Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
2009 2500 6. 7L 4X4
I have a problem and need some help and/or recommendations or suggestions.
In Issue 64 [p. 50] there was an article on th 6. 7-LITER FUEL FILTER FOLLIES, and it included a recommendation that '07. 5 to early '09 6. 7 owners should replace their existing fuel filter/shell assembly with the new design filter/shell assembly that Cummins/Mopar/Fleetgard had upgraded to.
There were various logical and reasonable explanations for doing this, so I contacted my Fleetgard supplier and about a week ago, I finally obtained the new filter/shell assembly.
Since it was time for an oil change anyway, and I was going to spend some time under the truck, I thought that this would be a good time to also install the new fuel filter/shell assembly.
The oil change went well, with no problems, and then it was time to start with the fuel filter project.
Using the article in TDR Issue 62 [p. 38] as a guide, I extended the filter drain hose by about 2 feet to allow me to direct the canister fuel to a more desired location when draining it. PROBLEM #1---When I turned the white plastic drain valve to drain the fuel from the canister, the fuel did not drain through the drain tube, but from the base of the fitting external to the tube. That was a minor glitch, but it was solved by removing all of the drain hoses and simply using the bottom half of a plastic 12 oz. water bottle to catch the fuel. It took two drain shots because I didn't want to get the water bottle too full. In all, about 8ish oz. of fuel was drained in total. I then tried using the 1/2" square receiver in the bottom of the cannister by inserting a 1/2" extension into it and tried turning the cannister with a 1/2" drive ratchet. It wouldn't budge! Bu the way... watch out for PROBLEM #2---The bottom of the fuel cannister where the 1/2" extension shaft fits into is VERY close to the exposed positive contact at the starter/solenoid. I discovered that in one short burst of excitement.
Now for a serious attack on the filter cannister... ...
I disconnected the battery supply to ensure that the starter/solenoid would no longer be a distraction, and removed the left-front fender liner to provide a much better access to the filter canister. Once that was accomplished, I had a fleeting thought that maybe I should let Dodge handle this, but no... ..... not since I had done all this prep work and was just about through.
Anyway, the next thing I did was to use the strap wrench that I had just finished using for the oil filter change, and finally got it around the fuel canister and had an 18" long handle on my strap wrench. Here's where PROBLEM #3 comes in---the cannister still wouldn't budge, but in-fact, it did yield to the extent of cracking. Now I'm screwed, and this is the reason for this post.
Because the fuel filter canister is cracked, and the truck is not runnable, what is the best way to finish removing the canister so that I can install the new canister/filter assembly? Anyone with a similar experience or does anyone have any suggestions???
I don't want to remove the filter mounting assembly if I don't have to, but this is my own Viet Nam: I've put too much into it to pull-out now.
HELP!!!
I have a problem and need some help and/or recommendations or suggestions.
In Issue 64 [p. 50] there was an article on th 6. 7-LITER FUEL FILTER FOLLIES, and it included a recommendation that '07. 5 to early '09 6. 7 owners should replace their existing fuel filter/shell assembly with the new design filter/shell assembly that Cummins/Mopar/Fleetgard had upgraded to.
There were various logical and reasonable explanations for doing this, so I contacted my Fleetgard supplier and about a week ago, I finally obtained the new filter/shell assembly.
Since it was time for an oil change anyway, and I was going to spend some time under the truck, I thought that this would be a good time to also install the new fuel filter/shell assembly.
The oil change went well, with no problems, and then it was time to start with the fuel filter project.
Using the article in TDR Issue 62 [p. 38] as a guide, I extended the filter drain hose by about 2 feet to allow me to direct the canister fuel to a more desired location when draining it. PROBLEM #1---When I turned the white plastic drain valve to drain the fuel from the canister, the fuel did not drain through the drain tube, but from the base of the fitting external to the tube. That was a minor glitch, but it was solved by removing all of the drain hoses and simply using the bottom half of a plastic 12 oz. water bottle to catch the fuel. It took two drain shots because I didn't want to get the water bottle too full. In all, about 8ish oz. of fuel was drained in total. I then tried using the 1/2" square receiver in the bottom of the cannister by inserting a 1/2" extension into it and tried turning the cannister with a 1/2" drive ratchet. It wouldn't budge! Bu the way... watch out for PROBLEM #2---The bottom of the fuel cannister where the 1/2" extension shaft fits into is VERY close to the exposed positive contact at the starter/solenoid. I discovered that in one short burst of excitement.
Now for a serious attack on the filter cannister... ...
I disconnected the battery supply to ensure that the starter/solenoid would no longer be a distraction, and removed the left-front fender liner to provide a much better access to the filter canister. Once that was accomplished, I had a fleeting thought that maybe I should let Dodge handle this, but no... ..... not since I had done all this prep work and was just about through.
Anyway, the next thing I did was to use the strap wrench that I had just finished using for the oil filter change, and finally got it around the fuel canister and had an 18" long handle on my strap wrench. Here's where PROBLEM #3 comes in---the cannister still wouldn't budge, but in-fact, it did yield to the extent of cracking. Now I'm screwed, and this is the reason for this post.
Because the fuel filter canister is cracked, and the truck is not runnable, what is the best way to finish removing the canister so that I can install the new canister/filter assembly? Anyone with a similar experience or does anyone have any suggestions???
I don't want to remove the filter mounting assembly if I don't have to, but this is my own Viet Nam: I've put too much into it to pull-out now.
HELP!!!
