Easy and Cheap DIY fix for leaking quick-release fuel fitting
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,586
Likes: 7,969
From: Long Island, New York
Had this issue two years ago after I had my tins painted. HD sells just the O- Ring, need to get a counter guy with half a brain. It is not the same as the oil ring. To not corrode from gasoline it has different properties, it should be GREEN not black, then you have the right o-ring for the fuel tank.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 182
Likes: 13
From: Ohio
I have another thread running on this topic. A few good things to know here is that there are two "O" rings involved and they are NOT the same size.
The upper ring is thicker material but about the same diameter. It is designed to seal off the check valve/spring, it does not seal off the fuel line connector going down to the injectors.
Something else nice to know here is that to do this job correctly, you will need to use Viton "O" rings, which may not be what you are getting in the box behind the counter at Advance Auto parts.
I would consider any "O" rings from an "O" ring kit a temporary repair until you can install fluoroelostamer rings that will hold up in this new fuel.
I didn't mention it in my thread, but when mine first started leaking I had the correct size green nitrile "O" rings here, and installed one in the lower position so I could stop the leak and get the bike running again. That ring only last ONE day in this new fuel, and split and started leaking again!
I went to John Deere the next day and got their "O" ring that fits the lower position and it's fine.
I then ordered the correct repair kit to rebuild the valve from Fuel Tool and will replace both of the rings I installed as a temporary repair and put in the new ones from their kit.
Keep in mind here that both of those rings are on the down stream side of the filter. If you use Buna rubber, neoprene, or Nitrile rings (which is what is usually in those kits behind the counter at the parts stores) they are likely to end up coming apart and getting into your injectors........Cliff
The upper ring is thicker material but about the same diameter. It is designed to seal off the check valve/spring, it does not seal off the fuel line connector going down to the injectors.
Something else nice to know here is that to do this job correctly, you will need to use Viton "O" rings, which may not be what you are getting in the box behind the counter at Advance Auto parts.
I would consider any "O" rings from an "O" ring kit a temporary repair until you can install fluoroelostamer rings that will hold up in this new fuel.
I didn't mention it in my thread, but when mine first started leaking I had the correct size green nitrile "O" rings here, and installed one in the lower position so I could stop the leak and get the bike running again. That ring only last ONE day in this new fuel, and split and started leaking again!
I went to John Deere the next day and got their "O" ring that fits the lower position and it's fine.
I then ordered the correct repair kit to rebuild the valve from Fuel Tool and will replace both of the rings I installed as a temporary repair and put in the new ones from their kit.
Keep in mind here that both of those rings are on the down stream side of the filter. If you use Buna rubber, neoprene, or Nitrile rings (which is what is usually in those kits behind the counter at the parts stores) they are likely to end up coming apart and getting into your injectors........Cliff
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
I have another thread running on this topic. A few good things to know here is that there are two "O" rings involved and they are NOT the same size.
The upper ring is thicker material but about the same diameter. It is designed to seal off the check valve/spring, it does not seal off the fuel line connector going down to the injectors.
Something else nice to know here is that to do this job correctly, you will need to use Viton "O" rings, which may not be what you are getting in the box behind the counter at Advance Auto parts.
I would consider any "O" rings from an "O" ring kit a temporary repair until you can install fluoroelostamer rings that will hold up in this new fuel.
I didn't mention it in my thread, but when mine first started leaking I had the correct size green nitrile "O" rings here, and installed one in the lower position so I could stop the leak and get the bike running again. That ring only last ONE day in this new fuel, and split and started leaking again!
I went to John Deere the next day and got their "O" ring that fits the lower position and it's fine.
I then ordered the correct repair kit to rebuild the valve from Fuel Tool and will replace both of the rings I installed as a temporary repair and put in the new ones from their kit.
Keep in mind here that both of those rings are on the down stream side of the filter. If you use Buna rubber, neoprene, or Nitrile rings (which is what is usually in those kits behind the counter at the parts stores) they are likely to end up coming apart and getting into your injectors........Cliff
The upper ring is thicker material but about the same diameter. It is designed to seal off the check valve/spring, it does not seal off the fuel line connector going down to the injectors.
Something else nice to know here is that to do this job correctly, you will need to use Viton "O" rings, which may not be what you are getting in the box behind the counter at Advance Auto parts.
I would consider any "O" rings from an "O" ring kit a temporary repair until you can install fluoroelostamer rings that will hold up in this new fuel.
I didn't mention it in my thread, but when mine first started leaking I had the correct size green nitrile "O" rings here, and installed one in the lower position so I could stop the leak and get the bike running again. That ring only last ONE day in this new fuel, and split and started leaking again!
I went to John Deere the next day and got their "O" ring that fits the lower position and it's fine.
I then ordered the correct repair kit to rebuild the valve from Fuel Tool and will replace both of the rings I installed as a temporary repair and put in the new ones from their kit.
Keep in mind here that both of those rings are on the down stream side of the filter. If you use Buna rubber, neoprene, or Nitrile rings (which is what is usually in those kits behind the counter at the parts stores) they are likely to end up coming apart and getting into your injectors........Cliff
" Keep in mind here that both of those rings are on the down stream side of the filter. If you use Buna rubber, neoprene, or Nitrile rings (which is what is usually in those kits behind the counter at the parts stores) they are likely to end up coming apart and getting into your injectors..."
Cliff,thats a very nice pickup & suggestion on your part thats a good reason to use proper viton oring seals because they shouldn't degrade & of come apart due to todays pump fuel with ethanol attacking them that could result in clogging up the injectors.
Scott
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 182
Likes: 13
From: Ohio
Thanks. Since I do work in that industry for a living, and sell carburetor parts that are designed to hold up in this new fuel, I've had to become somewhat of an "expert" in Viton, or fluoroelastomer parts.
Some good reading here, although some of it is slightly "dated":
http://www.aquastik.net/apps/autofoc...09-01-0994.pdf
What really matters at the user level and relates to this topic, is that we can pretty much say for certain older FI bikes used "O" rings that were most likely Buna rubber or neoprene. I saw this with my 2002 CVO RK as both "O" rings were rotting away and chunking pieces off of them when I just happened to remove the tank last week.
I can also tell folks reading this is that there are a LOT of different grades of fluoroelastomer, and a lot of it is "dubbed" Viton, which is a trade mark of Dupont, but loosely used in many industry by folks trying to indicate that there products are of excellent or superior quality. In reality, a high percentage of those parts are nothing more than pretty blue or often black "soft" material that will NOT hold up in modern fuels blends.
I've upgraded some of the carburetor parts we sell several times to get a final product that will last forever in this new fuel. So when it comes to having a fuel leak issue with our HD's at the check valve and fitting, we need to make sure good "O" rings that are ethanol compatible are used to make the repairs.
Those two "O" rings are also somewhat difficult to obtain, and I would NOT trust the right size taken from any ones "O" ring kit behind the counter at a hardware or auto parts store. Most of those "kits" are cheap off-shore stuff, to be used at most for a temporary repair until you can get the right parts in there......Cliff
Some good reading here, although some of it is slightly "dated":
http://www.aquastik.net/apps/autofoc...09-01-0994.pdf
What really matters at the user level and relates to this topic, is that we can pretty much say for certain older FI bikes used "O" rings that were most likely Buna rubber or neoprene. I saw this with my 2002 CVO RK as both "O" rings were rotting away and chunking pieces off of them when I just happened to remove the tank last week.
I can also tell folks reading this is that there are a LOT of different grades of fluoroelastomer, and a lot of it is "dubbed" Viton, which is a trade mark of Dupont, but loosely used in many industry by folks trying to indicate that there products are of excellent or superior quality. In reality, a high percentage of those parts are nothing more than pretty blue or often black "soft" material that will NOT hold up in modern fuels blends.
I've upgraded some of the carburetor parts we sell several times to get a final product that will last forever in this new fuel. So when it comes to having a fuel leak issue with our HD's at the check valve and fitting, we need to make sure good "O" rings that are ethanol compatible are used to make the repairs.
Those two "O" rings are also somewhat difficult to obtain, and I would NOT trust the right size taken from any ones "O" ring kit behind the counter at a hardware or auto parts store. Most of those "kits" are cheap off-shore stuff, to be used at most for a temporary repair until you can get the right parts in there......Cliff
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Northwest
My Bad.
OK; I replied earlier that the drain plug O ring was wrong size. Well after actually finding an exploded view of the quick couple connect; I realized I was partially wrong as their are 2 O rings in this; an upper and a lower the upper being a seal for the fuel valve itself and it is different than the lower. The lower is indeed that same size as the drain plugs and usually the cause of the gas leak and works perfectly. I found this out by taking my tank off for a better visual and easier to replace them. The lower o ring on mine was flat on one side causing the leak. I at least learned something this way. I'm Sorry for any miss understanding and confusion I caused. I actually bought a pack of 25 of these Viton rings on Ebay last year for under 20.00. This is an awesome and very helpful sight for those of us that like to work on and fix our own bikes. Keep up the great work.Tbone
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