So I bought the NAPA fuel filter instead of the OEM one, and it doesn't have the little plastic tab on it. I cut the tab off of the old filter and reattached it to the flange unit with the screw to keep the ground wire working. Do I really need to use something to secure the new filter to the flange? The tubes are very rigid, and it doesn't seem to budge at all when I shake it. This tutorial - http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=17213.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=17213.0) - used a hose clamp to fasten the filter, but I can't seem to find a clamp that's the right size. The smaller ones are a bit too small, and the next size up the shop has are way too big. In my area I only have 1 shop and then Harbor Freight, who only has Zinc clamps with can't be submerged in fuel. I just want to get the damn thing back together. Any thoughts?
Also, I was thinking maybe of using a nylon zip-tie. Can't seem to find a straight answer as to whether or not they can handle gasoline with ethanol. Anybody know?
I don't remember securing mine in any fashion... although I could be wrong. That was over a year and 13k miles ago.
The ground wire is for the plastic filter to prevent static.
The older steel tanked bikes used metal filters and had no ground strap.
How about a zip tie to secure the filter?