I purchased this cheap-*** plastic coupling tool from JC Whitney and for the life of me cannot get it to work. It seems that even the smallest setting, 3/8, is too large to fit into the coupling. Is this operator error or do I need to fork over some more coin to buy an official Ford tool?

thanks in advance,

 

I found the plastic ones to be best. You might try to wiggle the fuel line a bit while pushing it in. Remember to relieve the fuel pressure first.

Keep at it you will get it.

 

Keep trying - I too was puzzeled by the strangeness of this coupling - still am for that matter, seems some more convetional mechanical connection would work, gasoline and pressure not withstanding.

I seem to remember PUSHING very hard with the tool!

 

I truly believe this is one of the harder diy projects you can do. I think so because it looks so simple. All the tool does fit over the o-bead on the end of the filter. If you think about it, the longer the filter is on the truck the more of a pain that it will be to get off. Its just frustrating. Good luck and dont give up on it

 

Forget the official Ford tool, get the Johngs 2000!

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...0&pagenumber=2

 

Sears has a good kit for fuel and a/c connections. inexpensive and lasts a lifetime.

 

I did this DIY job on my 97 F-150 and I had a hell of a time, the main reason for this was that there was a ton of tiny rocks and cinders from road dirt. All of that gunk inside the fitting housing made it near impossible to perform the job easily and without issue. I then got my power washer out and crawled under the truck and took AIM and blasted each side of the fuel filter with the power washer, needless to say I was wet and some what pissed, but I then used the tool and it worked like a CHARM. I am sure if you have a hose with decent pressure it would perform near the same as a power washer, just keep the hose concentrated on the fitting for a good while and the dirt and rocks will work themselves out. Hope all goes well and hope it is a really hot day when you attempt to perform this job using this approach.

 

Use either the blue or gray plastic tool. Put the tool into the connector, then push the fuel line towards the filter and then pull it off. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

 

I have the metal tool from a local auto parts store that cost 12.00, and it works great, takes less than 5 minutes to replace it.

Also I dont relieve pressure. I just change it first thing in the morning after it has been sitting all night, and it is no problem. Gas still leaks out of the filter, but it is not under pressure.

 

Plastic tools work 90% of the time and suck 10% of the time.

While changing out a rear tank I had one fitting that wouldn't budge. After spending way too much time on it, I called a friend. He laughed at me and said he would drop by with his metal Ford type tool. (The type with the slot similar to the plastic tools)

After he got his butt handed to him I laughed back. As a last resort I went and picked this up at the local Pep Boys. Somewhere around $7-$8.





Came off the first try. Snap, click, off. I now have one the proper size for the fuel filter as well, even though the plastic one had always worked in the past.

 

I had one similar to that and for the life of me I could not get the front line off.

But now I have both, so I guess if one doesnt work I can try the other