TOPIC:

Added an inline filter. I'll never run another bike without one.

Very cheap insurance, even at 3.00 each- replaced the fuel lines with 1/4" filter is .25 ID/OD- quality high pressure clamps, not pinch on.
Rust, dirt, paint chip- yes a large primer gray paint fleck (top middle of filter)
Last year after a flooded gas-oil headache, and refusing to pay the money for a new petcock, I modified the factory one to full on/full off. Ditched the factory tank filter- the original was horrible, and the one I got from a local dealer looked like total garbage made in ROC-didn't fit properly, you could see where it might let some crap past its mated edge to the tank.. bleh.

click for full sized photo- its pretty amazing
img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/HawgDog/fuelfilter.jpg

pretty nasty looking stuff. I think I'll change my filter tomorrow...it's been a while.

A tank rinse wouldn't hurt you. Someone posted recently about using straight vinegar, I think. Worked pretty well, won't harm the paint. Of course you need to let it soak for quite a while.

I really wonder where that much crap came from, mid, maybe late summer, I did a tank rinse with muratic acid, then baking soda after and then denatured alcohol, it 'looked' super clean.
Probably a good, cheap idea, another tank rinse...

I bet it clung around the petcock bung.

Seriously though, if you did an acid clean it probably was sitting by where the screen normally is above the petcock.

Yup, running a filter is a very cheap way to protect your carbs and keep your bike running.

I have mixed feelings over too much fuel filtering due to the extra maintenance. I have in the past had to replace small inline filters several times during the year due to sudden clogging. I have also had some of them break in half. I always carried a full length of fuel line just in case

Most times I just stick with the stock petcock screen. Honestly the only thing I care about is the carb float valves getting clogged. That can be irritating but the petcock screen takes that risk away.

I understand that the vacuum-actuated petcock has a bad reputation, but I am enjoying mine after cleaning it up.

cfaherty wrote: I have mixed feelings over too much fuel filtering due to the extra maintenance. I have in the past had to replace small inline filters several times during the year due to sudden clogging. I have also had some of them break in half. I always carried a full length of fuel line just in case
Most times I just stick with the stock petcock screen. Honestly the only thing I care about is the carb float valves getting clogged. That can be irritating but the petcock screen takes that risk away.
I understand that the vacuum-actuated petcock has a bad reputation, but I am enjoying mine after cleaning it up.

Imo, fuel tank interior needs cleaning, and left in existing condition will continue causing clogged petcock and clogged in-line fuel filters.

The petcock screen helps sift out the larger particles of grit, but a good after-market in-line fuel filter provides superior filtration.

Good Fortune!

I'm not a huge fan of this style of filter. Hours of searching has convinced me they are not 100% free flow- sintered bronze and screens flow better..but, wont catch the crap this one did.
I posted this last year for input- this is the followup sort of- HOWEVER- sometimes things stack up to create problems. i.e. this bike- around 100 miles of driving would fuel starve coast to the side of the road (it started doing this before when I first got it) the inline screens had a tiny bit of stuff- cleaned all same problem. Cleaned vent cap, same problem. Removed tank, cleaned it, cleaned tank screen, same problem. New tank screen looked cheap (as noted)put inline filter in, replaced lines with 1/4". Problem seemed to go away.
Second tank full this year the problem returned. Pulled vent off, vent hole while open had some maybe paint round the edges, tiny drills opened it up...same problem. (yeah, should have looked at filter) Anyhow, pulled it and tada!
Best thing about this scooter, is the storage- tools, filters, road flare, so its handy. I am going to put LOTS of miles on this in 2012.

Ive never had any luck with paper filters in Montana. I dont know why but they always stop flowing gas after a few weeks and theres nothing visable in them. Its done it on 3 different bikes so I use the 2 peice brass ones. They dont filter as well but they work. Im listening if anyone has any theories or has had the same experience. You gotta clean that tank out soon man !

paper filters?
I agree with your observations. I'm pretty sure its here somewhere- not a solution, but an explanation of sorts about paper filters- they work too well!
Theres a photo of an empty soda liter bottle turned upside down in the guys post

Sometimes crud accumulates on the petcock screens that protrude up into the fuel tank.

Would remove, disassemble, and clean the petcock.

And also, remove the fuel tank and take necessary steps to clean it internally. At the minimum a thorough flush (several fills with whatever, and fast-dump upside down through the open cap). May require more severe methods, such as muratic acid, OR b-b's, sheet metal screws, chain, etc., and tumbled in the clothes dryer while well secured with padding, cushions,blankets, quilts, etc., OR other methods.

Until the tank interior is pristine, the petcock screens will continue clogging, as will the in-line filter.

And the grit and crud not stopped by the petcock screens and in-line filter will find its way to the fuel valve.

Good Fortune!

I've got por15 tank liner in ym tank, so there's no crud in it. The screen on the petcock I use is pretty good looking, but I still use a sintered filter. Why wouldn't you? If it gums up in a short period of time that means you saved your carbs from being gummed up.

Some paper filters that were designed for cars with fuel pumps will seal off, not because of crud, but because modern gasoline will soften up the glue and it gets re-doposited on the element. Then after the bike sits for awhile, the fule filter is essentially sealed off. This can happen even wit a brand new filter and in a matter of hours.

I've posted videos of this phenomena, but I can't access it from this computer (work blocks youtube).

It wasn't a problem long ago, but modern fuel, with alcohol etc. seems to really mess them up. With a fuel pump it's not a problem. The added pressure just pushes the gas through.

I use screen or scintered filters, but I think I agree, the paper ones seemed to filter out more crud.

I'm not suggesting the inline filter is not a good idea, but are you missing the petcock screens? No way would any of that junk made it past the screens on my petcock. Ed

650ed wrote: I'm not suggesting the inline filter is not a good idea, but are you missing the petcock screens? No way would any of that junk made it past the screens on my petcock. Ed

If you're in Australia or Un Zud, avoid the Superthief home brand fuel filters.

Pay a couple of dollars more and use a Ryco inline fuel filter. The quality of the cheap option is not always consistent.

Have a look at their range online. As well as straight in and out, they also have straight in and 90-degrees out.

I've never had a problem with Ryco. Not an ad, just offering my own experiences.

650ed wrote: I'm not suggesting the inline filter is not a good idea, but are you missing the petcock screens? No way would any of that junk made it past the screens on my petcock. Ed

Very true, thats a lot of crud. Thats the kind of stuff I used to find in the bottom of my petcock, filtered out by the screen.

650ed wrote: missing the petcock screens?

Yes. By design.
removed tank screen I run paper Bosch elements, spare in trunk.
Paper I feel does a better job than the tank filter.
I took a razor opened the plastic case, opened up the paper and looked at with a 25x lupe, there is stuff in there finer than the tank screen. AND some weird stain splotches, no idea what that was, maybe rust bleeding, or dirt bleeding? Or...that Sheetz gas station that I got 3 miles from the bike started running like crap? (that started the reason for this thread!)
And per my original thread, the brand new replacement tank filter looked horrid. warped, wavvy, didn't fit into the recess at all- after 1000 miles, I'm sold- that large Bosch for me!
Its easy to get at, five minutes from start to finish.

I suspect your petcock and mine are different. Mine has 2 screens (one for the "ON" position and one for "Reserve" position inside the tank, plus one in the petcock bowl. All 3 screens inside the tank are pretty fine. I agree that there are decent inline filters that can catch the very fine particles that the petcock screens don't catch, but it seems to me that removing the petcock screens that are inside the fuel tank will allow the larger particles of funky stuff to flow into the petcock and clog it up so it doesn't function as well as it should. When I disassembled my original petcock (manual type) it looked like the tolerances were pretty tight and that it wouldn't take much debris to cause a problem. That stuff shown in you filter picture might have cause a problem for my petcock if it hadn't been caught before leaving the tank. Yours may have a different configuration, because if it had the bowl screen most of that stuff would never have made it to your inline filter. Ed



Tank screen with straight pin head and human hair:



Bowl Screen