MEP-804A (PU-801) Fuel Leak

[Evvy Fesler]

Hey gang! Need your help. I have a fuel leak. I think I found the assembly in the TM, please help me confirm?

Visual Description: There's a fuel elbow that exits the road-side side rail. It appears to run through a rubber grommet. It's loosey goosey so you're wondering why I don't tighten it up? Well... I don't know where it goes after it passes through the side rail. I don't want to turn something where I might twist a hose up or break out a mounting bracket or worse... fuel tank flange.

How I can go about tightening it?
What precautions?

 

[Light in the Dark]

Its probably the rubber well nut that is leaking, happens all the time on the 80X models. If you can rotate that whole elbow, its probably seeping there. You can replace it with the OEM, but if the P/Ns cross to the same on the smaller sets, I would opt personally to install one of the bulkhead fittings discussed under the 'ulimate well nut upgrade' thread you can probably find by searching. A one and done upgrade, never to be messed with again. The OEM well nut will leak again, just a matter of time (even if its the upgraded grey material).

 

[Evvy Fesler]

Its probably the rubber well nut that is leaking, happens all the time on the 80X models. If you can rotate that whole elbow, its probably seeping there. You can replace it with the OEM, but if the P/Ns cross to the same on the smaller sets, I would opt personally to install one of the bulkhead fittings discussed under the 'ulimate well nut upgrade' thread you can probably find by searching. A one and done upgrade, never to be messed with again. The OEM well nut will leak again, just a matter of time (even if its the upgraded grey material).

You're the best, thank you!

 

[Guyfang]

Extremely common leak on the Big gen sets, as everyone and his dog, walks on it. Not when the gen set is mounted, but when its not! When someone puts the gen set on the ground, and working on it, this happens.

Also, it happens when mounted, because soldiers tend to be in a rush, when pulling up the tent stakes, (leaving an A.O.). They will toss the ground rod into the space between the set and trailer. Or other things.

 

[Ray70]

And as a word of advise, if you end up going back with the original style well nut, searching around on the internet for A3816 you will find dozens of "Cheaper" listings for "Equivalent" 3/8"-16 Well nuts from PoP Fasteners and Hillman etc. , but do not buy the cheap replacements! Stick with at least the real Nitrile or Viton ones, diesel will destroy the Chloroprene well nuts in about a week.

 

[Evvy Fesler]

I ordered the so-called permanent fix part, but I've been wondering why not seal up this hole altogether? It would be easy enough to pump the fuel out instead of gravity drain and then leak liability is reduced to near zero.

 

[Light in the Dark]

With the so-called fix, as I believe the threading for the nut is NPT... you could just buy an NPT cap and do exactly what if you wished.

 

[Guyfang]

As long as you do not want to use a quick disconnect fuel system possibility, fine. Is it going to stay on the trailer? If so, it is handy, if you have to dismount the gen set. But thats the only reason I would keep it.

 

[Evvy Fesler]

As long as you do not want to use a quick disconnect fuel system possibility, fine. Is it going to stay on the trailer? If so, it is handy, if you have to dismount the gen set. But thats the only reason I would keep it.

Remove it from the trailer. Well… that’s the debate at our house these days. I’m in favor of dismounting it and parking it on a concrete slab, and elevate it on concrete block columns, anchored all the way. Bob would rather leave it on the trailer in case a hurricane blows through and we may feel compelled to tow it somewhere to provide electricity for someone or some agency in need. That’s a strong desire for me, too. We wonder if that means that we should find a way to set the trailer on jack stands in order to preserve the (pristine) tires?

 

[Guyfang]

You posted a picture of a PU-801. Is that the type you have?

 

[Guyfang]

And, can you take a picture of the offending parts leaking?

 

[Evvy Fesler]

You posted a picture of a PU-801. Is that the type you have?

Guy, the picture is accurate. And the picture of the offending part(s) is the best one that I can take without disassembling it.

 

[Mullaney]

Remove it from the trailer. Well… that’s the debate at our house these days. I’m in favor of dismounting it and parking it on a concrete slab. I’m in favor of elevating it on concrete block columns, anchored all the way. Bob would rather leave it in the trailer in case a hurricane blows through and we may feel compelled to tow it somewhere to provide electricity for someone or some agency in need. That’s a strong desire for me, too. We wonder if that means that we should find a way to set the trailer on jack stands in order to preserve the (pristine) tires?

.
@Evvy ,

Maybe you need a second generator.
One for home and one mobile to drag around as needed...

 

[Evvy Fesler]

@Mullaney, Bob would have 40-fits, but I'm game. LOL, you can just imagine his reaction when I suggested we bid on a 5/4 or bigger! But he's not the boss around here.

 

[Guyfang]

OK, good to go. I just thought it might also be the fuel drain system.