75 Z1B - fuel joint pipe replacement

In process of reviving a 1975 Z1B. This is my first Z1 and I just retrieved it from 8 years of storage. I had the carbs off for cleaning, and just put them back on... got my tank cleaned out, petcock fixed and added fuel.

Looks like fuel is leaking from the fuel joint pipes. Any tips on replacing those? Can the 1 & 4 carbs be removed from the rail without taking them all back off the bike? I've seen the replacement on Z1E. Seems like I should use those if I'm going to got to the trouble of getting them back apart.

Any tips would be much appreciated.

Not sure... but I think those just have some o-rings that can be replaced.

That or just use new.

You are better off, dropping the whole rack of four carbs.... It's a bit of a pain in the Ass, however, you then will be able to replace the tee-pieces easily. The tee-pieces are molded, however, there are brass or aluminium tee-pieces with o-ring that are an excellent replacement, these are, as you say available from Z1E.
RegardZ.

Maybe these will help....

VM-Carb_Rebuild

So this may be wishful thinking, but I took a look at the carbs this morning to make sure the leak was at the fuel joint pipes before I ordered the parts. Couldn't really see well before, may have been leaking at bowl gaskets? I know fuel was running down the side of the bowls and dripping off the drain screws.

Anyway, this morning, no leaking at all? Turned the fuel on, watched fuel fill up the lines (must have continued to leak slowly last night), then it stopped. Didn't have much time, but watched for 60 seconds and not a single drip...

Cured or just waiting to bite me later, we'll see.

LukeMacPU wrote: So this may be wishful thinking, but I took a look at the carbs this morning to make sure the leak was at the fuel joint pipes before I ordered the parts. Couldn't really see well before, may have been leaking at bowl gaskets? I know fuel was running down the side of the bowls and dripping off the drain screws.

Anyway, this morning, no leaking at all? Turned the fuel on, watched fuel fill up the lines (must have continued to leak slowly last night), then it stopped. Didn't have much time, but watched for 60 seconds and not a single drip...

Cured or just waiting to bite me later, we'll see.

You may be ok. A while back I drained my carbs and had the bike in my basement all winter while changing steering stem bearings and doing loads of other stuff. In the Spring when I took the bike ouside and put the tank on the "T" leaked bigtime. I shut off the petcock and searched online for a new old stock "T" with no luck. The next day I was fiddling with the bike and when I turn the petcock on - no leak. It has been 5 years and it hasn't dripped a single drop since. I can only guess that something swelled up after being exposed to gas and sealed the leak. Just keep an eye on it for a while. Ed

If your original joint pipes looked to be in good shape then you may be in luck. These originals are an aluminum tee with molded rubber covering the whole tee. As Ed said, it may be that once you applied gas they swelled and therefore sealed. Mine were in awful shape with deep groves in them and some kind of silicone repair gunk applied to them by the PO. Therefore, in my case it was best to replace with the aftermarket ones that use the o-rings. Ordered some extra o-rings for the new tee's as well.

If an el'cheapo fix is needed for the original style fuel pipe with the raised rubber ridges (no separate o'rings), may wrap the fuel pipe's raised areas with teflon tape to tighten the fit. Yellow teflon tape is supposedly more gasoline tolerant than is the more common white teflon tape.

www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=1910







Single fuel line carbs usually have a single fuel pipe situated between #2 and #3 carbs.




Dual fuel line carbs usually have two fuel pipes situated between #1 and #2 carbs and between #3 and #4 carbs.

Good Fortune!

.

Nice photos to clear things up. I've got 2 fuel supply lines. Now I've got a good understanding of the fuel joint pipes, just don't know if they were the leak. I'll keep checking it out and buy the metal/o-ring replacements if needed. Seems like a better option than the stock set up.

Almost hope it was float bowl gaskets, should be able to swap those out without taking the carbs back off the bike. Best case, I'm lucky like Ed and never see the issue again!

I don't know how I missed this post.
I too had the pipe joints leak 2 years ago when I turned her over after 18 years of sitting.
But as Ed said they swelled up and still seem to be tight.
I bought the replacements but now I may wait to put them in.

Or not ?

JD

I recommend not replacing the joints if they stopped leaking. Mine stopped 5 years ago and are still bone dry. I'm of the "quit while I'm ahead" school of thought. :laugh: Ed