Stallion fuel cell vapor

dalew · #1 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 04:14 AM

I have a 1981 Stallion with a fuel vapor problem. The original fuel cell has been replaced and the problem still persists. The cell is vented through the cap. I have the original Stallion manual and the cell is correct with no vents with the exception of the cap. There is no evidence of any fuel leak. The vapors are still very strong even after replacing the original cell.
Has anyone had this problem?

Thank you!

bobcowan · #2 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 08:36 AM

I've heard of people having a strong fuel smell from certain brands of steel braided hose. I used Russell and Summit brand, without any problems.

DocDirk · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 09:26 AM

I have read of many WC owners (derived from the Original Kellison Stallion) having fuel vapor odor problems with their fuel cells as supplied by Vern Redel. By the time I ordered mine in 2007 he supplied an stainless tank replacement that works just fine. BackinBlack has posted some on that topic here I seem to recall.

Good luck with the solution!

Dirk

FWB · #4 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 10:20 AM

all the stallions have this problem, the vent in the cap is not large enough or in most cases isn't there at all. some of the cars with the fuel cell(fiberglass) seep fumes thru the cell. if the cell you are using is from 1981 i would think about changing it for safety reasons. i had a stainless steel tank made up for my stallion. the fuel filler casting that the fuel hose connects to can be drilled and tapped just below the body for a fitting to put a good sized vent in. you mentioned the new fuel cell is vented thru the cap, isn't that in the trunk? has the original fuel; filler been relocated?

dalew · #5 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWB

all the stallions have this problem, the vent in the cap is not large enough or in most cases isn't there at all. some of the cars with the fuel cell(fiberglass) seep fumes thru the cell. if the cell you are using is from 1981 i would think about changing it for safety reasons. i had a stainless steel tank made up for my stallion. the fuel filler casting that the fuel hose connects to can be drilled and tapped just below the body for a fitting to put a good sized vent in. you mentioned the new fuel cell is vented thru the cap, isn't that in the trunk? has the original fuel; filler been relocated?

No, the filler cap is still in the same place. The fumes seem to be coming out of the filler cap/vent. They are very strong. I may try plugging the vent hole when the car is stored. Yes the cell is in the trunk....behind the seat as original. It is a new cell, not original.

Thanks for the reply

FWB · #6 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 02:24 PM

on my cap there isn't a vent mines a 1979. it's just a spring loaded alum disc with a rubber grommet. i,m in the process of modifying my cap assembly to vent it. the casting sticks quite a bit into the trunk area, i would say over an inch and a half, so i was going to drill and tap the outside of the hose nipple up toward the top for a small pipe nipple (there i said nipple again) and run a hose out the wheelhouse. i am still not convinced the connector hose on mine is not contributing to smell. i have what appears to be a small piece of radiator hose for a filler hose from cap assembly to the tank. its short lets say 3 inches max, but it may not be the best for a fuel environment. my smell seems to be isolated to the trunk. if your cap is where the vent is i can see where you would smell fumes outside. if you want to modify your cap too ship it to me and i can do both yours and mine at the same time. i was thinking to make the hole 1/16-27 taper pipe, that would allow for a a pipe nipple for 1/4 id hose. the fumes in the trunk on mine are severe, i fear a big kaboom one day from a battery spark. that might ruin my hair doo.

dalew · #7 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 03:27 AM

I plugged the vent hole and the vapors are gone. If this continues to work for me, I see no need to modify the cap. I plugged the hole with a foam ear plug used for shooting. Thank you for the offer of modifying my cap.

FWB · #8 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 09:07 AM

its not the cap i'm modifying, but if your fumes are gone great! keep checking the trunk. see if your fumes now are in the trunk. with the hole blocked the fumes will have to go somewhere. also without the vent the fuel may not like to be pumped. you may be creating a vacuum inside the tank. just keep your eye on it.

dalew · #9 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 09:45 AM

There are no fumes in the trunk. I removed the ear plug and the fumes returned. The cap has a vent sitting nearly on top of the trunk seam and it drops down into the trunk. I put a plastic bag with a rubber band on it over the whole cap. It stopped the smell. I closed the trunk and after one hour, there is no smell at all. I am looking for a solution other than a bag or plug in the hole. At least I have found the problem.

FWB · #10 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 10:34 AM

well the tank is vented via your cap, now you just have to get it away from the passenger compartment. is the smell a problem only when in a garage?
i have considered a small charcoal canister in the wheelhouse with the vent hose in it. every car on the road has a charcoal canister the trick is to find the one that plays nicely with the stallion. there is room for one in the wheelhouse and there is room under the car between passenger compartment and trunk bulkhead.
i do have a question though, if you have the stallion cap assembly on the car, where is the vent? is there a hole drilled into the aluminum disc? if so somebody did this previously to get rid of the trunk smell. the caps never had a hole in them. post a pic..... if this is the case you possibly need to go back to the cap the way it was designed, with no hole and vent another way.
because if its just a hole in the cap under certain driving conditions fuel can squirt out, there isn't a baffle to stop slosh in the cap.

FWB · #11 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 10:45 AM

i posted a pic of my cap in my gallery. is yours the same?

dalew · #12 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 02:16 PM

I do not think that mine looks like that. I have the car at my warehouse and I will let you know tommorrow.

Thanks for the photo

FWB · #13 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 02:34 PM

no problem...

dalew · #14 (**permalink**) 04-07-2009, 11:13 AM

FWB, my cap appears to be the same as yours.
I did notice that I could push down on the cap after it reached the latching point and it could be pushed down somewhat before it contacted the sealing rubber. If the cap is vented, where is the vent? Mine does not seem to sit tight to the rubber seal. With the cap not sealing tight to the rubber would that be how it is vented?

Thanks for all of your replys

FWB · #15 (**permalink**) 04-07-2009, 03:12 PM

mine has some travel, but the grommet is sealing. if yours isn't there may be something up with the spring. the screw in the middle just removes the disc and there is a spring floating in there keeping pressure on the disc, yours might be broken or rusted to the point of it not being....well springy. the springs aren't anything special, it just has to be strong enough to keep enough pressure to seal and it works in conjunction to keep the latch closed.
if you look inside the filler neck you'll see it is a few inches long, i was going to drill and tap from the outside-in, just low enough to put the hole inside the trunk. that is where i will attach a hose nipple for the vent, then run it to the outside under the car or out the wheel. now look at the hinge to be sure the casting isn't self destructing.

Fred