Petcock/Fuel Line Question

[CHavens]

Hey all,

I apologize for this relatively stupid question, but i just can't figure it out. I was attempting to attach my gas tank today, had the schematic (left the manual at home by accident), the petcock works fine, comes out both of the petcock tubes. Thing is that the fuel line, to what i can find, only has one inlet. Can anyone point me to some Y tube or an answer of some sort?

Also, anyone know a cheap place for tubing?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Aetsh]

Hey all,

I apologize for this relatively stupid question, but i just can't figure it out. I was attempting to attach my gas tank today, had the schematic (left the manual at home by accident), the petcock works fine, comes out both of the petcock tubes. Thing is that the fuel line, to what i can find, only has one inlet. Can anyone point me to some Y tube or an answer of some sort?

Also, anyone know a cheap place for tubing?

Thanks a bunch!

What bike?

You can get tubing from ANY and I stress ANY motorcycle shop for like $1 a foot. Just be sure to figure out what size you need..

 

[Tim]

You likely want some 3/16" clear fuel line tubing which you should be able to get at a automotive type store - wherever you'd go to buy sparkplugs or windshield wipers. Or a motorcycle shop if you have one local and open.

If your stock petcock has 2 spigots, chances are you should have 2 fuel lines running to your carbs. If it's a twin with 2 carbs, then one fuel line to each. If it's a 4 cylinder with a bank of 4 carbs (like a CB550 etc.) then it also likely has 2 fuel lines and 2 spigots on the bank of carbs - usually between carbs 1 and 2, and then another between 3 and 4.

After typing all of this I now see 1973 CB500 in your signature and saw your intro posts with photos. This was my first bike! Definitely 2 fuel intakes on the bank of carbs, as mentioned. They're a PAIN IN THE ASS sometimes. The spigots pivot on the bank of carbs. I used to use needlenose pliers to hold the tube and push it down onto the spigot, which I held upright with a screwdriver or something. Takes some fiddling.

Start with a long piece of fuel line, and attach at the carb ends first. Then cut to length, leaving some extra - you don't want the fuel lines to be tight between petcock and carbs, and push onto the petcock spigots.

Doesn't matter which hose connects to which spigots. Just do what makes sense. If your fuel line is tight, you can stretch it a bit with needlenose pliers shoved in the end and warming it up a bit with a heat gun or blow dryer will help, along with some lubricant. Insert any suitable jokes here.

 

[CHavens]

thanks guys. I found the other fuel line..needless to say it was very well hidden. Hooked both up, and turned the petcock on full bore. For about 3 minutes nothing happened until it was spilling from the overflow tubes. Turned it off then about half on, and it didnt overflow, but still nothing happened when trying to turn the bike over. i know it will start with some starting fluid, and i know gas is gettin to the carbs, but wtf? thanks again

 

[CanadaDan]

When was the last time the carbs were gone through? Sounds like they're in need of a cleaning & rebuild kit.

 

[CaTacl1sm]

I wouldn't order the rebuild kit quite yet. when I cleaned my carbs for the first time ( probably the first time ever for the bike) the rubber gasketts were fine. just coat them with some motor oil before you close the carb back up.
of course, if they are in piss poor condition (cracked, dry and otherwise destroyed) hands down invest in a rebuild kit.

 

[Tim]

Drop the bowls off the carbs (you'll need a short screwdriver for this). Make sure the floats move freely, and unscrew and clean the slow jets (easy to do) and main jets. Just some carb cleaner will ensure there's nothing blocking any fuel movement.

If the floats stick, fuel can continue to flow into the bowl and out the overflow tubes. Slow moving floats can do this too. I had a slow float on my CB550 that caused the one cylinder to cut out, and then back in as the float slowly lowered and allowed fuel to come in again. Then it would raise, I'd drain the bowl and the cylinder would cut out again.

Took me a few minutes to realize what was happening. Just a little carb cleaner fixed that problem.