Change your fuel filters!!!!!!!!!!

[needtorque]

Plastic is much better for in the tank.  You would not believe how rusty some of the fuel pumps I have replaced were. (I'm a mechanic)  If pure then gasoline will not corrode but as previously stated condensation will cause metals to rust.

[ducpainter]

I've had a lot of tanks apart and I've never seen a rusty steel filter.

The water, from condensation or pumped into the tank, settles to the bottom and really doesn't affect the galvanized/aluminized...(whatever) filter housing.

[needtorque]

I've had a lot of tanks apart and I've never seen a rusty steel filter.

The water, from condensation or pumped into the tank, settles to the bottom and really doesn't affect the galvanized/aluminized...(whatever) filter housing.

Well, my experience is with autos and every fuel pump I have changed over 7 or 8 years old has been rusted to high hell.

Im not doubting you painter as I know full well you have far more experience with motorcycle tanks than I could ever have.

[ducpainter]

Well, my experience is with autos and every fuel pump I have changed over 7 or 8 years old has been rusted to high hell.

Im not doubting you painter as I know full well you have far more experience with motorcycle tanks than I could ever have.

I've seen tanks that have a half inch of sludge in the bottom, so the sender was tough to get out and the pickup screen was clogged, and the metal on the pump and filter was still bright and shiny.

Most fuel filters get changed occasionally even on a poorly maintained bike. Maybe the Euro metal plating on the pump is better than what we use here.

It's just an observation.

[needtorque]

I've seen tanks that have a half inch of sludge in the bottom, so the sender was tough to get out and the pickup screen was clogged, and the metal on the pump and filter was still bright and shiny.

Most fuel filters get changed occasionally even on a poorly maintained bike. Maybe the Euro metal plating on the pump is better than what we use here.

It's just an observation.

This is a strong possibility as we all know "the big three" have serious QC issues and the aftermarket stuff for autos is mostly from Taiwan and Korea.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

heh...i got the parts all together the other weekend to swap my fuel filter out, and it wasn't until i lifted my tank and started looking for the access panel on the bottm....that i realized it wasn't there.  guess i have to "fish" all of my stuff out from the top opening...

[dlearl476]

Yeah, I should have known better. 
Simplicity.

OTOH, I've never let "cheap and easy" stand in my way of throwing $35 at a $1.95 Problem.  Hence.

THE NEW IMPROVED SHAM-W0W FUEL FILTER

Some of you may know from other threads that I'm in the process of removing my vacuum-operated petcock and intsalling a manual one.  In the course of that, I'm doing a couple of other mods on the tank I just got back from Ducpainter.  (WooHoo)

I took a trip down to SoCal Speed Shop and bought a new-fangled billet fuel filter.  Unfortunately, the straight fittings (blue) that came with it didn't really fit, so I went to my trusty hardware store and bought some 90 degree fittings and a hose clamp.  My intention is to put this on with the bolt that normally holds said OEM petcock on the front edge of the tank hinge flange.



In this pic, I had one straight and one 90 degree fitting, but that didn't really fit either, without crimping the fuel line.  So I bought another one today.

The best part?  When I took the thing apart and looked at it, it basically had but a screen in the body (with all that room???) so great, it will keep ROCKS out of the carbs, but little else. 

So's being the real smart and innovative cat that I am, I says to my self, "hmmmm, howzabout some SHAM-WOW in there, for a little better filtering?"  Self responded thusly:



I cut a strip off one of my SHAM-WOW's (straighter than the one pictured,  I promise.  THis was a bit I cut off)  Rolled it up, and put it in the chamber of the filter housing.

I did a "flow test" and it seemed to work just fine, for a carbed bike.  The gasoline flowed almost as fast as without the "filter."  I'm thinking "40 mpg, that will be plenty of flow." 


And Voila, a $35 fuel filter for my Duc


Cost of this project:

Filter housing....................$19.95
Barbed fitting I won't use.....$9.95
Cable Clamp.......................$1.98
Nylon Barbed fittings............$2.50
Strip of Sham Wow...........$.00001


Knowing I'll never be stuck by my OEM petcock shooting craps or a clogged fuel filter I can't take apart and clean by the side of the road?




You know the drill.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

this was my old one...it was swapped out a couple weeks back... is this the normal level?  i think it may be as old as 21k miles...

[♣ McKraut ♣]

no comments??  this was the first time i've torn one open...so i really have nothing to go on here.