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Is it just a stupid design of that clamped 1/4” fuel line connecting the two gas tanks halves, hanging just above the front head and actually touching it, with a serious risk of catching fire if there is a leak?...
Or is there any wisdom here, that I just don’t see?...
is it really OK to leave it like that?...
I think the hose on your bike is not routed properly, have a look at the picture how its done on mine. Also note the different hose clamp, the one on yours does not look original to me, so someone in the past may have routed the hose wrong.
Because of this hose, the double gascaps on my bike and the lean angle I always only fill the right tank half.
And yes, there is a lot of weird engineering on Harleys. My personal gripe is with the intake manifold...
But as Bmp pointed out, a longer hose would allow you to route it slightly differently. A thinner line (like vinyl) could improve spacing too. Or a specialize line with 90-degree bends.
You can always add an extra sleeve to prevent rubbing on the actual hose but rubber does not rub so badly. The top of the head is not as hot as the cylinders get so the risk of fire is not there unless you have an actual leak with the fuel dripping on the exhaust, for example.
The hose is pushed to far up the nipple. And it’s to short.
You’ll gain 2” if you pull it back an inch on both sides
You mean these are the 90-degree nipples?
In that case I whole-heartedly agree. The hose should be only slipped over the horizontal part of the nipple. That's how mine was but I did not want to assume that yours was the same way, your tank looks much older than mine.
You mean these are the 90-degree nipples?
In that case I whole-heartedly agree. The hose should be only slipped over the horizontal part of the nipple. That's how mine was but I did not want to assume that yours was the same way, your tank looks much older than mine.
Not my bike. the hose is dated 2017, so I don't know the year of the bike pictured.
But that tight of a bend would cause a kink if it didn't have a 90* nipple.
You can also see evidence of a worm clamp on the hose.
Looking at the geometry that I can see there, that is a custom tank with the crossover at the rear of the tank. Whoever welded the hose nipples on the tank miscalculated by a couple inches. That is why the hose is resting on the valve cover of the rear head. He also didn't use 90° nipples.
That constant tension clamp looks like the older GM design clamps made for automotive use. I like to use the modern fuel injection band clamps for my fuel lines.
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Is it just a stupid design?...
