Topic: Flaky fuel lines?

[yhwu]

Last November I spent a good two weeks trying to figure out why my 76' 750F is running so lean and stalling. Cleaned the carbs, plugs, new points, etc with no avail. Found out that enough flakes from the rubber fuel line has come off and plugged the in line fuel filter. Got new hoses from Partzilla and throughly cleaned the filter. Bike ran perfectly. Now...I can see noticeable flakes building up on the tank end of the fuel filter. What might cause the fuel line to flake so easily? (Better not be the ethanol fuel )

Thanks for any input!

[carnivorous chicken]

Are you sure it's the fuel line and not something in your tank? If the fuel was causing the fuel line from the tank to the filter to flake, presumably it would be causing the fuel line from the filter to the carbs to flake as well -- unless, for some reason, you have a different kind of fuel line there. If that was the case, and there was enough debris to clog the filter, there would certainly be enough down line to clog your carbs too. I'd check the tank first.

[Maltboy]

That's what I was thinking too. If he used Genuine Honda line then it shouldn't be flaking like that.

yhwu - does the tank have sealer or is it bare metal?

[yhwu]

The tank is unsealed, doesn't appear rusty though - at least as far down as I can see. That's what I'm thinking, my carbs should've plugged up before the filter does. The flakes were black, and I did blow out some flakes from the old fuel line with compressed air when I changed the fuel line last year. I'll take the petcock off and see if there's anything like that on the tank side of things.

[PeWe]

Petcock has no filter?

[yhwu]

Just took the tank off and checked - nothing on the petcock side on the filter/strainer. Was able to get a *tiny* bit of black stuff out of the fuel line. Guess might've bought a bad batch of fuel lines...?

[Ozzybud]

Is the filter sock present inside the tank? You would have to pull the petcock out as this sock is attached to it.

[HondaMan]

If the fuel line does not have a (faint) red stripe on it, it may not be ethanol-resistant. I see this often when local riders go to the local auto parts store and buy "fuel line" in 7/32" size (which actually is not fuel-rated, but most cashier-jockeys in auto parts stores don't know it) and then their carbs get plugged up with black flakes.  Honda sells a good one in 5mm and 5.5mm (the latter is likely yours) in 1 meter lengths. I buy it in 10-meter lengths...

[Don R]

 I bought some parts store "fuel" line for a 750 and did get a lot of junk washing through the lines. Even flushing didn't help slow the junk.
 Another thing to check is pull the outlet hose off of the filter and see if it flows when it looks clean. I've seen them plug up with what I think is a gel. I could fix it on my K model by blowing into the top of the tank, the carbs were empty and I could make it flow again.

[yhwu]

Is the filter sock present inside the tank? You would have to pull the petcock out as this sock is attached to it.

Mine might not be OE. It's got the tube filter but not the sock. Should still do the job though....

[yhwu]

I bought some parts store "fuel" line for a 750 and did get a lot of junk washing through the lines. Even flushing didn't help slow the junk.
 Another thing to check is pull the outlet hose off of the filter and see if it flows when it looks clean. I've seen them plug up with what I think is a gel. I could fix it on my K model by blowing into the top of the tank, the carbs were empty and I could make it flow again.

Ooh yeah maybe that could be the problem too...? Mine didn't have the red stripe on it. There's no gel in mine but hope I don't reach that stage, heh. Might be worth it to pay the Honda dealership a visit this weekend.

[Ozzybud]

Is the filter sock present inside the tank? You would have to pull the petcock out as this sock is attached to it.

Mine might not be OE. It's got the tube filter but not the sock. Should still do the job though....

The tube(standpipe) is for the on position, the reserve draws from the bottom of the tank. And the OEM sock filters both