Topic: 5.5 mm fuel line

[Don R]

 Where is a good price on decent bulk 5.5mm fuel hose? I like the 4-1 product, called genuine Honda (doubtful) but I'm reluctant to pay $6 a foot for it.
  Or is that just what it costs now?

[dusterdude]

Don,ive always used 1/4 inch

Sent from my SM-S711U using Tapatalk

[HondaMan]

I've used Honda's own at $6/ft since 2020. It can be had in 3-foot length or much longer bulk length (which I buy for rebuilding all these carbs!) length. Either way it is still $6/ft., though.

When I have tried the 1/4" size hose from the local auto parts stores, it tends to spread itself with modern fuels, which expand the rubber component if the fuel has ethanol in it. Then when the hose dries out, it shrinks to smaller than 1/4" size. Then when it gets wetted again, it expands again, but slightly less than the first time(s), repeating this afterward. It also get very stiff after 1 season of riding, so much so that I have, on occasion, pulled a nipple out of a petcock or two when removing a fuel tank with 1/4" hose(s). That's not so good? So, when I am faced with the 1/4" size hose I always "wet" it for 2-4 hours before trying to remove it from a nipple, lest I break something.

Or, I just pay for the 5.5mm Honda stuff... 

[Ozzybud]

I bought this 26 feet of honda 5.5 from Japan.
Worked out to be a out $3.00 a foot. It should last me a while

I have bought some other 5.5 fuel line from some other suppliers and after a couple seasons its cracked on the outside and just waiting to make a mess( or a fire)

My motto is " you get what you pay for"

[Don R]

 I bought the 5.5 x 8 od x 26' from a US Honda dealer, (possibly dodged a tariff) a little over $80 shipped that comes out just over $3 a foot. I may never need any more.
  I'll keep the extra at Funk and Wagnall's hermetically sealed in a mayonnaise jar. (Johnny Carson reference for the young guys).

[Ozzybud]

Did you just buy it online? Do you have a link to share?

I bought mine before the Tarrif thing.  The dealer near me ( Everett Powersports) has a huge presence on ebay and they want $128 for the 26' piece.

[newday777]

Did you just buy it online? Do you have a link to share?

I bought mine before the Tarrif thing.  The dealer near me ( Everett Powersports) has a huge presence on ebay and they want $128 for the 26' piece.

Don't bother with ebay sales if the parts are available. Get them from South Sound Honda

https://www.southsoundhonda.com/--xpartsstream

[bryanj]

I find the recent southsound honda website abysmal to navigate

[Don R]

Did you just buy it online? Do you have a link to share?

I bought mine before the Tarrif thing.  The dealer near me ( Everett Powersports) has a huge presence on ebay and they want $128 for the 26' piece.

 The ad said last one, but I'll post it up. https://www.ebay.com/itm/163083182790

[bryanj]

That part number in uk is £216 OUCH

[Ozzybud]

I live about 40 miles from south Sound Honda and 60 miles from Everett powersports.

I have yet to this day got any results on south sound website.
Just typed in 95001-5500860m with zero hits! Fuel. Fuel line zero hits.

So naturally I use what works for me. Everett powersports gets packages to me sometimes the next day. And they have most of their available vintage parts on an Ebay Store.

[CycleRanger]

I bought this 26 feet of honda 5.5 from Japan.
Worked out to be a out $3.00 a foot. It should last me a while

I have bought some other 5.5 fuel line from some other suppliers and after a couple seasons its cracked on the outside and just waiting to make a mess( or a fire)

My motto is " you get what you pay for"

That's what I use.

[dusterdude]

I've used Honda's own at $6/ft since 2020. It can be had in 3-foot length or much longer bulk length (which I buy for rebuilding all these carbs!) length. Either way it is still $6/ft., though.

When I have tried the 1/4" size hose from the local auto parts stores, it tends to spread itself with modern fuels, which expand the rubber component if the fuel has ethanol in it. Then when the hose dries out, it shrinks to smaller than 1/4" size. Then when it gets wetted again, it expands again, but slightly less than the first time(s), repeating this afterward. It also get very stiff after 1 season of riding, so much so that I have, on occasion, pulled a nipple out of a petcock or two when removing a fuel tank with 1/4" hose(s). That's not so good? So, when I am faced with the 1/4" size hose I always "wet" it for 2-4 hours before trying to remove it from a nipple, lest I break something.

Or, I just pay for the 5.5mm Honda stuff... 

Try gates barrier hose,it handles ethanol fuels very well

Sent from my SM-S711U using Tapatalk

[Stev-o]

Don,ive always used 1/4 inch

Actually, 3/16" is a better fit and clamps are not necessary.  Available at my local auto parts store for $1.99/foot...

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/carquest-bulk-hose-tubing-bulk-fuel-line-hose-3-16-i.d.-12-inches-cq24048/5192919-p?product_channel=local&store=3078&adtype=pla

[BenelliSEI]

I watched EBay and bought a large roll of the grey Honda stuff a few years ago for a very good price. It’s the best and nothing else compares….. It is almost gone!!

[madmtnmotors]

The last bulk 5.5mm fuel line I got from Honda seemed to have a larger O.D. than the original.

[Little_Phil]

That part number in uk is £216 OUCH

ebay.co.uk from Japan. Should get it tariff free to UK. Less than £62.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225823641855

[jonda500]

The last bulk 5.5mm fuel line I got from Honda seemed to have a larger O.D. than the original.

+1 evident if you try and put the little wire hose clamps back on
John

[Don R]

 I used parts store hose on my brothers K4 a couple years ago and I had to cut it off of the carbs and fuel tee. I had previously replaced the petcock when the brass nipple pulled out so it was hanging loose.
 It might have to do with it sitting unused but not drained too.

[Deltarider]

I seem to remember old VW's like early model Transporters and Beetles also had 5,5 mm fuellines. I have them and there was no need to use clamps near the T-joints: tubes will never come of there. Impossible and the advance is you have easy access to the #2 and #3 airscrews. I even don't have clamps at the peacock, but that's me... I recommend you to use them there anyway.

[Don R]

 While I was looking in a box that had my IV bottle, filters and cut fuel lines, my I found enough to do the bike I am working on. And my 26' roll arrived today too.

[Kevin D]

My own fuel line story/timeline:
1971-1987 original fuel line
1987-2002 CB in storage with original fuel line.
2002 CB revived and returned to service, original fuel line rock hard, I split the line at the nipples after I pulled one nipple out of the petcock, fighting to remove the hose. Replaced with 1/4” clear line from Honda dealer, clamped poorly with screw hose clamps, line too big, Dealer doesn’t have 5.5 mm. 1/4” was a hazard and the 1/4” line was replaced with 3/16” clear line, way too small, too tight.
2005 Joined SOHC4
2006 Member Grapppa bought a spool of 5.5mm original line and offered it for sale on the forum. I bought
4 feet from him for $8.... a lifetime supply, enough for one refit and one spare which I still have in reserve.
Grapppa is no longer with SOHC4.
2006-2025 refit fuel lines with 5.5mm OEM line. No clamps, No leaks, No problems.
Off season 5 months: tank full, carbs drained. Wire clamps are an additional PIA and I haven’t knocked myself out looking for new ones. I might be regretting not having them if my fuel tank gets dislodged someday.

[MauiK3]

Happily I can get ethanol free 89 here so that's what I run. Seems to do well. I got my fuel line from Yamiya but that was before tariffs. I have not checked but I suppose it's a lot higher now.

[HondaMan]

The last bulk 5.5mm fuel line I got from Honda seemed to have a larger O.D. than the original.

Yep, it is: it also has a dull red stripe on it, which Honda said indicates it is 'ethanol-compliant' (?) hose. It's OD is about 1mm bigger than the old 1970s stuff, but still manages to fit through the holes in the carb racks OK.

[HondaMan]

I used parts store hose on my brothers K4 a couple years ago and I had to cut it off of the carbs and fuel tee. I had previously replaced the petcock when the brass nipple pulled out so it was hanging loose.
 It might have to do with it sitting unused but not drained too.

I've pulled quite a few of those nipples out when removing shrunk-from-MTBE-fuel-hoses, too. Even on my own 750. On mine, I just tapped it back in with a little ballpeen hammer, back in 1990: it never leaked after that. I gave it a new petcock during the whole-bike rebuild in 2013, but keep the first one as a spare.