Topic: fuel line and other hardware 350f

[heffay]

hey guys... worked a bit on the bike yesterday.
went to checker auto to get some 1/4 inch fuel line that was for small engines... twas all they had.
looked like the right stuff and i got an assortment of auto hose clamps. 
they looked like the right stuff too.
so, the fuel line has a bit of play on the petcock that i was going to clamp down and hope for the best.
the proper clamp didn't clamp well enough.
the smaller clamp was too small to go over the hose.

was excited because it was fairly cheap but not now that it won't work.   

stupid no bike shop in this town and it was sunday at 5:45pm right before everything closes.

what i was thinking of doing was the old trick like you use on grips... wrap a wire around and cinch to hold it on... any other tricks?

the other question is... what is the fuel line measurement?  i suppose i should be using metric stuff but damn... its just hose.

[Gordon]

I believe the correct fuel line size is 5mm, but since it's not as readily available, I've been using 1/4", too and small hose clamps to keep it tight.  What kind of clamps did you get?

[heffay]

mostly the kind in the pic (most like the lower 4) w/ some injector clamps in there too.

[heffay]

maybe i'll just get some really small regular old garden hose style clamps.

or i could just go get the right stuff.   

was quite a shock not to get it to work, actually.  i sat there and tried to make it work even after i knew it wouldn't just because there were so many clamps. 

[bwaller]

You can use a couple small plastic zip ties too.

[Jay B]

I've been using clear 3/16" fuel tubing from a farm supply store. It's a little small to fit the barbs, warm it up with a lighter for a few seconds and it will slip right on. No clamp required. It's cheap, cut it off to remove it.

[Gordon]

or i could just go get the right stuff.    

Where's the fun in that?

[pampadori]

get some of this at lowes....


get one of these too...


put the threaded end of the hook in your drills chuck. 
cut a small piece of wire about 6 inches long.
go around the back of the hose where a clamp would normally be with the wire and then tie it around the end of the hook coming out of your drill.  twist it like a bread tie.

slowly start to twist it with the drill.  it will braid the wire and start getting tighter and tighter.  as it braids all the way down to the hose, start to slow down more.  you will see it start to squize the hose like a clamp.  tuck on the hose to see if it is tight enough. 
Clip off all but 1/2" of the braid off the wire.  all done!

[heffay]

valve adjusting... where can i get a bit for the square heads to adjust the valves?

i've been "making do" for way too long!

[Gordon]

valve adjusting... where can i get a bit for the square heads to adjust the valves?

i've been "making do" for way too long!

Something like this looks pretty sweet.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=2870

If you buy one can I come over and use it?

[kghost]

http://www.safetywirepliers.com/category.sc?categoryId=2

[fixahonda]

I have been using the silicon hose that Honda (cars) uses for vacuum line as fuel line and it's just about the exact same thing as what came on the 350 originally. Grey outside with black inside fuel resistant silicon hose.
I worked at an Acura dealer for years so I have a ton of it in my tool box, but I'm sure you can go to the junk yard and snag a bunch from whatever model Honda or Acura.

[333]

While safety wire pliers are cool, I've seen them break off brass nipples like we're talking about.  A pair of linesmans pliers will do nicely.  But those tappet wrenches are the only way to go.  It seems to me I've seen them sold individually, so you only have to get the one you need.  The size is 3.5mm for supply, and 2.5mm for the drains.

[heffay]

thanks for all the help guys...

i tightly wrapped a good deal of electrical tape around the tubing to beef up the diameter thus making the clamp tighter, i also wire tied it... seems to be doing all right.

bike is back together and purring as usual... no gushers yet!     < thats why i was retorquing the head... sprung a bad leak last year and got parked... man its nice to hear that thing again!