Fuel Line and Petcock Help- Please!

I have been restoring a KZ650B1 for the past several months. I am to the point of putting fuel in the tank and running it. I have replaced the original 32 year old black fuel line with a similiar I.D blue tint Parts Unlimited stamped clear tube from my Kawi dealer. It was recommended to run an inline fuel filter. I seem to be getting leaking around the tube clamps at the fuel filter. I bought the filter and tubing from the dealer. The hose clamps are from Ace Hardware and seem fine on the carb inlet and petcock ends. It is just at the fuel filter that I get some leaking when I turn the petcock to the on postion. Also, I must admit to getting a little weeping around the petcock itself. I purchased a new oval O-ring and screws to mount the petcock to the tank. There is no leaking there. It appears to be around the petcock bowl. I am not sure if I was given an O-Ring or nylon washer to go in the bowl. The previos owner stuck some PTFE tape in the threads. I am sure that will not solve the petcock bowl weeping. It there a gasket or O-Ring that goes in there? Please help this poor imbecile. I promise not to ask for help until I get ot the rear drum brake. :lol:

-Update: I just talked to the Kawi Dealer. According to their records, I have not ordered an O-Ring/washer for the Petcock Bowl. I ordered this just now. Also, there is a screen that goes in the bowl. I will get one of those as well. Hopefully this will take care of the weeping at the Petcock itself. I may take off the inline filter entirely. Or, I may try removing the clamps at the inline filter to see if the hose clamps are crimping/puckering the fuel line. If anyone has further thoughts, please respond. Thanks.

Forrest, IMHO a good quality inline filter is essential in capturing the fine stuff the OEM filter simply cannot trap.



These old tanks typicaly have fine rust and other debris that get to the carbs' Needle Valves, Passageways and Jet and cause many lost riding days (don't ask).

Best of success.
Bill

The B1 with the manual petcock used a goofy rubber gasket on the bowl that is ruined every time the bowl is fooled with. This is no longer available through Kawasaki, so if you ordered one it isn't going to come most likely. You'll have to make your own gasket. Thin cardboard would work better than rubber.

Thanks for the feedback Bill. That filter in your posting is the exact one the parts guy at the dealer sold me. It is installed with the previously mentioned transluscent blue tint Parts Unlimited brand tubing. What tubing do you use with your filter? My tubing is over each of the end nubs all the way to the filter housing. My metal band clamps(spring steel type- the kind you squeeze the tabs to open the diameter and release to close back down) are past the nubs and on the smaller diameter area on each end. Is there a better clamp such as a the screw adjustable type? I will do all I can to keep the filter in place. Any further suggestions are welcome.

Thanks Ron for the info on the petcock bowl. The previous owner had teflon tape on the threads of the bowl. The parts guy at my Kawasaki dealer just confirmed the bowl gasket is avalable. I will pick up in two days and give it a try. The original black rubber hose type fuel is no longer available.

Forrest, I use clear gas line from my automotive supplier, Canadian Tire. Frankly, I find that it hardens with time but I have not seen evidence of leaking at the clamps as you have.

I sometimes use old black rubber gas line from an old vehicle. They seem to be better suited to the task in that they stay soft, seem to last forever and don't seem to leak at the clamps. The down side is that I feel they look odd and I can't see if my gas is flowing when I need to troubleshoot.

IMHO, sounds to me as if your "blue" gas line is not as well suited to being sealed by a clamp as it should be Any chance that your gas line is one size to large or your filter tips are one size too small?

As to clap type, I've used both. Does not seem to matter really. But if I start with a Spring Clamp when the gas line is new then I tend to stay with the a Spring Clamp. Conversely, if I start with a Screw-down Clamp I stay with a Screw-down Clamp. I have not had success with using a Spring Clamps after Screw-downs but I have had success doing the opposite.

Maybe, you need an alternate make for Fuel Lines... this MotionPro Fuel Line is available from Z1 among others:



I have not tried this brand so other members will have to pipe-in on its suitability.

Best of success.
Bill

I use the MotionPro Fuel Line from Z1 and have not had a problem but it does get stiff with age and yellows but no leaks. I use a 1/4 ID line with spring clamps at the petcock, carbs and in-line filters.

I use the motion pro lines from jeff and i do not use clamps. Roy

Here's what I use for clamps:

Clamps

UPDATE: I went to the 1/4" I.D. vinyl line and everything fits tight but no leaks. I will pick up some of Ed's red clamps at Ace Hardware. My green ones are too large. So far no leaks without clamps AND the fuel filter is in place. Thanks everyone. Now, if I can just get that broken bolt out of bottom of the fork leg I will be all set. :S