Fuel Line Replacement

[Air4Life]

I replaced the fuel lines and came away feeling it should have been a faster operation.  At first I had thought I was going to be able to fish the crossover piece through the lower forward corner of the airbox without a hitch.  I  lube and twisting the hose and got close...    

I bet a wire hanger would have done the trick, but for some reason taking the airbox apart didnt seem like a bad Idea.  Anyhow... now that I know how to take apart the airbox, next time I will try my coat hangar technique.

[Red_Hen]

I ran into that same problem when I tried fuel line that was too thick - got something at the hardware store - fuel line but a smaller diameter and it went thru airbox w/out a big hassle.

[Bob_Roller]

You can open up the hole in the air box with a file, so the fuel line goes through easier next time .

Or use a length of .250 inch diameter steel tube through the air box, then put rubber hose on each end of the steel tube .

[donbmw]

Bob

Thats a good idea with the tubing. That would do away with alot of fuel line. I am going to have to do this also.

[Air4Life]

Definitely Bob...  

Its ideas like this I wish I could get back into plant 4's parts shed.  Demolished for some time now.

[Air4Life]

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mid/mid5722.htm

Do you think 3mm I.D. is sufficient being its only the right side?

[Barry]

Do you think 3mm I.D. is sufficient being its only the right side?

Seems a little small as the rubber hose is 7mm ID.  On the other hand at full throttle all the fuel has to pass through the main jet which is approx. 1.5mm so 3mm might be ok.

[montmil]

... Or use a length of .250 inch diameter steel tube through the air box, then put rubber hose on each end of the steel tube.

Ask any plumber... The more joints you have in a system, the greater the potential for leaks

Something else to consider: The gasoline we have here in the USofA contains alcohol. Alcohol is hygroscopic. It absorbs water. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygroscopy Water creates rust when in contact with steel. Reference the many rusted and leaky bottom seams in untended Airhead fuel tanks. This same alcohol/water/gasoline issue has begun to plague some owners of 4-wheelers whose steel fuel lines have low spots where water is now rusting out lines, creating fuel leakage.

Just run a piece of coat hanger through the case and push the new fuel line straight through. No biggie.

[smiley=2cents.gif]

[Session101]

here's what my bike came as, and i don't know who like pinched gas lines, but i don't like pinched anything...



so i bought 1/4" translucent blue lines, because i want to make sure gas is flowing if there is any problem, a 90 degree filter was like $3 at the cycle shop

yes i did take off the airbox but its only 1 bolt to undo it, just undid the Left side only and ran the lines through, make sure to spit on the tubing to get it on, its a tight fit

[Air4Life]

Great, thanks for sharing that one.  I like that setup Sesssion101  I especially like that 90 filter.  Have to find one like that for the next time its needed.  

[suecanada]

Just run a piece of coat hanger through the case and push the new fuel line straight through. No biggie.




I guess I am tired or just slow Monte. Can you explain this technique in more words??? I have always worried about this fuel line crossover tight fit and thought it another BMW weird anomaly like the sidestand bolt under the header pipe hassle from way back before the Brown sidestand solution.

[montmil]

Sure, Sue...

Cut the wire so that it will extend beyond both sides of the airbox. Poke the wire through the air box's fuel line passages and then slip the fuel tubing over the wire and start pushing. The wire is a guide to help the free end of the fuel tubing to reach the opening on the other side of the airbox. Sometimes necessary to reach over the seat and work both ends of the fuel line... wiggle, wiggle. Remove the wire guide. Trim and attach fuel line to fit as required.

[Air4Life]

Yep, that hanger* technique sounds like a winner.   Your time inside the hangar* probably helps give you the breadth and depth one can draw on in situations like this.  Wiggle Wiggle

Funny thing is, when I disassembled the air box I thought I wouldn't be back in there for a while; and then a couple of weeks later I opened it all up again to slide the transmission back to perform the spline care.

[Bob_Roller]

When you have the airbox off, take a file and open up the opening where the fuel line goes through, makes it easier the next time you replace fuel lines .

You may replace the fuel lines more frequently and not wait until it becomes a problem, if it isn't a pain of a job to perform .

A bit of dish washing detergent on the fuel line helps getting it through the airbox until you can increase the size of the opening in the airbox .

[montmil]

What's the "blue" connection twix carb and head? Other side appears correct.