• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Clear Fuel Line

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chuckster
  • Start date Start date
C

Chuckster

Guest
Does anyone know where to get clear fuel line? My dealership only has black. Also, it appears to be size 1/4"? Is that right?

-Chuck
 
Chuckster,
that's funny because my stealership only has clear and it makes me mad. You can get clear at stores like Lowe's or Home Depot as well.

Cory
 
Chuckster,
the clear lines the dealership in town sells kinks really easily, it isn't as stiff as the black lines, also I just don't like the appearance. Don't get me wrong I do use it for other things and it does come in handy often.
 
Chuckster,
the clear lines the dealership in town sells kinks really easily, it isn't as stiff as the black lines, also I just don't like the appearance. Don't get me wrong I do use it for other things and it does come in handy often.

I did pick up some of the black which I may well use. Did you use a fuel filter on yours? I've heard some here say they don't like them, but I've put a lot of effort into cleaning and rebuilding my carbs and don't want to do it again real soon.
 
Chuckster,
I use an inline fuel filter on my CB650, because it is a rust bucket inside the tank, but not on the GS, it was cleaned and lined professionally before I bought it, really nice. The filter inside the petcock catches everything it needs to catch, so far.

Cory
 
Just a word of warning. I used clear fuel line from Home Depot and within a year it has become fairly hard. I'm thinking of replacing it with black rubber fuel line if I can find the right size.
 
Not all tubing is compatable with fuel. That Home Depot stuff may be regular vinly or ?? and not appropriate. Get the proper stuff and be safe.
 
Yep!

Yep!

Not all tubing is compatable with fuel. That Home Depot stuff may be regular vinly or ?? and not appropriate. Get the proper stuff and be safe.

I think that's just right. I recall reading that in a technical article awhile back. I recently ordered 10 feet of polyurethane line from CRC. It's really hard to replace the fuel line when the carbs are on the bike so you want to make sure you're using something that will not deteriorate. 8-[(Using the right size is critical, too!)
 
Thanks guys! Is 1/4 inch (inside diameter) correct line size? :-D
 
Yep

Yep

1/4" should be right. The last time I rebuilt my carbs, I bought some 5/16" line because I saw some posts that made it sound like it was right. It seemed snug but within a couple of days, it leaked. I know some guys use 5/16" but I think 1/4" is correct for most applications.
 
Last edited:
1/4" should be right. The last time I rebuilt my carbs, I bought some 5/16" line because I saw some posts that made it sound like it was right. It seemed snug but within a couple of days, it leaked. I know some guys use 5/16" but I think 1/4" is correct for most applications.

Thank you sir! :-D
 
Chuckster,
that's funny because my stealership only has clear and it makes me mad. You can get clear at stores like Lowe's or Home Depot as well.

Echoing the earlier comment, be certain that it is fuel line. It will definitely be labelled as such, and it costs a lot more than either vinyl tubing, or the black rubber line. I like clear fuel line because it is easy to be sure that gas is getting to the carbs.
 
Not all tubing is compatable with fuel. That Home Depot stuff may be regular vinly or ?? and not appropriate. Get the proper stuff and be safe.
Second that - just make sure you know what you're getting and that it's rated for constant contact with gasoline and heat.
 
The fuel fittings on most larger GS models are 8mm, which converts very nicely to 5/16 inch. 5/16 fuel line will work peachily.

The fuel fittings on most smaller models are 6mm. Unfortunately, 1/4 inch converts to about 6.3mm, which means that some brands of 1/4 inch fuel line are too loose on 6mm fittings. Some brands are made a bit smaller and will work OK, though.

The blue translucent fuel line from CRC2 is the best stuff I've ever seen, doesn't kink, and lasts for years. However, the 1/4 inch version is too loose on 6mm inch fittings. Usually, rubber fuel line hose will work OK.

Inches suck, and I have no idea why everything here in the US is still only available in inch measurements. I still haven't found a good source for metric fuel and vacuum line other than ordering OEM.

McMaster-Carr sells metric tubing, but it's very difficult to tell which material would be best. Perhaps more research is needed...
 
Most of the clear or clear-tinted fuel line is made from Tygon (F-4040A is the old-school yellow one). Don't use vinyl because it gets hard after a few years and it melts at like 175 degrees F (less for the cheap stuff from HD). Tygon F-4040 is made specifically for fuel & oil.
 
Last edited:
According to the on line parts fishe, Suzuki specs 7mm fuel hose on all the various models from 450 - 1100. 5/16 automotive fuel hose, which is much thicker and stiffer than motorcycle fuel hose due to the woven fabric material contained within, usually works but fits slightly loosely on the petcock nipple. The main portion of the petcock nipple measures 8mm, with the barb larger, thus there is not an actual interference fit when using 5/16" hose except on the barb. The 7mm hose that Suzuki sells is quite flexible thus it stretches quite easily over the petcock nipple.

All this said, I'm using 5/16" automotive fuel line on my 850 and it works fine. Using a clamp to make sure it does not leak.
 
Back
Top