A better fuel filter?

[TeeCat]

Hi, guys...

Fuel filters have been discussed a lot, and I had found one that definitely does its job, as it's got sediment in it that would otherwise be in my carb bowl. I have been using these little critters.

However, I went to take the TX out today - it was a rare sunny and 60 in Janauary - and discovered (at the curb, happily), that I had a fuel leak. I use Motion Pro gray, so it's unlikely to be the line, which is less than a year old. I felt around from high to low and found that the wet started at the filter. The feed end of the line seems to be dry; I suspect that the filter, which appears to be two pieces bonded together, has cracked or something.

These things are a dime a dozen, and I'll be replacing it tomorrow, but I wondered if anyone had anything better that they like. I'm working in a tight space, though, so I can't go any bigger.

Thanks and cheers!

TC

 

[angus67]

maybe you just got a bad one. being cheap also means hundreds if not thousands can be pumped out of the factory in a day. .Sometimes the bad ones slip thru.
put another on, and a spare in your pocket. if it happens again, switch brands. But sometimes switching brands dosnt get you a peice manufactured by a different company.

 

[TeeCat]

maybe you just got a bad one. being cheap also means hundreds if not thousands can be pumped out of the factory in a day. .Sometimes the bad ones slip thru.
put another on, and a spare in your pocket. if it happens again, switch brands. But sometimes switching brands dosnt get you a peice manufactured by a different company.

That's entirely possible. I have been using these regularly, and this is the first time this has happened. It's been on there since perhaps late spring or early summer, when I redid the fuel feed to Motion Pro line to alleviate a leak caused by the clear plastic line, which gets hard and brittle. I suspect I'll be using an identical replacement filter tomorrow, at least in the interim. Thinking of getting a cleanable all metal one though, eventually.

I lost a truck to a fuel leak once, so I'm really skiddish about this kind of thing.

TC

 

[weekendrider]

Is that a plastic filter element/screen?

 

[TeeCat]

It might be... I'm not sure. But I think it might have failed at the seam between top and bottom. I think it's extremely unlikely that the Motion Pro line has cracked or split, as it seems much more malleable than rubber or plastic. I'll have to inspect it more tomorrow when I work on it.

 

[xjwmx]

I use the same filter you posted. There are others that are in the ballpark size-wise. The problem is some of the finer ones are intended for pressurized fuel. And not knowing what the filtration size limit is for a gravity fed filter, plus mfgrs not publishing the specs for their filters anyway makes it hard to know what's best!

 

[TeeCat]

I use the same filter you posted. There are others that are in the ballpark size-wise. The problem is some of the finer ones are intended for pressurized fuel. And not knowing what the filtration size limit is for a gravity fed filter, plus mfgrs not publishing the specs for their filters anyway makes it hard to know what's best!

I agree... it seems as if we're basically relegated to either inexpensive lawn mower filters, or expensive bike filters, the latter of which may be intended for injected systems.

This one seems to not interfere with fuel delivery, and it filters well. I might have to use another one in the interim, but I'll look for an alternative because that leak could have happened at speed or at an inconvenient place, and I might not have known it until it was either very messy, or worse. Carrying a spare is a good idea, but a remote swap out is a little messy because of the filter's location on my bike.

 

[cra-z1]

I use these from Emgo. Alum housing with sintered bronze filter. Pingle makes one also which I believe is smaller. I don't trust the plastic ones like that.
http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/OG/0000-Emgo-Universal-Fuel-Filter-Steel.jpg

 

[retiredgentleman]

I've been using these 90 degree fuel filters from www.650central.com for the last 3 or 4 years, and they work great. The 90 degree feature makes for easy routing of the fuel lines.

 

[XSJoel]

The ethanol in gas will eat these plastic filters up. Either go nonethanol or step up to a metal/glass setup. There are metal and glass ones on fleabay all day for like $7.

 

[TeeCat]

Thanks, guys. I was looking at the Pingle and 90-degree ones yesterday on the web. I'm amazed that my local bike shop does not stock much of this kind of basic stuff. I'm considering just ordering a proper one and waiting til it comes to install it, if I can't find something suitable locally.

TC

 

[TeeCat]

FYI, guys...

I pulled my fuel line assembly off the bike today to examine it and definitively find the source of the leak. All of the Motion Pro fuel line ends were intact and still malleable, but the body of the two-piece plastic cone filter had been compromised; even though it was installed behind the backtube of the bike, away from heat, the cone part of the body was visibly deformed/warped, and the epoxy/glue that adjoins the top and bottom parts of the body had been compromised, allowing fuel seepage. I could literally open the filter with my fingers while barely trying.

Unwilling to use another plastic filter, I went to Pep Boys and got a Purolator F10024. It was inexpensive, one piece, directional, and was small enough to use in my close-quarters application. I reassembled everything, re-installed it, and took the bike out for a little jaunt. All now seems to be well, though I'll check it again tomorrow after it sits a bit. I don't expect to find any leakage.

WARNING: I know that a lot of you use multi-piece plastic filters. After having inspected my failed one, and having seen what I saw, I emphatically advise against using plastic filters with ethanol fuel. I lost a beloved truck to a vehicle fire that was later determined to be the result of a failed soft part in the fuel line. This is a tee shirt that I would prefer not to have acquired, I assure you.

GET RID OF YOUR PLASTIC FUEL FILTERS NOW. They are crap; the bonding material that is used in their assembly is degradable by ethanol fuel. If a plastic filter fails at op temp, near your heads or hot exhaust, your only recourse will be to watch your bike burn as you wait for the emergency equipment to arrive. Install all-metal fuel filters at your earliest opportunity.

TC

 

[racerdave]

I used to use that Purolator filter on my 86 Kawasaki Concours. It was the smallest metal filter I could find. I forgot about it. Glad you reminded me. If my memory is correct though, it is still longer than the plastic one you have removed, probably by 1/2 inch or more. It has to be tight. Please post some pics.

 

[TeeCat]

Dave, it's actually only slightly longer than the one I removed. I don't have a stock configuration, however; I'm running a single VM36, so the single filter nestles neatly behind the backtube right under a brass tee that joins the lines from the right/left petcocks, and then routes the fuel through the filter and into the VM's feed tube. It's quite tidy and efficient, really. The key seems to be a quality, durable filter.

 

[racerdave]

Ok. You do have more room to work with.

 

[dschroeder]

this is what I run on mine...its a Yamaha outboard engine fuel filter... its for 1/4" fuel line.

 

[aldo5468]

Here's what I'm using - manufacturer says it's good for use with E85; pump gas here in SE Michigan is E10. This fits nicely between the carbs (see right side view in comparison pic) and below the "butterfly" plate that holds them together at the top.

 

[daroberts3]

No matter what filter you use dont forget to use a high quality fuel line clamp. Your basic worm clamp will loosen over time. I use Oetiker squeeze type clamps or constant torque clamps. Neither of which has ever loosened up any of my work. Can't say the same for the old worm clamp.

 

[I am Carbon]

Here's what I'm using - manufacturer says it's good for use with E85; pump gas here in SE Michigan is E10. This fits nicely between the carbs (see right side view in comparison pic) and below the "butterfly" plate that holds them together at the top.

Hey I use the one on the left too. I get it from NAPA autoparts for under $4 works fine lasts long time. I cut the small tip off both ends and I use small zip ties on my noeprene fuel line the dam things work very well.I do have to cut them off and use new ones each time I change the filter

 

[realgone]

I was searching for fuel filter threads last night and TeeCat's Purolator f10024 solution sounded good to me.
Problem- no one local had Purolator filters handy and the parts store people on the phone weren't all that helpful. I did a quick google cross reference check on the filter number and it's the fuel filter used for 1982 FORD trucks with the 4.9L 300Cu. In. inline six motor. Probably a lot of others too. Anyhow, the same unhelpful store had several in stock, and it might help some of you find one.