THIS is why you add an inline filter

Interesting. I measured the OD of the screen on mine and it is about .0372”. If yours is the same it should in theory fit correctly into the reserve hole in the petcock (see pics below). I measured the OD of my C1’s petcock’s brass tube and it is about .314”. Ed

650Ed,

Thanks for the sizes. I do not have a measuring device.
Will figure out a way to do the precise measurements.

Appears you are measuring an "extra" petcock.

If so : what is the length of the brass tube, from where it exits the petcock to the top of the brass tube?

What do you think about cutting (under)1/8" off, to remove the damaged edge ?
Is there enough length on the tube so that this is not a problem going into the gas in the tank?


Arthur A

Arthur A wrote: ...Using a sleeve cut from the cap of a Bic pen : snugfit for filter and onto tube. If gas does not dissolve the plastic it is a good fix.....

To help determine whether it's fuel-proof, could immerse a piece of the plastic pen cap in gasoline for a few days, and see if it softens or dissolves.

As an aside, a plastic milk carton should not be used to store gasoline, because the gasoline will melt through the carton, perhaps after a few days.
Pity the poor soul who sets the milk carton filled with gasoline on a storage shelf inside the garage. :pinch:

Current gasoline has caused leaks in the stock fiber glass fuel tanks on vintage motorcycles.

Good Fortune!

The brass tube is 1 11/16" long (see pic). Because the length of the tube is what determines the amount of fuel left in the tank when you must switch to reserve, shortening the tube will reduce the distance you can travel on reserve. Can you use emery cloth to correct the damage? Ed

650ed wrote: The brass tube is 1 11/16" long (see pic). Because the length of the tube is what determines the amount of fuel left in the tank when you must switch to reserve, shortening the tube will reduce the distance you can travel on reserve. Can you use emery cloth to correct the damage? Ed

Attachment PetcockTube.JPG not found

Thanks for the measurement.

My brass tube is approximately the same.
May risk cutting off the damage and flare end, under a 1/16".

Then use emery cloth to create a slight taper if necessary.

Will let you know how it goes, sometime next week.

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

:sick: didn't follow my own advice. Just a reminder to carry a full length of fuel line or have a bypass if you are running any kind of fuel filter in addition to the petcock screen. Like clockwork mine clogged up with some mysterious invisible particle and left me near stranded, only to limp home a mile at a time.

I would drain & rinse the tank into a clear juice container & inspect the debris. Then use a flashlight to peek inside the tank. I thought mine was in good shape as the metal was fairly rust-free at the opening. I went ahead & rinsed it w a 50/50 muriatic acid solution as a just in case. But it has rust where you can't see. doh.

Note: you can use cheesecloth in a funnel as filter to reuse the gasoline. Some of the debris may be from fueling up the bike. I'd guess all sorts of particles end up in the service stations' tanks, including iron from the pipelines.

Note: I use the filter Patton posted on pg 2 but discovered that the ends get soft & bendy. Not sure if it's from the ethanol or if they're using a different/cheaper plastic?

martin_csr wrote: ...discovered that the ends get soft & bendy....

It helps where possible to route the fuel lines so the filter fits into a relatively straight section.

Where a tight turn at the filter is necessary, a possible option may be a 90° filter.



Good Fortune!

Routing isn't the problem. The plastic has softened.
I'll probably switch to a metal fuel filter some time in the near future.

Edit: I said the ends are "bendy" - not bent. routing isn't the problem. see following comment.

martin_csr wrote: Routing isn't the problem. The plastic has softened....

The plastic barbs do indeed soften, but the plastic in its softened more pliable condition doesn't tend to bend and distort when fitted in an unstressed position between relatively straight sections of fuel line.

Routing can be the problem, as the softened barbs may not present much of an issue unless the fuel line is routed whereby the barbs are stressed in holding their shapes by a curved fuel line that's exerting slight sideways pressure against the softened barbs.

Good Fortune!

martin_csr wrote: I would drain & rinse the tank into a clear juice container & inspect the debris. Then use a flashlight to peek inside the tank. I thought mine was in good shape as the metal was fairly rust-free at the opening. I went ahead & rinsed it w a 50/50 muriatic acid solution as a just in case. But it has rust where you can't see. doh.

There's never any debris. I just dissected the errant filter and like always it is visibly clean. It's at least four times on different bikes that this has occurred. I thought maybe it was just my two strokes, but nope, this one was no different.

I don't know what it is. Some kind of crystals or corn growing. I have to usually pick some crap off the needle jets after a while too, and anything with under #30 pilot forget about it, it will clog up in two months if not run. I've got a scooter with a small pilot which has that problem.

cfaherty wrote:

martin_csr wrote: I would drain & rinse the tank into a clear juice container & inspect the debris. Then use a flashlight to peek inside the tank. I thought mine was in good shape as the metal was fairly rust-free at the opening. I went ahead & rinsed it w a 50/50 muriatic acid solution as a just in case. But it has rust where you can't see. doh.

There's never any debris. I just dissected the errant filter and like always it is visibly clean. It's at least four times on different bikes that this has occurred. I thought maybe it was just my two strokes, but nope, this one was no different.

I don't know what it is. Some kind of crystals or corn growing. I have to usually pick some crap off the needle jets after a while too, and anything with under #30 pilot forget about it, it will clog up in two months if not run. I've got a scooter with a small pilot which has that problem.

Is it a paper filter for cars? Those always stop flowing for me after a few months. I think it's the alcohol in the gas partially dissolving the glue in the filter, then clogging the paper with it.

If I force the gas through it, it'll work for day or two if it's not too hot outside.