The nightmare under your Cali tank

[Rich A]

I had an annoying gas leak on my Bassa. It was bad enough to smell, so I decided to change the fuel lines. But while I was at it, I figured I might as well change all of the other hoses, too, as the bike is now 16 yr old. The attached pic shows most of the hoses that sit under the tank and frame: 1. fuel tank to pump, 2. pump to fuel filter, 3. filter to pressure regulator, 4, 5, 6. filter to injectors, 7, 8, 9. pressure reg to breathers, 10, 11. frame breathers and vents, 12, 13, heads to frame breathers, 14 another tank vent, 15. crankcase breathers. There are a couple more not shown in the pic. There are also half a dozen or more electrical connectors under there for the injectors, temp sensors, fuel tap, etc, etc.

I ordered some hose from http://www.germanautoparts.com/. The tank to fuel pump hose, the one with the stainless jacket is NLA, evidently, but it cost close to $100! I got some 12 mm hose from these guys for much much less.



While fuel injection does have some very real advantages, it can be a pain in the neck, too.

Rich A

[normzone]

Ooooh...

I considered going there last time I was in the neighborhood, but decided to leave old enough alone.

Consider me as watching carefully from a distance.

[Tom]

BTDT.  Not a happy time.

[Markcarovilli]

Rich

thought of doing mine over the winter as well.  The breather hoses on mine look a little "dodgey"......

Did you get these as MG parts or just make up with size to fit?

Mark

[Rich A]

Rich

thought of doing mine over the winter as well.  The breather hoses on mine look a little "dodgey"......

Did you get these as MG parts or just make up with size to fit?

Mark

I'm making mine up with one exception--the large S-hose, which wasn't terribly expensive, around $11.

BTW, I checked and some of the fittings, e.g., those on the fuel filter, are close to 8 mm (0.315 in), and so I'd think 5/16 in (0.313 in) hose should fit, but it seems that 7 mm hose is often used instead.

Rich A

[RayB]

I like the idea of the stainless sheathing over the tank hose but $100 is unreal. I was thinking of getting some fuel hose and getting some separate sheathing from a speed shop to cover it...the hot rod guys do this.

[normzone]

I guess that opens up the question of the purpose of that stainless steel sheathing.

If it's to guard against heating the fuel line there's probably other ways you could get there, like braiding Chinese finger cuffs from Eskimo pie wrappers.

If it's to protect against the fuel line being damaged by hundred mile per hour June bugs, you could probably make a hard shield from beer cans.

If it's to minimize shrapnel when the fuel line explodes, perhaps stock is best.

[Rich A]

I like the idea of the stainless sheathing over the tank hose but $100 is unreal. I was thinking of getting some fuel hose and getting some separate sheathing from a speed shop to cover it...the hot rod guys do this.

I think Charlie M. said you can remove the sheathing from the old hose and transfer it to the new one. Haven't gotten the new hose to try that yet.

Rich A

[Orange Guzzi]

I pulled all mine out and did not tell any body.  I was afraid some one would tell me my warranty would be void.  I moved the fuel pump under the seat and used a smaller inline fuel filter.  I found a Y connector used in the beer brewing process to spice the two injectors from the fuel pump.  I actually looks like a U shape with a nipple coming out of the bottom of the U.  My guess, 5 pounds of hose.

[azguzzirep]

I want/need to do mine, too.

I got new relays to install, and will get a new battery also.

Gotta make sure Old Blue (Blue Floyd, that is) is ready to take me to Mandello next Sept.!

Tom

[Zoom Zoom]

The SS braid is not doing much other than looks anyway. That line is not even pressurized. I have redone my EV's a few times and was able to source everything I needed from NAPA. Just figure the proper ID, amount needed in terms of total length, and types. The pressure side of the pump needs fuel injection line, including the return line to the pressure regulator bottom front of the tank. The vent lines from the heads and frame are just plain old fuel line. The vent line from the bell housing was running 18 bucks last I knew, or someone discovered a small radiator hose from a Toyota or something that would work for a bit less.

Biggest thing is to use fuel injection line for anything pressurized along with the proper clamps. Do not use the clamps with the slots for the screw all the way around the body of the clamp. In a short period of time, the hose will press out through those slots and you will have leakage.

John Henry

[Rich A]

Too cold to work in the garage today, but I should have a piece of 12 mm hose left over if anyone wants it.

I did transfer the stainless sheathing to the new hose even though it probably isn't needed as JH said--easy, and I figured, "Why not?" Still, why Guzzi wanted nearly $100 for a replacement escapes me.

Rich A

[guzzinka]

Rich, I'm so glad you posted this!  My new to me Jackal only had 8500 miles when I got it, but that doesn't mean all the hoses won't be turning to dust under there - this will certainly be part of my winter maintainence this year.  Why wait for it to break first?

[fatbob]

Do not try to make a FI hose clamp that is even just a little too big work. It will be "oval" and leak. The clamps gotta be just right.

[SDC]

When I got my EV the stainless sheath was frayed. The sharp edges didn't impress me when working on the bike so it soon got replaced with std fuel hose -no issues since.

[Tom]

Interesting to note when I replaced the hoses on my '97 Cali 1100i, the numbers on the Gates hose on the bike matched exactly what NAPA had on their hose reel.  The only difference is that the hose at NAPA had a "NON-FI use" on it.