Author Topic: potential fire hazzard with the fuel line  (Read 7522 times)

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wildbill

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on: November 19, 2012, 01:30:56 am
see provided photo from an Indian motorcycle site of a U.C.E. of a fuel line which rubbed against the top side of the battery cover box.
Fuel sprayed onto the battery terminal and a spark ignited.

my bike shown with the fuel line touching the battery cover


Now the Indian bike which caught on fire



So what do we do to combat this




Jack Leis

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Reply #1 on: November 19, 2012, 01:39:45 am
The original installation of the fuel line on my G5 use to rub the battery cover. Ive had a piece of tubing sliced and put over the fuel line to prevent it from rubbing. Just recently I went ahead and just SHORTENED THE FUEL LINE and it no longer makes contact with the cover at all. An easy fix and "Bullet Proof" !
I would much rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow    Jack


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #2 on: November 19, 2012, 01:43:27 am
This has been posted before, it's a simple fix.  Making the fuel line the correct length helps, it's not so near the edge if it's correct.  Also, some simple stick on door edge guard for a few dollars placed over the edge of battery box where it's near the line removes the sharp edge.  Last, it's one of those things to keep an eye on, and with the alcohol in US fuels you should check your fuel line regularly as they tend to start to crack, especially the OEM line.

I think a 5/16" line fits nicely if you have to replace it.  Get the expensive stuff that's designed to handle the pressure of an EFI system.  And use the good clamps that are smooth the whole way around:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://commonwealthinc.ca.c9.previewyoursite.com/ESW/Images/2123_fuel_line_clamps.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t%3D616108&h=330&w=420&sz=81&tbnid=QE-DhfOirlCfOM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=115&zoom=1&usg=__rU6XBzyYJwtpomZThWwX9v1aS0Q=&docid=1LuAvkzMhYKcSM&sa=X&ei=EY6pUIzmKOTAiwLAooHIAQ&ved=0CFUQ9QEwAA&dur=193

Stay away from the cheap ones that have the threads in the band against the rubber.  Make sure your clamps are tight too.

Scott


singhg5

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Reply #3 on: November 19, 2012, 03:39:04 am
Bend the edge of battery cover to make space for fuel line.

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mattsz

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Reply #4 on: November 19, 2012, 11:05:39 am
Last, it's one of those things to keep an eye on, and with the alcohol in US fuels you should check your fuel line regularly as they tend to start to crack, especially the OEM line.

Scott - how do you recommend we "keep an eye on" our fuel lines?  If the alcohol in our US gas degrades the line, won't it do so from the inside?  Should I be disconnecting the fuel line "regularly" to examine its interior?  Finally, I know we have no fuel shutoff tap - do I need to do anything to stop the flow of gas, either to examine/change the fuel line, or for that matter to remove the tank when it's got fuel in it?


barenekd

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Reply #5 on: November 19, 2012, 05:59:26 pm
The fuel pump shuts off the flow when it's not operating. You may have a bit of spillage when you take the hose off, but it's just gas that was in the line.
Check the outside of the fuel line for cracks, etc, you don't need to pull the line to inspect it. Pulling the line off is no big deal. I have had mine off a lot.
The owner's manual says to replace the line every 12,000 miles, but I haven't done that yet and I have well over 12,000 miles on mine. I did shorten it up as Jack did to get it off the side cover. I had to take about 1-1/2" off.
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Ducati Scotty

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Reply #6 on: November 19, 2012, 06:36:39 pm
Scott - how do you recommend we "keep an eye on" our fuel lines?  If the alcohol in our US gas degrades the line, won't it do so from the inside? 

Just look at it, check the outside for cracks.  Grab it, pinch it and flex it a little, look for cracks when you flex it.  If you see cracks or it starts to feel stiff replace it.  It only takes a second, you can do it whenever you check your tire pressure.  Even if you don't have alchohol in your fuel this is an item you should check regularly. 

Scott


mattsz

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Reply #7 on: November 19, 2012, 09:17:20 pm
You mean, kind of like the fuel hose in singhg5's (sorry buddy!) picture above?


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #8 on: November 19, 2012, 09:23:07 pm
I thought that was just the fancy luxury alligator skin fuel line :)

Yeah, just like that.  It seems for whatever reason the OEM lines don't last that long.  They also seem to get that shiny look.  My mechanic replaced several OEM lines at the first service, I replaced mine at around a year when it started to crack.

And that's a good pic of the G5 layout.  On the C5 and I think the B5 the line goes right by the square battery box edge, an obvious hazzard when you look at it.

Scott


LarsBloodbeard

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Reply #9 on: November 19, 2012, 10:23:40 pm
That second picture with the burned bike... I was trying to figure out if that was ash all over it or what, then I realized "Oh, someone shoveled dirt onto it to stop the fire."  Smart!  Not sure I would have thought of that in such an emergency.  I will now though.  :)


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #10 on: November 19, 2012, 10:44:38 pm
Burning fire next to the gas tank?  I'm only thinking about the trail of dust I'll leave running away!

Scott


LarsBloodbeard

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Reply #11 on: November 19, 2012, 11:00:10 pm
Burning fire next to the gas tank?  I'm only thinking about the trail of dust I'll leave running away!

I have lost a fair amount of hair in such situations...


singhg5

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Reply #12 on: November 20, 2012, 01:53:22 am
You mean, kind of like the fuel hose in singhg5's (sorry buddy!) picture above?

You are absolutely right - the fuel line had cracks all over it - was replaced with a new one -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4daXUNAiLEs
« Last Edit: November 20, 2012, 01:57:48 am by singhg5 »
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Arizoni

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Reply #13 on: November 20, 2012, 03:46:06 am
I don't recall seeing that video before.  You been holding out on us singhg5?  ;D

Well done, as usual.  Thank you.  :)
Jim
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mattsz

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Reply #14 on: March 20, 2013, 09:08:16 pm
Hard to decide which thread to revive sometimes, but this one gets peoples' attention, so...

I tried to remove my fuel line today, and it absolutely wouldn't budge from either the fuel pump fitting or the injector fitting.  I was wary about bending and twisting and pulling too much on the plastic fuel pump fitting, so I finally just cut the hose off.  Since the brass fuel injector fitting is much sturdier, I did plenty of bending and twisting and pulling and even prying, but again, it simply wouldn't budge.  I finally had to cut it off that end, too.

Any advice about future maintenance?  Should I lubricate the fittings when I fit a replacement hose?  I plan to follow the advice here regarding hose spec and clamp suggestions...


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #15 on: March 20, 2013, 09:10:19 pm
No, don't lube the fittings.  First off, your new hose will likely last much longer.  Second, if it sticks just do what you did: cut it off carefully.

Scott


gremlin

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Reply #16 on: March 21, 2013, 01:15:57 pm
No, don't lube the fittings.  First off, your new hose will likely last much longer.  Second, if it sticks just do what you did: cut it off carefully.

+1   consider it a consumable.
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mattsz

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Reply #17 on: March 21, 2013, 02:24:19 pm
Roger - thanks guys...


barenekd

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Reply #18 on: March 21, 2013, 10:47:31 pm
I usually use a bit of spit to get recalcitrant hoses on. Be careful not to bend the fuel outlet on the pump. That bit of plastic is expensive. makes sure you have 5/16" hose. 1/4" doesn't work very easily. Did you shorten it?
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no bs

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Reply #19 on: March 21, 2013, 10:58:04 pm
a short burst of brake cleaner in the hose end will make it slide right on the nipple. wont hurt fuel rated hoses.
killing bugs since 1972 2011 g5 deluxe frankenbullet


mattsz

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Reply #20 on: March 21, 2013, 11:02:23 pm
I usually use a bit of spit to get recalcitrant hoses on. Be careful not to bend the fuel outlet on the pump. That bit of plastic is expensive. makes sure you have 5/16" hose. 1/4" doesn't work very easily. Did you shorten it?
Bare

I did nothing to the hose except split it "lengthwise" to remove it from the fuel pump outlet without breaking anything.  It has been suggested to shorten the hose to better clear the battery box, which I may do, but I imagine that too short might strain the plastic fuel pump fitting?


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #21 on: March 21, 2013, 11:15:57 pm
You just need it short enough not to dangle over exposed metal edges and the like.

Scott


barenekd

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Reply #22 on: March 21, 2013, 11:33:14 pm
I shortened mine 1-1/2" vs the stock one. It didn't break anything and the whole system worked fine.
Bare
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Gypsyjon

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Reply #23 on: March 22, 2013, 01:18:39 am
I shortened mine 1-1/2" vs the stock one. It didn't break anything and the whole system worked fine.
Bare

Mr. Singh's video says length is 7 inches.


mattsz

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Reply #24 on: March 29, 2013, 09:52:25 am
The fuel line that I ended up with is the same size as stock, but it seems to have come from the inside of a spool - it's quite curved, and isn't really round in cross-section.  It's more of an oval shape.  I know this is high pressure, but we're not talking about a lot of volume - is it ok as long as I don't kink the hose?


gremlin

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Reply #25 on: March 29, 2013, 02:21:18 pm
yes.
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mattsz

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Reply #26 on: March 29, 2013, 04:01:33 pm
Thanks Gremlin!  Actually, I was messing with it a bit this morning, and discovered that if I bend it 90 degrees off the curve it's currently favoring, so the flattened hose isn't pinched even flatter, it appears to return to its normal round cross sectional shape at the bend.  Now to get a proper clamp that doesn't chew into it the way the stock one did...


barenekd

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Reply #27 on: March 29, 2013, 05:28:54 pm
If you read your handbook,  the fuel line is supposed to be replaced every 7500 miles! Obviously, we don't do that! Maybe they know how long it will last rubbing the cover
Bare
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Ducati Scotty

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Reply #28 on: March 29, 2013, 05:44:59 pm
Even if it is kinked a bit, as long as it flows for now it should round out pretty quickly with fuel pressure and warm outside temperatures.  Though rotating it 90 degrees to open it up was a really good trick, I'll need to remember that one.

Scott