I hope someone here is well acquainted with manual fuel tank selector valves.
I have been using two 4-position valves on my truck since I got it in about 1986-87.
Like http://https://www.amazon.com/Moeller-Fuel-Four-Way-Valve-Brass/dp/B000MTI18M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=DE2KIV0F8AAU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pS1DI6h6eWch_8ghpIJFEWoncXP_KrzUowWNcPW4K8O59UaE7PNTV8_dBJje5Y7sdRBfQj3iADIfpLTNX8Vt5EyyAf5I7IqdWUfqLw9zuAn2_cWJ2p_CfMY169OJC6XXuGdtPKRf1RSheN-IxcjmpkhhvFbT6s26PN_MH21pEeTJuxnD1AfROKh5jdBsE98x5HCjQTTdYs7r4ZA8SACYD8e0_Hn67ZYfT_M3rvSRIW3K9tX95TsUuzPv_dJV9BN1cdp8wyfg2rA862pb5DtwhlSbhAUIGWmpQ-YfmqWRgeQ._yekpeh0mk62AYvpa0neLc6MdiylAlvqUkv5CD4Gopo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Moeller+Four+way+valve&qid=1712845975&sprefix=moeller+four+way+valve%2Caps%2C2723&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow - THIS
Diesel, of course.
One valve is for DRAW and the other switches RETURN.
The plumbing is under the floor and a short stem pokes through the floor and a fancy plate and is topped off with a handle/lever with which one turns the internal ball valve from port to port.
The fuel outlet to the engine is straight out the bottom with the three tank inputs perpendicular to that; so, the "Ball", instead of being straight through like a plain old ball-water-valve, has a 90° fuel passage through it.
The bottom-facing passage always faces down and turning the handle points the perpendicular opening toward whichever input is chosen.
Of course, the fuel is travelling in the opposite direction on the Return Selector, but the principle is the same as the valves are identical.
The four positions for either valve are OFF - Front 20-gallon factory tank - Big 52-gallon Auxilliary - Rear 20-gallon factory tank
Over the years, I have mostly used WeatherHead valves mixed with a few others, including Everco.
Hard for me to believe; but, I have not as yet dissected one of these valves to see whether the ball is plastic or the ported housing it rides in is plastic.
The main problem I have always had with all these valves is that the diesel fuel swells the plastic inside and the handle/stem gets tighter and tighter until one day it just snaps off in your hand, leaving you wondering did it switch tanks before snapping, or is it still on the empty tank, or is it lodged somewhere in between.
This is real handy when going around the bypass in Atlanta with a big load of cattle --- had that happen once about thirty years ago.
My question is = is there such a thing as these valves that are not affected by diesel fuel ?
Surely such exists as I have plain old hardware-store Ball-Cut-Off Valves where diesel has been running through them for years and they never seize up like these tank selectors do.
The ones on my truck now are warning me of their impending doom and I would like to have replacements on hand that will not be a repeat performance of the many I have had over the years.
I don't think I have ever tried a Moeller, like the one I linked to as example; maybe their internals are better suited for constant submersion in diesel.
Even considering the occasional stem snapping off, these manual valves are way far and ahead of any electric valve I have ever used --- I will never waste my money on another electric tank switching valve.
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