Hey gents,

I have a '95 Harley with a glass fuel filter hooked up on the fuel line between the tank and the carburetor. I'm trying to clean up some things on the bike and was wondering if there is any other options for the fuel filter?

I'm looking at purchasing a valve that has a filter that sticks up inside the tank. would that be sufficient?

thanks guys

 

Factory fuel valve should already have a filter.

 

Well the owner before me put a 1200 Buell in it and the valve he installed does not have a filter on it.

 

Carbed bikes depend on gravity for fuel flow, so yes, a screened petcock will be the better choice and less restrictive.

 

IMHO in-line filters are a fad. I suggest you replace your fuel line with a new one, also replace the gas tap with one that has an integral filter. They are available on-line for around 20 bucks or so. As an alternative you can install a Pingel, although they cost rather more!

 

An old timer schooled me on Harley OEM tank petcocks and what he said made sense. OEM’s all have a vacuum line which opens the petcock to give the beast fuel. Here lies the problem.....you must crank the engine to creat vacuum to open the petcock, seems like a lot of wear on the starter, battery, etc, knowing it can’t start without vacuum.
My Sportster never started well until I installed a Pingle petcock. No vacuum necessary, just remember to shut the fuel when you get out of the saddle which we should do anyway.
The Pingle has a very long filter which goes up into the tank
100 Bucks you will never regret

 

The vacuum petcocks take very little to open, only about 1.5-2 so they open easily at crank over speed. There is one good thing about the vacuum petcocks - though they do shut off the fuel with no vacuum, as long as the lever is on run or reserve, they will allow pressure to return to the tank. If you stop on a hot day, hot engine, the standard petcocks will let hot fuel nearly boil in the bowl and build a lot of pressure, whereas the vacuum style lets the pressure back into the tank.... for whatever that tidbit may be worth.

I've run a standard OEM version w/screen many years. Never had any trash in the bowl - ever.

Hey Graham, I understand petrol, paraffin, bonnets and copious supplies, but what do you call diesel fuel? (Yeah, still looking for free English lessons)

 

The float bowl is vented through the overflow at the top, either into the throat, or on older model CV carbs into the overflow hose. This overflow feature will prevent pressure from building up.

 

Yeah you're right Dan. Typed before I thought.

But they will build pressure in the fuel line if the bowl is full / float valve closed. I've had it happen a lot in hot weather - stop and park, shut the fuel off and after several minutes hear a straining, gurgling, squeaking and turning the petcock back on goes "gurgle whoosh" back into the tank, big time. I don't enjoy riding when it's that hot anyway....

 

No online filter needed, it will only cause problems on a gravity fuel system.

If the fuel petcock does not have a filter, get rid of it and get a Pingel.