Help with QD on the weird fuel line

[SmithSwede]

Friends.

I want to improve the fuel line situation on my '13 Stone.  Removing the tank should not lead to this much cursing and misery.  I've already broken the OEM plastic "quick" disconnect once.  It is not really a quick disconnector, but it will break quickly even for somebody who is aware of its fragility and trying to baby it.

So I bought a beautiful brass quick disconnector from BMW boneyard.   It's a work of art.  5/16.  Was going add this brass QD, and also splice in an extra 3-4" of fuel line so that the tank can be easily lifted to give easy access to the works.

I go to do my upgrade this morning and discover that the fuel lines to the injectors only appear to be regular 5/16 fuel line.  In fact, they are a small gauge, hard white plastic tubing surrounded by rubber.  My QD won't fit.  Furthermore, these lines appear to be heated/melted onto their fittings.

What is this stuff?  (My NAPA does not recognize it nor stock it). 

Is there a way to plumb in a good QD?  Extra fuel line? What size?  How? 

For example, I'm concerned that even if I manage to shove in a QD or a straight connector for extra line, this white plastic is so rigid that a clamp won't compress it against the fitting the way you would do "regular" fuel line.   So do I need to heat it?

I'm also none too keen on the red 90 degree plastic fitting coming directly out of the fuel pump.   That also seems absurdly fragile.    Should I just replace all this plastic crap with brass fittings, and more user friendly fuel line?

Any advice or thoughts eagerly accepted. 

Thanks.

[SmithSwede]

Anyone?  Bueller?

[RinkRat II]

 Boy o boy, Not knowing what the fuel injector nipples are, sounds like a complete re pipe is in order utilizing all new fuel injection hoses and clamps.
  Wish I had more but I'm still old school.


    Paul B

[lucian]

Looks like either 1/4 or 3/16 id  I've had good luck with these guy's , You can get two 5/16 x 3/16 splice adapters and use the qd you got, or they have 3/16 and 1/4 ones in metal

3/16 QD is part # 186345




https://www.denniskirk.com

[mphcycles]

Swede those lines are a molded polyamide  i think . Its not a bad set up in stock form, but yes the pump disconnect is fragile if pushed too hard. The trick is to depressurize the lines first, but I dont know how you are going to bodge a rubber based hose onto the injector safely. fuel under pressure under my crotch has always made me careful.

[guzziownr]

My Griso has the same issue.  I got this from Motion Pro and will give it a try.  They say its good to 100 psi...

[malik]

Waiting with bated breath to see what you come up with.

I have been having even more trouble sourcing fuel comparable connectors over here in Oz, so have reverted to stock parts for the time being. The two piece fuel line of the earlier metal tanks tended to break at the T junction, and those parts are no longer available, the new part is a one piece (2B000970), but looks like it is made of that same stuff.  With all the practice I've been getting recently, the "QD" connector is coming off with a lot less effort - disconnect the fuel pump wire & stab the starter - a tad of lubricant (silicone or lanolin) in the QD & then push & pull. The push & pull effort does NOT give any definite feel other than coming apart when I do it right, but now it only takes a few minutes, not a few hours of struggle.

Somebody somewhere came up with a brass replacement for the red right angle connector out of the fuel pump base plate. I should have saved it somewhere, so I'll try to track it down. I have a memory that that red connector is a push-pull affair held in by 2 O rings - another thing I'll double check.

Good luck.

[Yukonica]

I have been having even more trouble sourcing fuel comparable connectors over here in Oz, so have reverted to stock parts for the time being. The two piece fuel line of the earlier metal tanks tended to break at the T junction, and those parts are no longer available, the new part is a one piece (2B000970), but looks like it is made of that same stuff.

This whole thread is so timely. I just snapped that very T on my 2013 Special while removing the tank to install a horn harness.
I was about to attempt a T replacement but couldn't find just the T. Now I know why.
But it brings up why the change back to a two part system (using the original part sku B063034) in the 2015 parts schematic?
... and, ...  would the 2015 piece fit on a 2013 with the original 2 piece pipe.(B063033)?

[Gliderjohn]

Good luck! What a FUBAR. To me this is the screenplay for a home mechanic's horror movie.
GliderJohn

[Yukonica]

..... but I dont know how you are going to bodge a rubber based hose onto the injector safely. fuel under pressure under my crotch has always made me careful.

The fire under the crotch image pretty much set back me on the path to OEM parts. But how does one avoid creating the potential for a repeat failure by avoiding what are possibly fragile parts: aka the T. Nothing wrong with the hoses. But a metal fitting at such a crucial junction might make sense?

[twowings]

Don't know if it may help but circle-track and roadrace guys supply places have fuel connection supplies....

you might try summitracing.com and http://www.circletracksupply.com/

[Yukonica]

Thanks for the lead but I don't know enough to tackle anything (like fuel injection) that someone else hasn't thought out or built. I'm afraid I am stuck in the village of Bolt-on. It's very near the county of OEM. A nice place for somebody who prefers the ride more than the tinker. Cheers.

[SmithSwede]

Thanks everyone.   

Yes, the new part number now simply omits the T quick disconnect at the back of the tank, the black one with the two green buttons.  So now there is only a single QD at the red plastic 90 degree fitting coming out of the fuel pump.  But that's the one that's especially hard to reach.

Mike raises an excellent point.  I totally agree about high pressure fuel leaks directly over the engine, leading to crotch fire!  That's why I want to do this right, if there's a better way.   Even if I leave it stock, I'm none to confident about that red plastic T coming out of the fuel pump. 

[Kentktk]

CPC has all kinds of metal quick disconnects. Should be something in their catalog that can fit.
http://www.cpcworldwide.com/Product-List/Series/14/Category/52?Product=397

Don`t know much about these guys, but they may be helpful.
http://au.rs-online.com/web/p/hose-couplings/3872527/

[Flea]

I snapped my QD tee fitting as well. After exhausting all of the search options, I settled on the following items and just re-piped everything.

5/16 Clear Fuel Line
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GYUQG6W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tee Fitting with O-rings
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322023066394?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

QD Fitting to original QD connector (You just add in 2.5" of extra fuel line for this connector.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322134995345?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=511051155745&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Be careful when cutting the tubing to the injectors. They have o-rings on them!

[t3caligraham]

I had an early 2000's Triumph Speed Triple a few years back, same problem there.  The QD's at the tank were on the side and easy enough to access but fragile.  The CPC fittings Kentktk pointed out were the best I found and worked really well for the 4+ years I had the bike.  Plenty of other Triumph riders were using them as replacements too.

Not tried anything on my fuel injected V1200 yet but would turn to CPC first if I did.  Good luck if you are tackling this at the moment.  I'd be interested to hear how people manage to sort it out for Guzzis - especially CARC models like mine.

Quick amendment - here's a link to one of the (many) Triumph help guides on QD replacements.  Obviously a Guzzi will be slightly different, but I hope some of the info in there helps:

http://www.triumphrat.net/daytona-deliberations/229379-fuel-fitting-replacement.html

[tris]

I got a set of these for about 7 quid off flea bay

http://cannontools.co.uk/phone/mproduct-page.php?productid=id1100

You only need the green one and with a little wiggle it comes apart

[Thunderbutt]

Those Quick Dis-connects posted by guzziownr look very similar the ones on my '03 Aprilia Millie.  I have had my tank off several times during maintenance and they work great.  Not sure if they are available in your fuel line size but you might check if you have a dealer near by.  hope this helps



Jerry