This repair ended up being a bit of an adventure. But I'm happy with the results in the end. I'm still waiting on parts for the Case 170B, so it may be a couple weeks before we see Large Marge again. Have a great weekend everybody!
When taking the fill hoses off, use the pick tool you're using but spray some of your penetrate oil into the gap as you use the pick tool. This will help the hose separate easier and allow the hose to slide off the filler tubes.
Ps... With the fuel line connectors. You probably have dirt packed in & underneath the locking tabs. (I'm writing these tips out as I'm watching the video) What helps with those is using your air compressor to blow the dirt out. The dirt blocks the tabs from being able to move stopping them from coming off. When these type of connections are used on steel lines, rust will cause the same issue. GM cars & trucks were notorious for this. Ford usually used stainless steel lines and weren't a problem for the most part. (They actually had outer issues usually 🤣)
Designed by engineers. Designs never looked at by mechanics/technicians. Classic process, had the same problem in the Navy. At least with the older vehicles/equipment they were designed with the expectation that they were going to be worked on. Now designs are all about ease of manufacturing. It's sad really.
A little water in fuel never hurt anything, as a matter of fact it IMPROVES performance by creating boost in turbocharged engines, lowers air intake temps and prevents pre-ignition and knock. I read it started during World War 2 they added water injection to high performance piston fighter planes. The only downside is it will corrode steal components in fuel system, other than that, it is pretty harmless. 💪💪💪
I've done this same repair on a few GM trucks now. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The problem is when the ring rusts, it distorts the O-ring surface and even if you can clamp the fuel pump down, it still won't seal. On gas trucks, that means evap problems. On a diesel it's not much of an issue. The only other thing you can do is fab up a new tank or wedge in an off the shelf fabricated tank. Either way, it's expensive and a lot of work.
Designs like that are made on purpuse. It's calculated that when turcks value goes down it is too expensive to do this kind of repairs and you have to get rid of the truck and buy new even bigger POS and pay them for service....
As an auto mechanic, it brings me great joy to see people going mad while working on their stuff. "Why did they make it like that" is all day every day.
Even many years after getting out of the business, I still take a perverse pleasure in watching that kind of thing. Sadly, it almost never leads to a deeper appreciation of the folks like you and past me who have gone, or are still going through those kinds of struggles on a daily basis. The vast majority of DIYers (once called shade trees) somehow never make the connection. And even the ones who do, still complain about how much money mechanics (supposedly) make.
I've worked on cars, on and off for over 50 years. It seems that every year they just make it harder and harder. I'm convinced they do it deliberately.
Your reaction with the fire extinguisher was brilliant. But the best thing is that you show us this mishap. In addition to your instructive descriptions of mechanics, electronics, etc., I also love your channel because of your self-criticism and your honesty!
good video because you show all the negatives that we all go through and you don't add stupic music, cartoons, etc and just simple hard working guy using his brains and teaching us about repairs, tools, paints, liquids, etc
"It's only temporary unless it works." That was my dad's philosophy, too. Some of his oddball fixes were just priceless. Creative., nutty, but they always worked for at least a little while.
I’ve been through fuel tank/line issues twice with my 1996 Ram 2500, and by far the best way to deal with that was to remove the bed. Not much holds it on the frame, and the tank and its connections are easily dealt with. In my case on BOTH occasions mice had chewed through the gas lines right at the tank. The second time they got to the high pressure line, and the fix would have been insanely hard without bed removal. Having learned my lesson, for the second I armored the gas lines every way I could think of, with stainless steel wool held in place by stainless steel wire, stainless steel coiled brake line protector, and so on. As much work as that was, it was massively more comfortable doing the work while sitting on a low stool than trying to deal with it above my head - lift or no lift.
Camarata lost a HUGE excavator because he didn't have any decent fire control devices!! He had a to get a NEW one. But, he can afford it. Glad that you had a good extinguisher!!
So, I see the flame start and i say to myself, "Jon, you've got a problem. Jon, there is a fire over there. Jon, look over. Put out the fire. JON!! YOUR HOUSE IS BURNING DOWN. DO SOMETHING." Oh, thank God. I'm exhausted. And who hasn'r cursed out those design engineers. Great video
To your rant about the fuel line release design - they put a LOT of thought into it! That thought was what they could do to save 0.5s on the factory floor assembling it.... I had to replace the fuel tank in my Wrangler because of design for assembly - the hose connections (a common breakage item) are plastic welded into the tank. It saves them a couple of dollars, but screws us owners by making us replace a $500 part in place of a $50 part.
Also, those connectors works GREAT at the factory! If there is a need for repair, the dealers have tools for it so no problem! The issue here is that manufacturers couldn't give rats ass about individuals repairing cars, that doesn't make a dime of profit for them so they simply don't care and thus, we see this garbage being put into cars year after year....
something like that tank is more than likely put in by a person, (with a robotic lift to hold/move the tank). those connectors are foolproof for assembly and don’t require any tools. so one person can completely install the tank in one “step” on the line because the only tool they need to install the tank is the one that tightens the tank straps. Which back to the original point it’s all designed to make assembly as efficient and fool proof as possible, they are not looking at service.
We can sign you off for your water can response. Good locking pin deployment, good initial attack distance, nice crouching style. Extra points for continuing to face the fire looking for flare ups. Nice overhaul. See you at the next Volunteer Fire Department training meeting! You did darn good.
Last time I had tires put on, I checked the lug nuts when I got home, and then again after I drove a hundred-ish miles. While I've never had the problem of loose lug nuts from the shop, I know people that have had that problem I just generally don't fully trust shops anymore (multiple disparate bad experiences), which really sucks because I finally make enough money to outsource some things, but I'm just stuck buying more tools instead; the horror. haha
Years ago my widowed mum had two new tyres put on the front of her VW Beetle. Two days later she undertook a 200mile journey with our 5 and 7 year old sons. After cruising down the freeway at the legal speed limit, she slowed to make a right hand turn and as she did, one of the front wheels left the car and headed into a paddock. Fortunately the car was not damaged and the road service people came, found the wheel and reattached it. No more problems but 40 years later my sons still talk about what happened to Nans car. At least you found your loose wheel nuts before the wheel took off. Love your videos but wished they were more frequent......you have explained how much time and effort goes into them so we understand. Cheers from Australia.
I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling real empathy, with the struggle parts, the frustrations, the successes and the “Oh crap I’ve nearly burned down my shop”.
I've recommended it before but I will once again. Use Ospho for any rust problems. It changes iron oxide to iron phosphate which is inert. It gets all the rust and it doesn't return. With all the machines you have it would help you control rust and it turns rusted parts black. It works fast too...no waiting for a day or days to get mediocre results from other rust treatments. Ospho is also a primer so you could have painted your frame after the Ospho dried. I did that on a 500 gallon gasoline tank when I lived on the coast. Five years later the tank was still perfect with not a spec of rust even being only 20 feet from the saltwater. A testament of how good Ospho works.
2 месяца назад+1
@@rpsmith I buy the gallon jug. I think it was around 20 and it lasts a long time because I use a Windex bottle to spray it on. Awesome stuff...much better than any other rust removers out there and it works fast too and is a good primer for paint.
Ive literally done 100s of these type repairs on Dodge 5.9 liters and 6.7s. Id say you did a great job. If inclined,you might add an additional fuel filter and a clear water separator kit near the tank along the frame. Youd probably never have water or dirty fuel getting to your major fuel components again. In time, all the fuel components will rust internally and cause worse issues, very expensive. Great video!
I am happy that you saw this fire in time, omg. Working on car is like opening can of worms sometimes, rewarding at the end and bitter at the same time :D
Super job !!! Well done!! Only suggestion would be to put a water drain into the bottom of the tank at its lowest point (jacked up at a slight backward tilt)
Here is today's video, wherein John promises to "do somethin' stupid". That, to me, sounds like one of the best promises ever made! I LOVE it when we get to do stupid stuff!!
As you could see how easy and fast it was to snap the wire clip and the fuel lines in, that is all the designer cared about. When you are rolling a vehicle off the assembly line every 59 seconds, it only matter that is snaps together quickly. They could care less about repairing it. Great video.
Jon, not as many of us would be watching if it wasn't for your mistakes and your humble honesty when making them. It is appreciated, thank you. Who says there's no such thing and planned obsolescence! 🤪
I performed a repair on my 2016 Ford Transit Connect yesterday. Symptoms were: ABS & TCS lights on, speedometer only working intermittently. Swapped a vehicle speed sensor on the exterior of the transaxle and then both front-wheel ABS wheel sensors. The next thing would be to replace the vehicle speed sensor _inside_ the transaxle. Thank God the 3 "easy" swaps were enough to fix it. Watching channels like yours and Andrew Camarata's gave me the sense that this was something I could achieve. Thanks so much for being such a persistent teacher. I have no idea how much a couple of hours with some wrenches saved me in labor, but I'm sure it was substantial. And maybe invest in some fiberglass blankets to use around the plasma torch and a fire extinguisher mount on the torch's cart. We need you to keep doing this work and continue to be not bio-char.
Had an issue with my ABS system on 2008 Dodge (Mercedes) Sprinter a few years back. Replaced a rear wheel speed sensor. No dice. Eventually figured out mice made a nest on top of the diesel tank and chewed through a wire. Had to drop the diesel tank, splice the wire, added a protective loom, and back in business. What a PITA. Brilliant design putting some unprotected tasty wires in a prime nesting spot on top of the tank. Persistence will get you far in life.
@@Pest789 Yeah the planned sercive life on these is about 5 years where they were made. Thie ring will rust away in that thime there but if it didnt the chassi will be gone anyway. (Assuming they were made in michigan).
I'm not a mechanic either, but my mates have always said cut a hole in the floor/bed for access, and if you want to be neat cut an overlap plate out of a scrapper.
Replacement plastic connectors are available if your fix gives you issues. O’Reilly’s might carry them and the dealer, you’ll just need to de-pin the wires and push them into the new unit etc. I’m convinced you have the HOTTEST channel on RUclips!
36:25 -yeah...the shop I used to work in had flammables everywhere in the mechanic's shop, and you learned quickly to pay attention to smells when you were doing hot work, and if there was anything close by that you couldn't easily move, you grabbed someone to watch for fires. Good times...
You know what I would LOVE to see on your channel? The purchase and process of understanding and using a small plasma table. My neighbor and I went halfsies on one, and neither of us has had time to figure it out. He's an ex-machinist and retired (and has infinitely more time than I to put into it) but it's a little daunting. Your videos are by far the most informative and instructive I have ever found online. Something about your problem solving process really speaks to me. If you need rationalization for the financial director, just record how much time you spent cutting, grinding and smoothing that retaining collar. Your time is worth money!
I can understand your problem. Most channels make it look simple to program a plasma cutting table, but as you say, it's not. I think eventually you will get the hang of it with perseverence. I also like the water cutter machines, no heat but they are incredibly expensive for home use.
I agree, the arcdroid would be a big help to you and your channel. PLUS, you could help us with ours! You attention to detail is what we need to learn it better!
You did a great job! I did that to my 2004 2500 Ram! EXACT same problems! Thank goodness my brother-in-law is a Machinist (no repair kit available then) So we made one up just using pictures and measuring the opening in the Tank! Again GREAT Job! (oh, I did it all from the "ground)
John, my son is a diesel Dodge fanatic with 2 Dodge/ram diesel trucks. The "show" truck, 2004, Cummins, we dropped the tank and it had algae in it. We cleaned the tank and replaced the fuel pump with an outside pump and a drop tube into the tank (online aftermarket kit), you just use the sender unit of the old pump and disconnect the pump. Then we installed (online kit again) an electric pump, separate water separator, and filter kit on the frame below the driver door, so it is serviceable. The water separator has a valve to reach under and drain the water. No problems so far. The other daily driver truck, another 2012, he just did a turbo replacement to a bigger one, of course, and he removed that filter unit you replaced the filter in. He threw it on the ground. After a month I picked it up and tore it apart, there should be a valve on the lower side to drain the water. But exploring deeper, I found that the plastic ring at the inside top of that filter unit has 2 metal plates that are separated and wrapped around separately inside the circumference, inside of that plastic. The plastic cover on the outside, the top one, that has the wires had a temp switch in it, like in a coffee pot, and a plug that plugs into the metal rings inside the filter housing, which apparently senses the presence of the water. The outlet of the filter is that black plastic tube inside the middle that the filter drops over. Apparently, the water fills up to touch the metal rings and sends the signal to the computer. I asked him what he put in instead and he said that he said he totally bypassed it.
Very instructive and a pleasure to read. Thank you and your son for an informative comment on RAM diesel engines. It must have taken you ages to write this, but as stated, it's very interesting to know about RAM trucks, Thank you...
Great job! Next time do one more step on that frame and consider a gallon of phosphoric acid to convert the rust. That stop rust is amazing. I did my fj cruiser 6 years ago with a gallon of lowes phosphoric acid in a garden sprayer underneath. Then used stop rust with rattle can semi black. I still don't have any rust! You did a great job too!
Very informative video, as always! I have the same lift that you do. Watch Wes Work says that when working on large trucks, it is wise to use a jackstand at the rear once the vehicle is lifted. It's not about the locks, it's about actually tipping the 2 post lift out of the concrete. I got the jack stand cheap at Harbor Freight. When I use it with my pickup, the truck won't shake at all while it's in the air. Of course, then you have to remember to remove the jack stand before you lower, or you'll have a guaranteed disaster!
This video has made me glad to deal with vehicles that have full under-body trays. As annoying as they are to remove, especially when there are cooling vents and conduits, the underbody is always spotlessly clean.
Well done, finding a solution without replacing the tank, despite a little extra work with the ring. I hope you will continue with your videos on frame rust repairs. You know how.
I appreciate your reaction to the individuals commenting about the lift. I know atleast one youtuber who would get incensed at comments like that, and complain "your not my mom" about it. I appreciate that you instead took it in stride, appreciated those looking out for you, and then even took it as an oppertunity to explain the safety features built into the lift itself. That kind of response builds up a great culture of safety instead of pushing people away for pointing out something unsafe. Thank you.
Oh man, that needle gun brought back so many memories of working down in the bilges of a Navy ship. Many hours and using red lead! Keep up the good fight!
I have an '85 Ram withthe same issue, and seeing what you went through and the diffculty of finding parts for a truck that's only 20 years old makes me sad - especially now that Ram has been discontinued. LMC Truck may have some salvation for your 2005, even thiugh it is geared toward more classic vehicles. This video will come.in handy - especially the painting - as I maintain my 80s and 90s vehicles because new stuff is made with planned obsolence in mind.
Jon, look behind you man! A good reminder to everyone - always have a fire extinguisher and blanket where ever you are working with anything that can start a fire.
Tip on the fuel lines, best practice is to press the tabs and push inwards (like you were trying to put the line on) first then pull the line off. Over time dirt and grim pack into the head and put pressure on the ears that lock into the fuel line fitting. By quizzing and pushing the line further onto the pump line it breaks that tension on the ears and the lines just pull right off like butter.
Fixed for now is just about all we can hope for for a lot of our equipment! Drove past Dillwyn last week on my way back home to Bedford from Short Pump.
Worked as a design engineer In another industry for years. If I had a nickel for the number of times I cursed my counterparts on the automotive side, I would be sipping my brown water (coffee or whatever else) in the mountains instead of working for another 30 years before retiring. The line that “an engineer would walk past 1000 beautiful women to s***w a mechanic/tech” is rooted in some truth
To be honest, the engineer most likely did it right (stainless insert, drain for the water), but some asshat manager overruled it. Engineers (overall) actually do care, but if a manager can squeeze out one $ from a car that is built millions of times, he will.
@@nordishkiel5985 Absolutely! All of us know that compromises have to be made in the name of manufacturing/cost, but there's a limit. A number of things I saw "value engineered" by management so the numbers would look good but then they would still talk about being a "premium brand" even though the customers thought otherwise. As result, that company doesn't exist anymore. Another one is CAD. An amazingly powerful tool, but it has allowed engineers to get away with things that they wouldn't necessarily have a few decades ago. Couple that with designers/engineers that don't actually have hands on experience in tinkering and working on stuff and PMs who've never even gotten their hands dirty and it's just a gigantic snowball of bad ideas that leave the customer going, "What were they thinking?"
I was a manager in a Texaco refinery for many years so I know a little about the manufacture of diesel. Water in diesel is commonly found in it. To dry it, the diesel is run through a salt bed. The shipped diesel should be dry. You likely got water in your diesel when you purchased it. File a complaint with your supplier and he should make you whole.
Bacteria colonies will grow that will plug diesel engine fuel systems. The distributor must have a final filter to remove the Bacteria from the diesel.
back years ago I worked as electrical maintenance for Consolidated Freightways and once a month I had to use a "Sump Sucker" to extract the water from the 4 10,000gal tanks to prevent damage to truck fuel tanks. Since the tank farm was pretty new the water came from the delivery trucks
Long gone are the days of “built to last”. Now it’s “build it as quickly and cheaply as possible and able to last until a day past the warranty” Your fix is spot on Jon.
In many cases it just doesn't make sense to build things to last 100+ years. Just because of technological progression. Most people wouldn't want a car from the 80s or older as daily driver. So if it was built to last, it would have used up more resources to build and would be scrapped anyways. No point in doing so.
19 years ago a 19 year old truck was still a good truck if it was maintained. Now…. A 19 year old truck needs to be restored and rebuilt. I know 19 years seems a long time to a 14 year old.
Jon, I truly enjoy the 'fast motion' parts of your video's. They are absolutely amazing! I think you are undoubtedly one of the most organized mechanic I watch! Yes, I see all of those things you have! I really think they're cool, along with your machinery! Congratulations, on the fuel line fix!
12:18, why on earth are those bolts so long?? 36:54 Good Lord, it was like watching a horror movie and just yelling at the screen "It's Right Behind You!!!"
To reply to "why are those bolts so long". It allows you to lower the tank and get your hands up on top of the tank to disconnect the lines up there. Also it makes getting the tank back in easier.
Jon there is something that might help, how about taking a big truck tire inner tube splitting it lengthwise and installing it on top of the tank totally covering the entire top of tank, like an umbrella, surely that would help diverting some of the water if not all of it, also good job on rust proofing, every little bit helps out there, here in AZ we don't have those issues, like always Jon great content....Javi G.
My blood pressure is going up watching you try to disassemble those fuel lines. This is why I dont work on modern vehicles... Half of everything is plastic and prone to breaking... Also, there is always a special wrench, there are 3 in the world, Germany has 2 and the 3rd one is on loan to the 3rd Mechanized while they invade Kursk... Hell with all that...
I have the same truck. Now that you have the tank off, do a fuel tank mod. Move the vent hose from beside the pump to the top of the hump on the tank. You will fill a few more gallons of fuel at fill up. Great for longer trips.
The designers weren't concerned with how easy it is to take the thing apart. They're only concerned with how fast and easy it is to assemble. They're paying the guys that assemble them, not the ones who are taking them apart for repair. It's not a "bad" design, it's just designed to a criteria that doesn't benefit you!
@@paulnieuwkamp8067 You're going incorrectly then. As long as it lasts until the warranty is out, quick to install is the winning bet. The guys on the assembly line cost the manufacturer probably over $200 dollars an hour. Probably way over. Every second you cut off assembly time is thousands of dollars a year in profit. They don't give a rat's behind about customer cost or maintainer mental stability as long as it meets government regulations and doesn't cost them a lot in warranty claims.
@@Mishn0 I don't disagree that's who they're designing it for, I just (vehemently) disagree that this makes it a good design; It makes it a really terrible design. You should design stuff for all people who are going to use it, not just a small subset. Just because you can throw it over a wall and make it somebody else's problem does not mean it's not a bad design.
Mostly happy owner of a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500, mine is white with 335,000 miles. I was worried about having to do this repair but living in Texas we don't have rust problems. But thanks to the road quality, I live in the country, I recently had the front suspension rebuilt. Plus a new windshield, dang rocks. Thanks for another great video.
You really do have to wonder about some of the design decisions that auto manufacturers make. If that fuel tank design isn't built-in obsolescence then I don't know what it is. It's out of sight from the customer, very few people are going to notice the issue, and there's no new tanks available. Time for a new truck!
Definitivamente John, tienes que poner un taller bien grande ya. Como granjero no se como eres, pero como mecánico, buscas todas las soluciones y aciertas. Felicidades por esta reparación. Aquí sigo esperando ver de nuevo a la bestia. Saludos desde La Rioja, España, la capital mundial del vino.
It's a Dodge, numerous design issues plus a cummins with some fuel system issues. Enjoy watching your challenge and sucesses and remindes me of helping my brother with his Dodge timing gasket cover. Keep on going, awesome show.
You nailed it. While complaining bear in mind that plastic fuel tanks don't rust and by the time the ring has rusted out it's also time to look at the undersides and conduct some rust killing and rust removal on the framework? But you nailed the repair this job. It's totally foolproof now.😊
Thanks Jon for making the video for us. One thing I would have done is buy a small sheet of 1/4" nylon to make the ring, I think it would be easier to make. New owner of a plasma cutter here so I will be mindful of the sparks! Thanks for showing what happened to you. KC
I just wanted to say thank you and tell you - this is my favorite RUclips channel. I've been watching YT for years, never had a channel I thought - I'm excited for this! But yours, you got it. I wish you all the success.
I do love how farmers won't spend 50p more than they need to and fix everything! I do a fair bit of this sort of work for farmers around cumbria in the UK, have found a couple of filter funnels that are capable of filtering out much and water from diesel and always fill my tractor through it and saves loads of messing about with dirty fuel.
Addressing the overall theme: your repair is a brilliant bodge (as the Brits would say): creative and efficient; done in the true spirit of 'make do with what's on hand.' As for the fire? Your response put you in the top five of my pantheon of RUclips Renaissance creators. And, I might add, restrained diplomacy vis suggestions is definitely one of your assets.😬
This repair ended up being a bit of an adventure. But I'm happy with the results in the end. I'm still waiting on parts for the Case 170B, so it may be a couple weeks before we see Large Marge again. Have a great weekend everybody!
I’m dying that yogurt lid fit lol
When taking the fill hoses off, use the pick tool you're using but spray some of your penetrate oil into the gap as you use the pick tool. This will help the hose separate easier and allow the hose to slide off the filler tubes.
Ps... With the fuel line connectors. You probably have dirt packed in & underneath the locking tabs. (I'm writing these tips out as I'm watching the video) What helps with those is using your air compressor to blow the dirt out. The dirt blocks the tabs from being able to move stopping them from coming off.
When these type of connections are used on steel lines, rust will cause the same issue. GM cars & trucks were notorious for this. Ford usually used stainless steel lines and weren't a problem for the most part. (They actually had outer issues usually 🤣)
Designed by engineers. Designs never looked at by mechanics/technicians. Classic process, had the same problem in the Navy. At least with the older vehicles/equipment they were designed with the expectation that they were going to be worked on. Now designs are all about ease of manufacturing. It's sad really.
A little water in fuel never hurt anything, as a matter of fact it IMPROVES performance by creating boost in turbocharged engines, lowers air intake temps and prevents pre-ignition and knock. I read it started during World War 2 they added water injection to high performance piston fighter planes. The only downside is it will corrode steal components in fuel system, other than that, it is pretty harmless. 💪💪💪
I've done this same repair on a few GM trucks now. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The problem is when the ring rusts, it distorts the O-ring surface and even if you can clamp the fuel pump down, it still won't seal. On gas trucks, that means evap problems. On a diesel it's not much of an issue. The only other thing you can do is fab up a new tank or wedge in an off the shelf fabricated tank. Either way, it's expensive and a lot of work.
Honestly I would just order the aftermarket 52 gallon tank and be done with it if it got to that point.
Glad I read through the comments Wes. I was just about to send him your direction.
Designs like that are made on purpuse. It's calculated that when turcks value goes down it is too expensive to do this kind of repairs and you have to get rid of the truck and buy new even bigger POS and pay them for service....
Nice work. 👍💪🥇
@@jakysz145 Yup, just enough engineering to get it past warranty!
As an auto mechanic, it brings me great joy to see people going mad while working on their stuff. "Why did they make it like that" is all day every day.
Same, and compressed air would have saved alot of fing around with this job for him.
Even many years after getting out of the business, I still take a perverse pleasure in watching that kind of thing.
Sadly, it almost never leads to a deeper appreciation of the folks like you and past me who have gone, or are still going through those kinds of struggles on a daily basis. The vast majority of DIYers (once called shade trees) somehow never make the connection.
And even the ones who do, still complain about how much money mechanics (supposedly) make.
I've worked on cars, on and off for over 50 years. It seems that every year they just make it harder and harder. I'm convinced they do it deliberately.
Your reaction with the fire extinguisher was brilliant. But the best thing is that you show us this mishap.
In addition to your instructive descriptions of mechanics, electronics, etc., I also love your channel because of your self-criticism and your honesty!
good video because you show all the negatives that we all go through and you don't add stupic music, cartoons, etc and just simple hard working guy using his brains and teaching us about repairs, tools, paints, liquids, etc
Amen!
Excellent point about the fluff that some tubers add in.
Except the seals. LOL
so glad you had a functioning extinguisher this time.
"It's only temporary unless it works." That was my dad's philosophy, too. Some of his oddball fixes were just priceless. Creative., nutty, but they always worked for at least a little while.
chainsaw bar oil works great for spraying inside frame holes and is hella cheaper than fluid film.
For my money, FC101 is the most entertaining and educational channel on YT...great work as always Jon
Truly, I agree.
Check out watch wes work. Similar channel.
I’ve been through fuel tank/line issues twice with my 1996 Ram 2500, and by far the best way to deal with that was to remove the bed. Not much holds it on the frame, and the tank and its connections are easily dealt with. In my case on BOTH occasions mice had chewed through the gas lines right at the tank. The second time they got to the high pressure line, and the fix would have been insanely hard without bed removal. Having learned my lesson, for the second I armored the gas lines every way I could think of, with stainless steel wool held in place by stainless steel wire, stainless steel coiled brake line protector, and so on. As much work as that was, it was massively more comfortable doing the work while sitting on a low stool than trying to deal with it above my head - lift or no lift.
You get an A for the video (too short)...an A+ for the repair...and a gold medal for the fastest 10 meter run ever...nicely done.
Camarata lost a HUGE excavator because he didn't have any decent fire control devices!!
He had a to get a NEW one. But, he can afford it. Glad that you had a good extinguisher!!
So, I see the flame start and i say to myself, "Jon, you've got a problem. Jon, there is a fire over there. Jon, look over. Put out the fire. JON!! YOUR HOUSE IS BURNING DOWN. DO SOMETHING." Oh, thank God. I'm exhausted. And who hasn'r cursed out those design engineers. Great video
I was yelling at him, man I'm glad it did go further.
Fantastic repair - better than new. I love seeing your farmer fixes - because it confirms the way I have been fixing things forever is OK!!
To your rant about the fuel line release design - they put a LOT of thought into it! That thought was what they could do to save 0.5s on the factory floor assembling it....
I had to replace the fuel tank in my Wrangler because of design for assembly - the hose connections (a common breakage item) are plastic welded into the tank. It saves them a couple of dollars, but screws us owners by making us replace a $500 part in place of a $50 part.
Yep. Not designed for you. Designed for the robot.
Also, those connectors works GREAT at the factory! If there is a need for repair, the dealers have tools for it so no problem! The issue here is that manufacturers couldn't give rats ass about individuals repairing cars, that doesn't make a dime of profit for them so they simply don't care and thus, we see this garbage being put into cars year after year....
Too true, I guess they have to save money where they can, but you are right of course.
something like that tank is more than likely put in by a person, (with a robotic lift to hold/move the tank). those connectors are foolproof for assembly and don’t require any tools. so one person can completely install the tank in one “step” on the line because the only tool they need to install the tank is the one that tightens the tank straps.
Which back to the original point it’s all designed to make assembly as efficient and fool proof as possible, they are not looking at service.
I think your "Replace Vehicle Soon" light is burned out. You are amazing. Great fix!
Yeah, must be because they are standard equipment on all Dodge trucks
We can sign you off for your water can response. Good locking pin deployment, good initial attack distance, nice crouching style. Extra points for continuing to face the fire looking for flare ups. Nice overhaul. See you at the next Volunteer Fire Department training meeting! You did darn good.
I'm so glad you noticed the fire, and put it out before it became a big problem.
Last time I had tires put on, I checked the lug nuts when I got home, and then again after I drove a hundred-ish miles. While I've never had the problem of loose lug nuts from the shop, I know people that have had that problem
I just generally don't fully trust shops anymore (multiple disparate bad experiences), which really sucks because I finally make enough money to outsource some things, but I'm just stuck buying more tools instead; the horror. haha
Years ago my widowed mum had two new tyres put on the front of her VW Beetle. Two days later she undertook a 200mile journey with our 5 and 7 year old sons.
After cruising down the freeway at the legal speed limit, she slowed to make a right hand turn and as she did, one of the front wheels left the car and headed into a paddock. Fortunately the car was not damaged and the road service people came, found the wheel and reattached it. No more problems but 40 years later my sons still talk about what happened to Nans car.
At least you found your loose wheel nuts before the wheel took off.
Love your videos but wished they were more frequent......you have explained how much time and effort goes into them so we understand.
Cheers from Australia.
I always re-torque my lug nuts after 50 miles
Wow John, when I saw the fire my heart sank. We just lost our home to a fire and it is truly a nightmare. You got extremely lucky.
I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling real empathy, with the struggle parts, the frustrations, the successes and the “Oh crap I’ve nearly burned down my shop”.
Oh man, you are SO right about connectors!
I've recommended it before but I will once again. Use Ospho for any rust problems. It changes iron oxide to iron phosphate which is inert. It gets all the rust and it doesn't return. With all the machines you have it would help you control rust and it turns rusted parts black. It works fast too...no waiting for a day or days to get mediocre results from other rust treatments. Ospho is also a primer so you could have painted your frame after the Ospho dried. I did that on a 500 gallon gasoline tank when I lived on the coast. Five years later the tank was still perfect with not a spec of rust even being only 20 feet from the saltwater. A testament of how good Ospho works.
@@rpsmith I buy the gallon jug. I think it was around 20 and it lasts a long time because I use a Windex bottle to spray it on. Awesome stuff...much better than any other rust removers out there and it works fast too and is a good primer for paint.
Same here, Gallon jug from Ace Hardware. That stuff is great!
Damn that fire extinguisher worked well!!
i could watch these videos all day
Ive literally done 100s of these type repairs on Dodge 5.9 liters and 6.7s. Id say you did a great job. If inclined,you might add an additional fuel filter and a clear water separator kit near the tank along the frame. Youd probably never have water or dirty fuel getting to your major fuel components again. In time, all the fuel components will rust internally and cause worse issues, very expensive. Great video!
I am happy that you saw this fire in time, omg.
Working on car is like opening can of worms sometimes, rewarding at the end and bitter at the same time :D
I thought I was the only one feeling that way.
Super job !!! Well done!! Only suggestion would be to put a water drain into the bottom of the tank at its lowest point (jacked up at a slight backward tilt)
Here is today's video, wherein John promises to "do somethin' stupid". That, to me, sounds like one of the best promises ever made! I LOVE it when we get to do stupid stuff!!
As you could see how easy and fast it was to snap the wire clip and the fuel lines in, that is all the designer cared about. When you are rolling a vehicle off the assembly line every 59 seconds, it only matter that is snaps together quickly. They could care less about repairing it. Great video.
Jon, not as many of us would be watching if it wasn't for your mistakes and your humble honesty when making them. It is appreciated, thank you. Who says there's no such thing and planned obsolescence! 🤪
I performed a repair on my 2016 Ford Transit Connect yesterday. Symptoms were: ABS & TCS lights on, speedometer only working intermittently. Swapped a vehicle speed sensor on the exterior of the transaxle and then both front-wheel ABS wheel sensors. The next thing would be to replace the vehicle speed sensor _inside_ the transaxle. Thank God the 3 "easy" swaps were enough to fix it. Watching channels like yours and Andrew Camarata's gave me the sense that this was something I could achieve. Thanks so much for being such a persistent teacher. I have no idea how much a couple of hours with some wrenches saved me in labor, but I'm sure it was substantial.
And maybe invest in some fiberglass blankets to use around the plasma torch and a fire extinguisher mount on the torch's cart. We need you to keep doing this work and continue to be not bio-char.
Had an issue with my ABS system on 2008 Dodge (Mercedes) Sprinter a few years back. Replaced a rear wheel speed sensor. No dice. Eventually figured out mice made a nest on top of the diesel tank and chewed through a wire. Had to drop the diesel tank, splice the wire, added a protective loom, and back in business. What a PITA. Brilliant design putting some unprotected tasty wires in a prime nesting spot on top of the tank.
Persistence will get you far in life.
They were thinking, what the hell Jon, why are you driving a 20 year old truck truck we condemned when it left the dealership.
Exactly. This is 100% done to sell more trucks.
Design obsolescence
Hi Wes, always look forward to your vids, please keep them coming, more frequent if you can!
@@Pest789 Yeah the planned sercive life on these is about 5 years where they were made. Thie ring will rust away in that thime there but if it didnt the chassi will be gone anyway. (Assuming they were made in michigan).
@@rimmersbryggeri That's a lot of god damned money for something that won't last.
john and causing fire ... its a long history
glad you are safe
Thanks John!!! Love this stuff!!
A real man shows his mistakes, no joke. Helps us all gain awareness John, thanks.
when you go to the parts store "just tell em LARGE MARGE SENT YA".
I am so glad I am not the only one who fought with those clips and stuff. Had to replace the fuel pump unit on my '01 1500
I’m not a mechanic but I’ve always been told it is easier to pull the truck bed off to the access a pickup truck fuel pump. Great video.
I'd pay money to watch you try to take the bed off of a twenty year old truck...in one piece...without taking a torch or grinder to it...
I'm not a mechanic either, but my mates have always said cut a hole in the floor/bed for access, and if you want to be neat cut an overlap plate out of a scrapper.
It's actually very easy. Just put a lift pump in my 2006 cummins. Like six bolts in the top of the bed.@@Hey_Its_That_Guy
@@Hey_Its_That_Guy -- The bed is only held on with a few bolts and you can cut them off and replace them easy peasy!
@@rpsmith He said without a torch or a grinder.
Fair play with the quick reaction time with the fire!!!!! Glad everything was okay!
Replacement plastic connectors are available if your fix gives you issues. O’Reilly’s might carry them and the dealer, you’ll just need to de-pin the wires and push them into the new unit etc. I’m convinced you have the HOTTEST channel on RUclips!
Yes, no need to cut, just de-pin.
36:25 -yeah...the shop I used to work in had flammables everywhere in the mechanic's shop, and you learned quickly to pay attention to smells when you were doing hot work, and if there was anything close by that you couldn't easily move, you grabbed someone to watch for fires. Good times...
You know what I would LOVE to see on your channel? The purchase and process of understanding and using a small plasma table. My neighbor and I went halfsies on one, and neither of us has had time to figure it out. He's an ex-machinist and retired (and has infinitely more time than I to put into it) but it's a little daunting. Your videos are by far the most informative and instructive I have ever found online. Something about your problem solving process really speaks to me. If you need rationalization for the financial director, just record how much time you spent cutting, grinding and smoothing that retaining collar. Your time is worth money!
You neglected to add the fire fighting time to your list. 😁
Something like the ArcDroid kit that FabRats use might be a good budget investment @FarmCraft101
I can understand your problem. Most channels make it look simple to program a plasma cutting table, but as you say, it's not. I think eventually you will get the hang of it with perseverence. I also like the water cutter machines, no heat but they are incredibly expensive for home use.
I agree, the arcdroid would be a big help to you and your channel.
PLUS, you could help us with ours! You attention to detail is what we need to learn it better!
You did a great job! I did that to my 2004 2500 Ram! EXACT same problems! Thank goodness my brother-in-law is a Machinist (no repair kit available then) So we made one up just using pictures and measuring the opening in the Tank! Again GREAT Job! (oh, I did it all from the "ground)
John, my son is a diesel Dodge fanatic with 2 Dodge/ram diesel trucks. The "show" truck, 2004, Cummins, we dropped the tank and it had algae in it. We cleaned the tank and replaced the fuel pump with an outside pump and a drop tube into the tank (online aftermarket kit), you just use the sender unit of the old pump and disconnect the pump. Then we installed (online kit again) an electric pump, separate water separator, and filter kit on the frame below the driver door, so it is serviceable. The water separator has a valve to reach under and drain the water. No problems so far. The other daily driver truck, another 2012, he just did a turbo replacement to a bigger one, of course, and he removed that filter unit you replaced the filter in. He threw it on the ground. After a month I picked it up and tore it apart, there should be a valve on the lower side to drain the water. But exploring deeper, I found that the plastic ring at the inside top of that filter unit has 2 metal plates that are separated and wrapped around separately inside the circumference, inside of that plastic. The plastic cover on the outside, the top one, that has the wires had a temp switch in it, like in a coffee pot, and a plug that plugs into the metal rings inside the filter housing, which apparently senses the presence of the water. The outlet of the filter is that black plastic tube inside the middle that the filter drops over. Apparently, the water fills up to touch the metal rings and sends the signal to the computer. I asked him what he put in instead and he said that he said he totally bypassed it.
Very instructive and a pleasure to read. Thank you and your son for an informative comment on RAM diesel engines. It must have taken you ages to write this, but as stated, it's very interesting to know about RAM trucks, Thank you...
Great job! Next time do one more step on that frame and consider a gallon of phosphoric acid to convert the rust. That stop rust is amazing. I did my fj cruiser 6 years ago with a gallon of lowes phosphoric acid in a garden sprayer underneath. Then used stop rust with rattle can semi black. I still don't have any rust! You did a great job too!
Taking the bed off to get access to the pump/sending unit is 10x easier and faster, especially with a lift
OK John... that was the fastest I have ever seen you move... So happy that went OK and you saw it in time...
" Anddddd you're gonna see me do something that's just downright stupid" ....... Well you got my attention😂... Gets me every time!🤣
Very informative video, as always! I have the same lift that you do. Watch Wes Work says that when working on large trucks, it is wise to use a jackstand at the rear once the vehicle is lifted. It's not about the locks, it's about actually tipping the 2 post lift out of the concrete. I got the jack stand cheap at Harbor Freight. When I use it with my pickup, the truck won't shake at all while it's in the air. Of course, then you have to remember to remove the jack stand before you lower, or you'll have a guaranteed disaster!
This video has made me glad to deal with vehicles that have full under-body trays. As annoying as they are to remove, especially when there are cooling vents and conduits, the underbody is always spotlessly clean.
Nobody lives in a perfect world. Lol underrate anything live where there’s water and salt shit rusts…
Well done, finding a solution without replacing the tank, despite a little extra work with the ring. I hope you will continue with your videos on frame rust repairs. You know how.
I appreciate your reaction to the individuals commenting about the lift. I know atleast one youtuber who would get incensed at comments like that, and complain "your not my mom" about it. I appreciate that you instead took it in stride, appreciated those looking out for you, and then even took it as an oppertunity to explain the safety features built into the lift itself.
That kind of response builds up a great culture of safety instead of pushing people away for pointing out something unsafe. Thank you.
Good repair. Don’t forget to check the lug nuts on the other rims.
Reason why I don't ever waste one RED cent on Fix It Again Tony!
Hello from Moosomin,Saskatchewan,Canada you have great videos and great at communicating. Thanks for sharing.
Oh man, that needle gun brought back so many memories of working down in the bilges of a Navy ship. Many hours and using red lead! Keep up the good fight!
I have an '85 Ram withthe same issue, and seeing what you went through and the diffculty of finding parts for a truck that's only 20 years old makes me sad - especially now that Ram has been discontinued. LMC Truck may have some salvation for your 2005, even thiugh it is geared toward more classic vehicles. This video will come.in handy - especially the painting - as I maintain my 80s and 90s vehicles because new stuff is made with planned obsolence in mind.
Jon, look behind you man!
A good reminder to everyone - always have a fire extinguisher and blanket where ever you are working with anything that can start a fire.
Tip on the fuel lines, best practice is to press the tabs and push inwards (like you were trying to put the line on) first then pull the line off. Over time dirt and grim pack into the head and put pressure on the ears that lock into the fuel line fitting. By quizzing and pushing the line further onto the pump line it breaks that tension on the ears and the lines just pull right off like butter.
Ah yes… a wise old farmer once said ; « there’s nothing more permanent than a temporary fix »
Good job & thank you for taking us along
Yeah, I gotta admit that I was hoping for "heavy machinery" this week. But thanks for the great content Jon. Hello from Australia
37:34 I know that feeling ALL too well. So glad you got it put out before it spread to those fuel sources. Was anybody else yelling at the screen? LOL
I bet half of the viewers were yelling at the screen, I was!
Fixed for now is just about all we can hope for for a lot of our equipment! Drove past Dillwyn last week on my way back home to Bedford from Short Pump.
Automotive engineers should not be aloud to draw a stick figure until they have worked as a mechanic for five years
Worked as a design engineer In another industry for years. If I had a nickel for the number of times I cursed my counterparts on the automotive side, I would be sipping my brown water (coffee or whatever else) in the mountains instead of working for another 30 years before retiring.
The line that “an engineer would walk past 1000 beautiful women to s***w a mechanic/tech” is rooted in some truth
To be honest, the engineer most likely did it right (stainless insert, drain for the water), but some asshat manager overruled it. Engineers (overall) actually do care, but if a manager can squeeze out one $ from a car that is built millions of times, he will.
@@nordishkiel5985 Absolutely! All of us know that compromises have to be made in the name of manufacturing/cost, but there's a limit. A number of things I saw "value engineered" by management so the numbers would look good but then they would still talk about being a "premium brand" even though the customers thought otherwise. As result, that company doesn't exist anymore.
Another one is CAD. An amazingly powerful tool, but it has allowed engineers to get away with things that they wouldn't necessarily have a few decades ago. Couple that with designers/engineers that don't actually have hands on experience in tinkering and working on stuff and PMs who've never even gotten their hands dirty and it's just a gigantic snowball of bad ideas that leave the customer going, "What were they thinking?"
allowed.
@nordishkiel5985 Every day, a good American company dies because of an American executive.
GOOD JOB ON RUST!
I was a manager in a Texaco refinery for many years so I know a little about the manufacture of diesel. Water in diesel is commonly found in it. To dry it, the diesel is run through a salt bed. The shipped diesel should be dry. You likely got water in your diesel when you purchased it. File a complaint with your supplier and he should make you whole.
Thanks for commenting. My first thought was, "Water in your diesel, probably from the last place you filled up." Coming from 19 yrs as a 7.3 owner.
As an interesting aside, water will settle out into the bottom of the massive storage tanks. If the water is not drained off sufficiently, bacter
Bacteria colonies will grow that will plug diesel engine fuel systems. The distributor must have a final filter to remove the Bacteria from the diesel.
back years ago I worked as electrical maintenance for Consolidated Freightways and once a month I had to use a "Sump Sucker" to extract the water from the 4 10,000gal tanks to prevent damage to truck fuel tanks. Since the tank farm was pretty new the water came from the delivery trucks
Long gone are the days of “built to last”. Now it’s “build it as quickly and cheaply as possible and able to last until a day past the warranty”
Your fix is spot on Jon.
Answer, Toyota.
In many cases it just doesn't make sense to build things to last 100+ years. Just because of technological progression.
Most people wouldn't want a car from the 80s or older as daily driver. So if it was built to last, it would have used up more resources to build and would be scrapped anyways. No point in doing so.
You can look up (planned obsolescence) It all started when light bulbs we lasting too long!
That truck is 19 years old I don't think that's considered "now" anymore
19 years ago a 19 year old truck was still a good truck if it was maintained. Now…. A 19 year old truck needs to be restored and rebuilt. I know 19 years seems a long time to a 14 year old.
You are a remarkably capable guy!
Man, I'm glad you are ok after you didn't post last week got alittle worried.
Jon, I truly enjoy the 'fast motion' parts of your video's. They are absolutely amazing! I think you are undoubtedly one of the most organized mechanic I watch! Yes, I see all of those things you have! I really think they're cool, along with your machinery! Congratulations, on the fuel line fix!
12:18, why on earth are those bolts so long??
36:54 Good Lord, it was like watching a horror movie and just yelling at the screen "It's Right Behind You!!!"
Since you are asking why those bolts are so long tells me you never changed fuel tank straps.
To reply to "why are those bolts so long". It allows you to lower the tank and get your hands up on top of the tank to disconnect the lines up there. Also it makes getting the tank back in easier.
@@shoppe99 Ah, like built in guide rails then.
@@CobetcknnKolowski The only thing the engineers designed right, LOL
Jon there is something that might help, how about taking a big truck tire inner tube splitting it lengthwise and installing it on top of the tank totally covering the entire top of tank, like an umbrella, surely that would help diverting some of the water if not all of it, also good job on rust proofing, every little bit helps out there, here in AZ we don't have those issues, like always Jon great content....Javi G.
My blood pressure is going up watching you try to disassemble those fuel lines. This is why I dont work on modern vehicles... Half of everything is plastic and prone to breaking... Also, there is always a special wrench, there are 3 in the world, Germany has 2 and the 3rd one is on loan to the 3rd Mechanized while they invade Kursk... Hell with all that...
I have the same truck. Now that you have the tank off, do a fuel tank mod. Move the vent hose from beside the pump to the top of the hump on the tank. You will fill a few more gallons of fuel at fill up. Great for longer trips.
"its only temporary unless it works" is a motto I live by man lolol
Wowee, that was a close one! Good save and goes to show how important it is to have a fire extinguisher (and a spare pair of pants) handy.
Ps every tire shop has a exclaimer on your receipt to check your lungnuts after 50 miles
Your videos are extremely entertaining for me. You have a great sense of humor. Thanks for the videos.
You literally had me shouting at the screen
I see that you upgraded to working fire extinguishers! Great video
The designers weren't concerned with how easy it is to take the thing apart. They're only concerned with how fast and easy it is to assemble. They're paying the guys that assemble them, not the ones who are taking them apart for repair. It's not a "bad" design, it's just designed to a criteria that doesn't benefit you!
Design it for the guy who handles it two seconds, or for the guy who uses it for years? I'm going with bad design...
@@paulnieuwkamp8067 You're going incorrectly then. As long as it lasts until the warranty is out, quick to install is the winning bet. The guys on the assembly line cost the manufacturer probably over $200 dollars an hour. Probably way over. Every second you cut off assembly time is thousands of dollars a year in profit. They don't give a rat's behind about customer cost or maintainer mental stability as long as it meets government regulations and doesn't cost them a lot in warranty claims.
@@Mishn0 I don't disagree that's who they're designing it for, I just (vehemently) disagree that this makes it a good design; It makes it a really terrible design.
You should design stuff for all people who are going to use it, not just a small subset. Just because you can throw it over a wall and make it somebody else's problem does not mean it's not a bad design.
Mostly happy owner of a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500, mine is white with 335,000 miles. I was worried about having to do this repair but living in Texas we don't have rust problems. But thanks to the road quality, I live in the country, I recently had the front suspension rebuilt. Plus a new windshield, dang rocks. Thanks for another great video.
You really do have to wonder about some of the design decisions that auto manufacturers make. If that fuel tank design isn't built-in obsolescence then I don't know what it is. It's out of sight from the customer, very few people are going to notice the issue, and there's no new tanks available. Time for a new truck!
I got in your Amazon store and ordered those stoppers when you was using them on Large Marge so thank you for that.
Trucker tip...add isopropyl alcohol to your diesel fuel tank to absorb water from your fuel.
Can you explain more?
Isopropyl will absorb the water and then blend into the diesel fuel. Safe and effective.
@@woodygall955 but the water is still there. I guess if it's not much it's gonna get exhausted
No the water is now molecular a part of the alcohol which has now become an additive to the fuel.
That is actually smart. But why isopropanol specifically? Is it as safe to add 96% ethanol?
Good repair,love the fire,done that a few times myself,always heart skips a beat.
Definitivamente John, tienes que poner un taller bien grande ya.
Como granjero no se como eres, pero como mecánico, buscas todas las soluciones y aciertas.
Felicidades por esta reparación.
Aquí sigo esperando ver de nuevo a la bestia.
Saludos desde La Rioja, España, la capital mundial del vino.
I think you did the best you could with what you had. It's pretty remarkable that the truck is still running after 15 years.
It's a Dodge, numerous design issues plus a cummins with some fuel system issues. Enjoy watching your challenge and sucesses and remindes me of helping my brother with his Dodge timing gasket cover. Keep on going, awesome show.
For those rust holes use 1/8" hardware cloth slathered in thickened epoxy. Apply it only after making the metal bare and clean. It works.
You nailed it. While complaining bear in mind that plastic fuel tanks don't rust and by the time the ring has rusted out it's also time to look at the undersides and conduct some rust killing and rust removal on the framework? But you nailed the repair this job. It's totally foolproof now.😊
Glad you're okay!
Thanks Jon for making the video for us. One thing I would have done is buy a small sheet of 1/4" nylon to make the ring, I think it would be easier to make. New owner of a plasma cutter here so I will be mindful of the sparks! Thanks for showing what happened to you.
KC
John you always use belt and suspenders with every repair you do that's what I find interesting in watching your work.
I'm loving me some farm crafts well done John
I just wanted to say thank you and tell you - this is my favorite RUclips channel. I've been watching YT for years, never had a channel I thought - I'm excited for this! But yours, you got it. I wish you all the success.
I do love how farmers won't spend 50p more than they need to and fix everything! I do a fair bit of this sort of work for farmers around cumbria in the UK, have found a couple of filter funnels that are capable of filtering out much and water from diesel and always fill my tractor through it and saves loads of messing about with dirty fuel.
Addressing the overall theme: your repair is a brilliant bodge (as the Brits would say): creative and efficient; done in the true spirit of 'make do with what's on hand.' As for the fire? Your response put you in the top five of my pantheon of RUclips Renaissance creators.
And, I might add, restrained diplomacy vis suggestions is definitely one of your assets.😬