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Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Yahoo Message Number: 76752
Hi to all,

Let me introduce myself: Dick Bogaard, normally living in Europe, but operating our 2003 Country Coach Allure in Florida at the moment.

When running the Hurricane, a large puddle of diesel forms rather quickly under the coach's fuel tank. Not good in a nice camp site. I think I've tracked it down to the fuel return line being cracked/broken where it enter the fuel tank.

Questions:

- how easy is this to replace? does it require dropping the tank which I'd rather not do? - what quality/specification fuel line should I use as replacement. i've heard diesel fuel has changed specs over the last few years in the US.
- any hints or tips are most welcome

Dick Bogaard

CCI #30905 Allure 40'

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76753
Dick

I had the same problem. The drain line was cracked where it was exposed to the elements, which was about 3' of hose going to the tank from inside the ceiling of the coach cargo bays. About 1 1/2 years ago, I spliced in a new 3' hose with a brass 1/4" fitting as a temporary fix. Since this is a drain line, I'm not too concerned with flow restrictions induced with the insert-type fitting. The Hurricane feed line was intact as was the generator line. I cut an access panel on the front wall of the FWD bay to gain access to the back of the tank. I've heard tha some coaches had this access panel from the factory. What year is your coach?

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76754
OOps, just saw the year of your coach

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76755
Thank you Larry,

I'm afraid that the other lines are going to give up on me some time soon.

The access panel would indeed make future access a lot easier.

Dick

'03 Allure #30905

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76756
Dick, Hello, I have a 2003 Allure 40' 1st Ave. #30898. A few years ago I had to replace both my Hurricane supply & return lines as air was entering the system and causing the Hurricane to flame out.
The Hoses CC used were Gates Rubber product but I noticed the Gates Pt. # used for the Hurricane were differnt than the Part # used for the Engine & Generator which hadn't failed. I contacted Gates to discuss why the Hurrican hose Part # had failed and not the Engine/Gen. Surprisingly the man admitted the Part # used on the Hurricane "just wasn't there best effort". However they would stand behind the failure.
I therefore replaced these 2 hoses with AeroQuip Div of Eaton Corp Hose Model FC-332-04 1/4", these hoses will be there after I'm gone. Very expensive, but after paying $900 to have the tank dropped down so we could get to the top of fuel tank to work it was worth the hose money.

Thanks, Mike 03 Allure 1st Ave. #30898

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76757
When it starts giving me trouble, I've contemplated splicing in a 3' section of the feed line too. The fuel hose in the bay ceilings still looks new. Best way I've found to verify fuel feed integrity is to run the unit off a separate gas can. When I still got Hurricane flame outs, I looked elsewhere which turned out to be a weak compressor. Fuel feed is still good from the coach tank and I hope it stays that way?

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76765
As a short time fix, try turning off the return line petcock, Many years ago I was told by ITR that just bleed off any air by opening the petcock and then turn it off again.

Earl Densten 03 Intrigue 11554

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76767
Ditto that Earl. I have kept the return line shut off for 10 years. I only open it to bleed air about once a month.

Rob

2002 Intrigue #11480

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76772
Hi Earl,

I did already turn off the pet cock on the Hurricane to stop the flow and the Hurricane still works. But you are right, it's only a stop gap measure.

Dick

'03 Allure 30905

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater - problem solved

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76794
Thanks to all who offered help & advice.

I found a local RV technician who came out to our site. Together we stripped the old fuel lines ( 11/2 hours work) and the next day installed the new hoses (1 hour).
Getting to the hose fittings on top of the fuel tank was the obvious problem. The tech being lean (and determined) got the job done though.
Cost: $220 labour and 38 ft of USCG fuel line from West Marine at $3.68+Tax / ft. Compared to what others have suffered I got off lightly it seems.

Dick

'03 Allure #30905

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater - problem solved

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76795
Dick

What a deal! I'm surprised you were able to do the job in such a short time. Did you have to remove the ceiling panels in the bays? Also, how did the old lines look? TIA

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Fuel return line for Hurricane Heater - problem solved

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76799
Larry,

Yes, the ceiling panels had to come out of course. That was easy so I skipped that in my description.
The feed line looked OK on the outside and felt flexible. However, when emptying it into a pail along came some very fine black dust that looked like it could be rubber that had decomposed/detached itself from inside the fuel line.
The return line had multiple cracks (upwards of 20) at the fuel tank end. This is where the leak was. These were all in a section that had a bend. Maybe the bend was too tight.
At the Hurricane end the retune line had hardened to a point that it would not bend any more. Here too lots of black "dust" in the line. Significantly more so than in the feed line.
All I need to do now is seal the entry point of the fuel lines into the front bay. The caulking has come loose when pulling the hoses out.

Dick

'03 Allure 30905