fuel leak

Hello folks more knowledgeable than I:

First I do have a manual for my 730 diesel and have searched it and found nothing so far! With that said I have a fuel leak on my tractor and just looking for info before I tear into it so I know a little more of what I am getting into before I tackle it. There is a fuel like coming off the top of the #2 filter housing that comes back along the right side of the tractor and goes into the side of the engine block just over half way up the block thee is a 90 degree elbow this line connects to and the 90 degree fitting screws into the block, it leaking right where that elbow goes into the block. When I take this connection off will fuel flow out of it from gravity feed from the fuel tank? my real question is do I have to shut the fuel off? Second is there supposed to be some type of dope on that elbows threads where it goes into the block? Do you know if this is a flared fitting where the fuel line goes into the elbow? Its been leaking for a long time based on what I had to clean off the block and I got it clean and drove the tractor today to confirm where the leak was and it needs to be fixed. Any words of wisdom would as always be appreciated!
Thanks much
Karl

Karl....yes you need to shut the fuel off before you start taking things apart. The elevation difference of the diesel fuel in the tank creates enough head pressure to flow fuel through the sediment bowl, transfer pump, primary filter, secondary filter and up to the fuel rack. Disconnect the fuel line at the block and check to make sure the brass fitting is tight in the block. It may be you can give it another 360 turn and stop the leak. Be careful because it is brass and can be easily broken. If it is currently tight, remove it and use Teflon tape to seal the thread area. The brass fitting is designed to seal against the special end on the fuel line. If the brass fitting is sloppy, loose in the block it may be that someone broke it off in the past and drilled it out and retapped the threads and the fit is not good. That is a whole different problem.

Thanks much blksmok for the info I feel comfortable proceeding on the repair now!!
Karl

Blksmok I tore into my tractor this morning and everything was just like you said it would be, the problem was the little brass elbow that screws into the block was broken, not off but it was broken just below the surface of the block and that was my leak. I ordered 2 new elbows and will put things back together on Friday!
Thanks again for you knowledge on this repair!
Karl