Best kind of fuel line and clamps?

Seems like the fuel line I get from my local motorcycle store always gets hard after a year to two...and eventually starts leaking at the connections. I used M%$#$Pro Brand (Neoprene??) last time I re-plumbed it. The stuff was more expensive than rubber and was not supposed to harden...and now it's hard and leaks.
I'd also like to find some better quality clamps... The wire type are hard to remove and install and they never stay tight either... Any thoughts on either of these two issues?

 

i got some yellow "tygon" tube and don't use clamps
you want PVC line

 

Polock...do you mean you're happy with the Tygon? I've seen it online but never used it...
How do you not use clamps? Do you have to heat it to install it over the barbs?

 

happy as a dog rolling in sh** (that's happy)
i take that back about clamps, i have tiny zip ties on the fuel filter because i grab it to pull the line off the tank.
no clamps on the tank or carbs, don't need them. the line is kind of soft and streachy, pushes right on and seals.
pretty sure 1/4 inch ID is the size 1.53 a foot
http://www.mcmaster.com/#tygon-tubing/=vtrl7e

 

I often use the blue snowmobile fuel line.

 

Hello sir. Do you still use the blue snowmobile fuel line?

I’ve been looking at the tygon f-4040-a fuel line listed above. Motion Pro sells this as their premium fuel line. Downside is the price. $4/foot is about the best price I can find for smaller quantities.

Then again, the OEM fuel lines on my ‘87 Yamaha don’t look horrible..

 

Yes I do… And to think, you could replace the fuel lines on your bike for only four bucks...

 

I think I'd pony up 4 bucks to not have my bike burst into flames at a stop sign somewhere. Well...at least 3 bucks.

 

Okay, you guys convinced me. I’ll need to take the $4 from my brake system budget though…


(Kidding!)

 

I’d like to replace all the fuel and vacuum lines on my bike (yx600).

Does anyone know roughly what quantity and sizes of line are typically needed?

I think I will buy 1/4 ID tygon for the fuel line. I know it’s very easy to work with and won’t hold a “memory”. I don’t expect that the bike will ever experience freezing temperatures either.

I have 6.4mm ID norprene on hand that I’d like to use for the vacuum lines. Any issues with this material or ID?

Thank you for the support!

 

It’s just vacuum.....

 

the 10% ethanol will harden many types of rubber fuel lines. I spent years flying RC airplanes and bigger ones used 2 stroke Gas engines and when ethanol came to be, our fuel lines hardened up and the clunks froze hard to what ever orientation we stored the fuselage, often causing us to stall when inverted.
We were switching out fuel line once or twice a year until Tygon was popularized amongst us.
For my XJ650, I"m using ethanol free only (traveling 30 mins to fill up jugs) but if I used 10% ethanol, Tygon is the way to go IMO.

 

You shouldn’t have gas in your vacuum line.

 

Vacuum hose should be thick-walled, too. A collapsed vacuum pipe is as much use as tits on a bull.

 

I ended up getting 10’ of 1/4” ID x 3/8”OD Tygon for fuel (I have three bikes).

I have the 1/4”ID x 3/8” OD norprene (neoprene) on hand that I plan on using for vacuum. It’s listed as having 1/16 wall.


Edit:
From McMaster Carr:
“
The industry standard for fuel and lubricant applications, this tubing can be used intermittently with petroleum-based products without becoming hard or brittle. Do not use with ethanol-based gasoline. It is flexible, so it bends easily around objects.
…”

I guess ethanol based is different than ethanol blended.
https://www.mcmaster.com/product/5552K25


Edit x 2:
The only tubing material more suited to gas/ethanol I see is Flurane F-5500-a (Viton), but it’s not readily available. Tygon is good enough for me.
https://www.bnl.gov/esh/shsd/pdf/compressed_gas/chem_comp_tubing_material.pdf

 

Should be more like 1/8" to 3/16" bore, 1/8" to 3/16" wall, depending on what fits your vac spigots. There's no flow as such, all it has to do is resist collapsing.

 

Thanks Dave. I’ll find something a bit smaller.

 

I use fuel line from Autozone with no issues and actutal vacuum hose as well.