Fuel Adapter Removal

[jlast]

I have a leaky gasket between fuel heater and the head, i went and got the gasket $1. 31, but how do you get the adapter off that holds everything together?



IT couldnt be hexed like anything normal.



BTW while i got this apart how can you test the fuel heater to see if its working? IS it just a simple key to on?



yes i searched and found people did do this and have removed the adapter, but they never said how they did it.



Yes i consulted my manual and it tells me what to remove and to tighten the adapter to 24 ft lbs i believe, but it does me no good if i cannot get the adapter off!

 

[CDegner]

If I remember correctly, it just unscrews. First furl filter change I did, it came off and I thought I had broke something. That was many years ago though.



Carl

 

[tugboatphil]

My fuel heater comes off every time I change filters. Is there a way to secure it? Would make filter changes a lot more enjoyable.

 

[Grey Wolf]

The center treaded unit is what holds the adapter on. Sorry my memory isn't as good as it used to be but it seems as though it was a allen set screw wrench that I used to tighten it up?

 

[jlast]

OK here we go,



yes it unscrews, but it is slotted across the open hole through the middle. It is just under 5/8" across, I suppose a short stubby fat flat blade screw driver might be able to get it, but all mine are too long and hit the cooler lines. WHY ISNT THIS HEXED, make life much easier.



Suppose to be 24 ft lbs, i highly doubt it, this thing was stuck, i tried just about every tool that i could think of that i personaly had, no special tool like it should be. I ended up using big channels to unsrew the heater portion to loosen the adapter and it did from the block, then used another channel lock and jean rag on the adapter to free it from the heater, then it finally came apart. THIS IS 2. 5 hrs just to get this adapter off!!!!!!!!!!!!!



finally i made a socket to put it back toghether. took piece of pipe just big enough to slip over part of it, drill a 3/32 hole in the pipe right near the end less then 1/4", all the way through. took a 1. 5mm allen wrench through the hole, and welded a nut on the other end of the pipe about 3" or so long. Yes the slot in the adapter is only 1. 5mm wide, 1/16" will fit also but just a little smaller. I ended up removing the throttle cables and such but now i made the tool no need to.



Part numbers as per cummins printed off for me exploded view and number list which i can scan for those needing it.



3913695 gasket between heater and head

3911527 heating element

3912603 adapter/filterhead m16 x1. 50 both ends

3914948 hose off the bottom of WIF

68152 clip that holds hose



They said the WIF is a dealer only item.



I still could not find anything on how to test the thing but, i had to get it back together after this mess. I still would like to make sure it works, so anyone know how to test it?



tug that is good question, maybe another adapter? or a bit more tightening on the adapter to head, before the filter is put on?

 

[dpuckett]

The WIF sensor is available through Geno's, I believe.



My heater comes off the first time on every truck I have ever done. I take a Allen Wrench of an appropriate size and lay it sideways in the aforementioned slot, and tighten it as tight as I can get it. Then I put the filter on, and it seems to have stayed so far. Those a littel more adventurous may try a few drops of Loctite. I'm afraid of it ending up somewhere it shouldnt and locking the pump or worse.



Daniel

 

[JLEONARD]

Those a littel more adventurous may try a few drops of Loctite.

Mine came apart at my last filter change... I assembled it with loctite... . "a little dab will do ya. "

Jay

 

[tugboatphil]

Maybe I'm missing something here. On my 90 and the 93 whenever I loosen the fuel filter, the heater comes loose also, and hangs down by the wire until I reinstall the filter.



Is there supposed to be a screw or bolt to hold the heater in place while the filter is off?

 

[Grey Wolf]

Yes tugboatphil, the heater is held on by the same treaded unit that holds the filter on ! Normally when you remove the filter the treaded unit stays in place which is holding the heater unit to the head.

 

[tugboatphil]

AHA! I wondered why I had to take that pipe out of the filter top all the time.



So, am I not tightening the pipe enough, or the filter too much?



I'm putting my Dunce hat on right now... . I'll be in the corner.

 

[bgilbert]

Phil, if you didnt have the Super-man or Johnny Armstrong grip, you wouldnt overtighten the filter and this wouldnt keep happening. J/k, this happened to me on my first fuel filter change on the 91, thought I broke something. Cant remember exactly how, but I tightened the threaded unit back up. Then installed filter. So it sounds like thats all you need to do on the next service. Bill

 

[Greenleaf]

Ok, I just figured out what you guys are talking about.



When Tug said something about the pipe in the filter, it all came together, Daaah!!!!!!



The only time I have ever seen one of these ,persay, is when I changed out a cylinder head.

Never had I had one come out. Good to know that the heater is held in by this..... if there should ever be a leak.



-S

 

[tugboatphil]

The very first time I changed a filter, the pipe was in the top of the filter when I got it off, thus the heater was loose. I just thought that's the way it was supposed to be. So every time I put one back on, I'd tighten the pipe into the top of the filter and fill with fuel, then put it back on, lining up the heater every time.



When I get done beating myself in the head with this 2x4, would someone else continue until it's the size of a toothpick... . thank you.



I will try to get smarter.

I will try to get smarter.

I will try to get smarter.....