Quick Release-Fuel Line

[davidh8462]

I smelled gas and pulled off the cover for the fuel lines. I saw gas dripping out of the quick release ...touched it an it crumbled and gas went everywhere. What a mess!! The quick release is the original (plastic) . I plan on going to my dealer tomorrow and buy a steel one. I was looking at the clamps that hold quick release to the fuel line. They are the stock ones and have funny looking "square head" on the clamp and I can't figure out how to get them off so that I can put the new quick release on to the fuel line. No screw to loosen or bolt to turn? Thought about cutting the fuel line right where the clamp is but not sure if I want to do that. Anybody out there have any ideas???

[keithbw]

A non-cheap pair of good sized diagonal cutters, and patience.
Don't want to break the plastic rail fuel lines.

Just get the tips of the cutters crosswise on one band of the clamp where it's pinched and squeeze.
Don't twist too much, just takes a little time.

Also once you get the clamps shredded and off, the QD halves can be a pain to pull out of the hoses.
Take your time there as well.

[oxinthebox]

Had this happen the other night right after I picked it up for the 1st time! If its like mine it was an 1 time use ring and we just cut off the ring. Hope this helps.

[davidh8462]

So if I understand you, I using a cutter plier to cutoff the "square nub" and slowly work the ring off. Just a " one time ring..

[garr2]

Another option -
Use a small flat bladed screw driver to prise open the crimped section of the clamp that holds the fuel line onto the QD. Hold the QD with pliers as you wrestle with this operation. When the crimped band is sufficiently loose slide it off the collar that is underneath it, then slide the collar down the fuel line away from the QD.

[Buckster]

I used a dremmel cutting wheel to cut the clamp....came off nice and easy...although you may want to clean up the puddles of gas before you begin as there is some sparkage from the cut off wheel!

[Boxer]

Make sure you mark/remember which fuel line goes onto which fuel distributor rail line, when you go to reassemble. Also, put the new QDs on opposite to one another as they now are so its easy to know which goes where when you disconnect them to take the tank off.

[DMM]

Make sure you mark/remember which fuel line goes onto which fuel distributor rail line, when you go to reassemble. Also, put the new QDs on opposite to one another as they now are so its easy to know which goes where when you disconnect them to take the tank off.

Best way to handle that is to keep the male and female end on opposite sides (with respect to tje two separate lines). That way, one line has a female end on the "top" and the other line has the female end on the "bottom"; thus, the lines won't be able to be mixed up - they can only be connected to their correct mate end.

[Dr. Strangelove]

dremel to remove, using care for the sparks, wet rags are your friend. That hose (R9 rating Fuel Injection hose, not R6) is hard to cut with a scissors in that location, but can be done if you can't get those clamps off.

you can buy time with 5/16" brass tubing, about 3 1/2 " each, to replace the QD's until you get the good ones from beemerboneyard.com--about $80 for the pair, I think. That tubing is available cheaply at a decent hardware store. If you want fancy, you can get the barbed version from a plumbing supply--not worth the effort, imo. The ultimate cure will be the QDs from BB.

You can get Fuel Injection hose clamps (you need these to replace those dremeled clamps) off the rack at Pep Boys and the like. Make sure you get the clamp sized for 5/16", not the next size up or you'll get a leak

you will spill some gas, protect your finishes with rags. Get a couple of "hose pinches" when you get the FI clamps, to obstruct flow while you work. Make sure you connect the right way upon reassembly, wrap some tape on both limbs on one line to ID.

search for quick disconnects on this site and you'll find a bunch of stuff. This is frequently the first wrenching endeavor an RR owner faces. Not unusual at all.

John

PS and +1 on all other advice given

[Oilhead]

I used a needle nose plier and just bent the ear until it deformed and came off.

[iowabeakster]

You guys are much braver than me.

I just wiggled-wiggled-wiggled picks and screwdrivers of increasing size, inside the crimp loops, until they were loose enough to slide off.

My trusty long-handled work cutters were much too dull, to cut those things.

I was terrified of dremeling. I have a profound fear of gasoline fires...and the potential newspaper headline, "Local Man Burns to Death...Home Destroyed". Even worse than that would be, "Local Man Badly Burned... says Pain and Humiliation 'Extreme'".

[davidh8462]

Thanks to all:
I was successfully in using the cutters and a flat head screw drivers. I know have two steel QD's. I am just lucky this happen in my garage and not out on road.

[BigJohn]

Another option is to just replace the male half of the QD's. They are the ones that virtually always give problems and the plastic female halves last forever. Save a lot of money. Ted's Beemershop sells the male fittings by themselves. Buy replacement fuel line clamps at any auto parts place, get the 5/16" ones.

[BMWEW1]

Another option -
Use a small flat bladed screw driver to prise open the crimped section of the clamp that holds the fuel line onto the QD. Hold the QD with pliers as you wrestle with this operation. When the crimped band is sufficiently loose slide it off the collar that is underneath it, then slide the collar down the fuel line away from the QD.

That's what I did, small flat screwdriver, takes a bit of force and being careful, but it works, replaced both QDs in under an hour. And as others have said use a dremel tool too to cut them off it you like.