Inline fuel filter?

[MrZig]

The engine on the bike is a 1980 GSX400.

I've searched and it seems the general consensus on running an inline fuel filter is that they are 'bad'.

However, a friendly mechanic had a spare petcock laying around and since mine was broken, we put the spare one in the tank. The caveat is that the 'new' petcock didn't have that mesh screen, and since it's from a different model bike, the screen from my original petcock didn't fit it.

Will installing this exact inline filter: http://www.parkeryamaha.com/polarisfuelandoilfilter2530009.aspx right above the carb inlet be a bad idea?

I got it for $3, and I figure it's better than only having the carb's mesh doing the filtering. However, I heard it can affect flow. Would this be an issue on my 400? My tank is also clean and non-rusty.

 

[salty_monk]

I run one on one bike, not on the other.... some have had problems but a lot don't too. Try it & see just be prepared to take it out at any stage (keep a length of pipe with you for a while in case it causes a problem with a low tank).

I had problems & had to take one out on a 550 once as it was affecting flow (due to the lack of space it was affecting the run of the supply line).

Dan

 

[Guest]

I had one at one time on my 550. the heat from the motor melted it while i was out riding. needless to say the bike caught fire. i dont trust them. id rather pay the money to get the ne petcock that fits the bike. just my 2 cents worth.

 

[almarconi]

I'm going to be installing one on my 750L. Last time I cleaned the carbs, trash from inside the tank got into the carbs.

 

[MrZig]

I had one at one time on my 550. the heat from the motor melted it while i was out riding. needless to say the bike caught fire. i dont trust them. id rather pay the money to get the ne petcock that fits the bike. just my 2 cents worth.

How in the world did the heat melt the filter? Was it resting on the engine block?

 

[Guest]

nope it was against the carbs. dont know how it did it but dont want to do it again to find out lol. that day i had the hottest bike in town lmao.

 

[Gargoyle081]

I run that style on my 700E....I havent had a problem with it in the 1000 or more miles since the install. If I were you I would do as suggested above and try it out for yourself. When I put mine in I put it about 1/3 of the way down the fuel line from the petcock.

 

[gregr]

Just run a Pingle Hi-Flow filter and there will be no problems. "Pass More Gas"

 

[Pacman]

I've run them on several different bikes and never had a problem. Make sure you have fuel line rated for fuel and that it fits properly. I would expect that the problem stated above occured more likely from vibration working the line loose and dumping gas on the motor and the fire melted the filter. JMHO.

A 400 motor shouldn't need more flow than that filter can give.

Chris

 

[MrZig]

Just run a Pingle Hi-Flow filter and there will be no problems. "Pass More Gas"

If I had the money to blow on a pingle fuel filter, I wouldn't be riding an old GS400 ;p

I've run them on several different bikes and never had a problem. Make sure you have fuel line rated for fuel and that it fits properly. I would expect that the problem stated above occured more likely from vibration working the line loose and dumping gas on the motor and the fire melted the filter. JMHO.

A 400 motor shouldn't need more flow than that filter can give.

Chris

I was thinking the same thing about the hose working loose. I'll put it on, with hose clamps on ever connection, and see how well it works.

And I think I'll mount the filter a little higher so it's away from the heat.

 

[kilog55]

why not use the glass and mesh screen ones?

 

[Nessism]

If you run a fuel filter make sure the fuel line doesn't loop upward and create an air bubble. Also make sure the filter you choose is designed for a gravity feed fuel system - auto filters may cause restriction.

I bought one of these crappy filters from Z1. It melted and bent, and turned dark in about 6 months. I took it off before my bike wound up like kparkerfan's bike. Glad I caught it in time.

 

[rudy]

I have two of them filters on my XS650. K&N brand from the local Yammy shop. 2 petcocks, each feed one carb. Never had a problem with heat or melting, or gas eating anything. Fit so snug on the lines that I didn't need clamps. I couldn't even pull the line off the barbs. Would have to slice the line if I ever wanted to change it. Been on there for 2 years, no worries. Of course, the tank is perfectly clean, and 2 new petcocks with the sock filters as well.

 

[Paul_IOFJS]

As a former auto tech and current auto parts guy, my philosophy is "if a fluid goes into the engine, filter it!" Now I will gladly admit that I don't know as much about motorcycles as I only got mine last fall, but that is just one of the rules I live by (mechanically speaking). And I have never trusted thin, non servicable screens any further than I could throw them. I'm running a small-engine gravity feed filter in my GS1000, and haven't had any trouble so far, and it's larger than any filter i've seen pictured on this post. I'm not gonna try to chime in on what others may have experianced, because I wasn't there. Just wanted to share my thoughts on the matter.

Paul

 

[MrZig]

I've heard that with an inline filter, it can stop the flow of fuel when you get down to a quarter of a tank since there isnt enough gravity strength to push it through. Obviously depends on which filter..

 

[almarconi]

there isnt enough gravity strength to push it through

I always thought the force of gravity was constant.

 

[Nessism]

I always thought the force of gravity was constant.

The more fuel that is in the tank, the more pressure there will be at the bottom due to the weight of the fuel above.

 

[kilog55]

yep for a good demonstration get one of the kool aid jugs with the spout at the bottom of it when it is full it flied out when it gets closer to the spout it trickles out.

 

[hcritz]

Hey Guys...
Just a few things on Fuel filters...
I replaced the on on my CB750K after a restore. The only one that the local parts house had was a clyndrical one. It seemed to work fine until it ran out of fuel on the main tank and had to switch to the reserve. Normally I get a little warning that it's lean and I just reach down and flip it to Reserve and keep on going...this one quit like you turned the key off. It wouldn't feed fuel after I changed to res. I had to take the line off and let some fuel feed through. Seems the round ones will get an air bubble in them and on reserve there isn't enough head pressure to push the fuel past it. The cure seems to be the conical filters. Replaced the round one with a conical one and the problem is gone. Always wondered why they were that shape!
Seems like a minor problem, BUT...when I ran out of fuel I was going 75 down the Interstate and there was a Semi right on my ass...he almost ran me down when I had a total power loss it happend so quick.
SO...if you do go with a external filter...make sure and get one made for gravity feed and that has the conical shape. These seem to have a porous element as opposed to a paper filter.
ED

 

[MrZig]

Okay I grabbed the highest flowing metal filter I could find. By highest flowing I mean I put my mouth on it and it blew a lot more air than any other one I know of. It's metal and all one piece so I won't know how dirty it is, but I'll just replace it every year.

It's this one here: http://i6.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/fd/f4/4e80_1.JPG

We'll see how it works.