Tractor Repair: cracked fuel line, flare fittings, hose clamps

Question
Hi,

I have a 1966 MF135 diesel tractor with a leak on one of the fuel lines. The line goes to a tee which has been repaired by brazing at some stage so it is not easy to replace a single pipe. I have tried epoxy resin as a temporary repair without sucess and was wondering if I could cut the broken pipe and join the ends with a plastic pipe. A couple of the other pipes seem to have been fixed this way. What pipe would I need and how do you stop it leaking? Also can you buy pipes, olives, tees etc which do not need special tools?

Thanks.

Answer
Hello,

  If it's leaking at a fitting, then possibly the line is cracked if it's a flare type fitting.  If it's a compression fitting, there is either a rubber or brass sleeve that fits onto the line and is squeezed onto it when the nut is tightened.  Possibly the sleeve needs replacing.  If the tee fitting itself is damaged, the only good way to fix it is to replace it.  The best way to repair a fuel line is to replace it if possible, but if that's not possible then it can be fixed a couple different ways.  You mentioned a tee so I can assume this is not one of the injection lines between the pump and injectors.  Injection lines should only be replaced and not repaired.  The other fuel lines can be brazed if they rub through on something, or you could cut the line and install a piece of rubber fuel hose and some hose clamps.  I see some that have had the steel line replaced with copper tubing.  Flare fittings would need a flaring tool to make the line fit onto it, but if you don't have the necessary tools you can use compression fittings which don't need any tools other than a wrench to tighten it.