Alternative Replacement of your V4 Fuel Line

Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2002 21:05:47 -0400
From: Zaphod Beeblebrox
To: SABMAG@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: The Infamous Red Fuel Line

As you all are probably beginning to stop laughing at my "Here I Sit. Helpless." post, I post some non-humorous, but helpful tip.

I found an alternative to using the molded red fuel line (on the V65 anyway).

I went to NAPA (as suggested by someone on the list) and bought 3/4" *braided* fuel line. The guy at the counter said that the braided stuff would bend easier. This isn't *stainless* braid, but some sort of cloth braid. It was $5.00 a foot. The guy said it was really good stuff.

Anyway, I bought a foot just for the hell of it (I trimmed it to fit later).

It is flexible, but not flexible enough so that I was satisfied it wouldn't kink on me.

I was just about to give up, when the solution came to me!

A *spring*!!!!

That's right, a spring!

I zipped over to Home Depot (Malcoolm was not there) and check out the assorted springs that they had. I bought a foot long spring about 1/2" in diameter. It was coiled very tight.

I took the spring, pulled on each end so that the coil loosened up to about 1/4" spacing between coils.

I then cut the spring to about 3" shorter than the gas line. Insert the spring into the line, and attach the line to the subtank and main tank and you're done.

Whoila! The line will not kink because the spring is inside!

The gas flows easily because there really isn't an obstruction!

I've rode around for about 60 miles so far since the fix and haven't noticed any problems.

For those that need an original line, Dave Dodge (drp123@mindspring.com) keeps 'em in stock at $24.86 or something like that . . .

Mr. Custer, add this one to your little black book . . .

--
Bryan aka Zaphod Beeblebrox
Shelton, CT
`84 Magna V65 "Heart of GOld"
`85 Magna V30 "Trillian"


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