Fuel Line Question By straightbangin (Read 7,002 times)

[straightbangin]

RichardV - never even thought of ACE. I just bought online because I don't have to deal with the " saw-re no e-glish " BS at ACE lol.

dirtyharry - that's cool. Many of my issues are from letting it sit neglected for long periods of time when I didnt want to deal with something on it so although so I can't blame it all on being a cheap chinese scooter.

Alley - LOL wow.

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okay so here are my updates ( a novel as usual )

So today is the first day of " south florida winter " S. Fla winter = 10 random days (sometimes together, sometimes apart ) where it gets between 45 and 55 degrees between Nov and March. Over night it hit 55. It was 80 degrees at 3pm so I turned the AC off to heat up the house and hope it stayed comfortable all night. Many homes in Miami were built without heat including mine. I woke up and it was 72 degrees. Perfect for me to sleep with but a little chilly for the dogs during the day so I got their heating blanket out.

Its about 64, breezy and beautiful so I got to work on the scooter.

* * * Yesterday ( although I have a new throttle grip ) I tried JB weld for the first time in the cracks just because I don't feel like repairing it the right way yet and also because I wanted to see if it would work in a pinch to help things. I know i'll use the stuff for other things but since my friend recommended it I figured I'd do a little experiment. I kept moving the handle in and out ( there is a little play in it ) every 10 min so it wouldn't stick to the metal handle bar frame but I didn't twist it so it would cure the way I wanted to and that worked perfect. I'm going to keep a close eye on it to see how it holds up.

* * * I put the new trunk latch in which was easy. I haven't tried it out with the seat on yet since I had to do other things inside it but it latches when I press down on it and releases with the key. My other one wouldn't latch when I pressed down on it so my mechanic was correct. It was time for a new one. Thanks to Bull for buying the rest of my ignition set for scooter projects since I only needed the trunk latch. If anyone needs just the cable part that comes out of the latch for a scooter like mine. Contact me. I set it aside as a spare part and tossed the broken part.

* * * Now down to the subject of this thread - the fuel lines. I'm glad I got the tiny bit too small fuel line because it fits so tight I don't worry about clamps or it coming off. Good tip on the WD40 for working the hose onto the connections. It worked well.

I haven't started the scooter yet because I want to charge it up and get the last thing I need to do done first ( replace valve stems on tires ) My goal is to get it done tomorrow since the news stems and the compressor arrived ) It says it inflates a car tire in 4 min and has good reviews so hopefully it works for me. ...

but after hooking up the new fuel lines and filter ( WAYYYY easier now that I own hose clamps which I had to buy for the jetski and I didnt even know about them before ) I noticed that when I turned the manual fuel switch to on, the fuel didn't flow down. I have the lines going down with the clamps off and no kinks and I have the fuel switch and fuel filter going the right way with the arrows on them. I flicked the line, wiggled the scooter, opened the gas tank to get a little air in, turned the fuel switch on and off, pinched the fuel line down low a few times and only a drop came from the tank and into the filter. I almost feel like I need to suck on the hose or something. LOL. Will starting it and turning the throttle a little suck it down and get it started? (I know I may need to prime the carb to get it started if there isn't any fuel in the bowl ) but how do I get the juices flowing down from the tank? My tank is about 3/4 full if that matters.

Oh and I bought some black caulk to seal that little gap where the seat fits on. I could only find black in the tubes that fit in the caulk guns. Excited to have my my first caulk gun ( I've always just used to tubes because I didn't realizes the guns were so cheap nor did I know how to load them , although I've used them) The guys at home depot showed me and I felt stupid because it was so easy. I thought you had to unscrew the thing out to load a tube, didnt know you just push down on the lever lol. I need to caulk the bath tub soon so I'm happy about the new gun ( doesnt take much to get me excited apparently )

[cyborg]

forgot if you have an automatic fuel tap (valve) ,,,if you do you need to get some vacuum on the valve to open it up so the fuel will flow

[Alleyoop]

Your shutoff valve is clogged since you haven't started or run the scooter in years. So Open the valve to allow fuel to flow BUT get your baster or actually ue your compressor and blow into the the fuel hose into the valve to clear it.
Or you can take the valve off and clear it that way.
Alleyoop

[straightbangin]

Cyborg - no automatic ( petcock ) . I installed a manual fuel shut off in the line after having bad luck with 2 petcocks.

Alley - I ran it a couple of times in the past month for about 20 min. I washed and dried the valve well before I put the new hose on. Its open and clear.... unless it stopped working after I installed it.

1) Does starting it and turning the throttle suck gas down at all?

2) If no, or ^^ doesn't work I may get a different type of shut off.
Right now I have

It usually works but its kind of tight to turn. Although I have it strapped down I do use two hands ( one to hold it and one to turn it ) though the hold I put in the bottom of my seat trunk for it just so it doesn't pull on the lines at all.

[Alleyoop]

No, there is no vacuum it is just open and fuel should flow down. There may be air in the line take the hose off the carb and see if you can get it to flow.
You sure the new hoses you put on that there was no crud in them and maybe blocking it.

[straightbangin]

There could definitely be air in the line. I attached line to carb, then to shut off then to filter, then to hose coming off gas tank. All of which just had air in them which I figured would fill with gas once I turned the fuel switch on.

it took forever to get that hose to fit on the carb with WD40 and heating the end LOL.

I'll mess with it again though. First I think I want a different valve before I mess with it ( again mine is kinda annoying to deal with )

I like the looks of this


I have a wide zip tie around the one I have now, then zipties coming off of that ziptie to try to hold it still.
This other metal one looks easier to turn and secure down.



EDIT: ** Ehhh, on 2nd thought many not. One of the reviews said it was kind of hard to turn and he worried about it pulling on the fuel lines so maybe they are all a little stiff.

I'll disconnect from the carb first and see what happens.

If I do and fuel doesn't come down should I try sucking it ( with a flavored condom over the end so I don't get gas in my mouth ) THANK GOD my neighbors can't see me from the back yard. LOL. Condoms aren't just for sex. One time I needed a rubber mallet for something and didn't have one so used packaging tape to strap two ( wrapped ) condoms over the head of a hammer. LOL!

ya I'm crazy, but at least creatively crazy

[Alleyoop]

HAHAHA, yea you can suck on the fuel line or us a baster or something. Now you have been saying that you had a hard time fitting the fuel hoses on the connectors what size hoses did you get maybe as you were trying to fit them on they tore inside and they are blocked.

[straightbangin]

3/16" or whatever size Mr. Congo suggested. I mean it wasn't THAT hard to fit just a very tight squeeze. They are flexible yet slightly thicker than I had on there fuel lines.

I'll go try the to take it off the carb and see what happens.

[straightbangin]

Okay I wasn't using my my last pina colada condom on this so I used a zipclock bag.

I realized it wasn't the hose on the carb that I was having a hard time with, it was the hose on the turn off switch and fuel filter.

So I took it off, nothing came out.

Put the bag over the end, sucked on it, got neck kink from the weird angle this all went down at. Nothing.

Luckily I remembered the few gas squirter plastic syringe thingees I had in my scooter parts and tools bin.
One of them fit the hose perfect.

Drew back on the syringe. A little bit came down like maybe half teaspoon, did it again, same thing, did it again, same thing. Glad I went with the ziplock because I used that to catch some fuel and just squirted the rest out into the lawn as the dogs looked at me with heads tilted wondering what I was doing.

I'm used to seeing that fuel filter full of fuel.

I made sure that I had a tight seal with the syringe to the fuel line and had it all at a downward angle. As I pulled the syringe off I tried to draw with the syringe at the same time kind of like siphon effect but it didn't cause any more fuel to come out after I completely removed it and hung the hose down into the ziplock.

I stuck it back on the carb.

Hmmmmm

I'm used to having gas gushing out at me if there is a hose unclamped.
I think I have somehow subconsciously trained my girl dog to think the smell of gas means " mom is working on scooter, we are going for a ride ! " because as soon as I smell gas she gets excited. I've smelled like gas manyyyy times working on this scooter.

****

I have a feeling like you're going to suggest I take off the fuel switch and see if it flows out, then take off the filter and see if it flows out to see what's holding up the game here. = major pain in the arse but if I have to I will ( tomorrow ) If I didn't have you guys, what's what I'd do next on my own.

Tell me what you think


... and now sharing a couple happy photos (from yesterday) to decrease my fuel line stress... lol

(he always has to have his arm or leg on her)





and of my 4 toys (2 bicycles, scooter, jetski ) the only one NOT giving me crap right now ( parts on order for both bikes )

www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10202048256728396&l=3729013693479430613

I had to go slow so I wouldn't drop my camera in the ocean. " Vitamin Sea " is definitely my biggest stress reliever

<---- I wonder if he's single

[Alleyoop]

Good plan find out where it is clogged by the tank outlet, by the shutoff valve or fuel filter.

[straightbangin]

Damn I was hoping I wasn't right and you had some other easy magic fix plan. LOL.

Okay I'll deal with that tomorrow but the tire valve thing is getting pushed off for another day.
I get frustrated if I deal with more than one scooter issue per day and today I did the latch and fuel line so I'm over my limit.

I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks

[Alleyoop]

No easy way, if the fuel filter is between the carb and petcock first thing is take the fuel filter off the hose and then see if it flows. If not put the filter back on the hose and now you know it is either either the petcock or problem from the tank and you will find out rather quick IF you take the Hose on the PETCOCK from the tank. If gas is there its the petcock If no gas is there its the tank or hose to the tank.

Or you can start from the ODER SIDE the DARK SIDE the hose from the tank to the PETCOCK. If gas is there then its the petcock or filter. If no gas is there then you know its the tank.
Alleyoop

[Bashan]

That is a Briggs and Stratton fuel valve by the way and it is 1/4" both sides. That's why Mr. Congo told you to get 3/16 and 1/4 inch line. It is usually 1/4 from tank to fuel filter to B&S valve and then 3/16 to the carb. You can force the line on the valve or make an adapter. I can tell you how to make an adapter. If you pull the line off of the carb, or fuel valve, and turn the valve on gas should freely flow out if not it is blocked upstream. Personally, I don't remove the line from the carb, I test from the B&S valve. The carb has a vent in it so any air that is pushed in there in front of the gas goes out through the vent until the float closes. You have an obstruction up stream. You can keep removing line until it flows and then you'll know where the blockage is. Mr. Congo

[cyborg]

Think it may be that the fuel line isn't fuel line at all and the line itself has failed and collapsed in on itself inside,,, go buy some clear fuel line and put this to bed ,,, as far as you sucking on the fuel line flavored or not we need video lady ,,,, pics at least ,,, lol,,,, just kidding,,,,,,,, not really

[richardv]

Make sure you have a container big enough to catch all that is in the tank. A baggy just won't do. Then start taking parts off until you get to the tank.
The best material for fuel valves is still brass and hard to find so what you have may be the best you'll readily find.

That's an interesting use for a condom. In the army we used cheap ones to cover the end of the barrel on the M-16. Kept them clean to.

Next time I see Santa on the bus I'll drop a hint about a certain young lady in need of two hands to enjoy the vitamins.