always trying to learn
Previous Topic: [GMCnet] Engine generator light on
Next Topic: [GMCnet] Car Wash
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Sun Sep 29 18:18:58 CDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02693 seconds