Hose before hoes.

[Skyboy8950]

Hey, just wondering if I can get the following sizes of hoses:

Breather
Fuel
Petcock vacuum
Tank breather

Thanks.

[tommyboxes]

Fuel 3/8
Petcock vacuum 1/4
Tank breather 1/4
Thats what worked for me I went to the hardware store and picked up the clear stuff got like $.50 a foot.

If you have it apart or have old stuff just bring it with ya.

[Steve]

Yeah, you can get the sizes, but on these particular hoses, there is nothing like OEM.

Any replacement fuel hoses that you get nowadays have to be super-thick and abrasion-resistant, so they are not flexible enough to make the curve from the petcock to the carbs. The vacuum hose would be OK, and maybe the tank breather, too. But, are you sure that's a tank breather hose? More likely it's the emergency drain hose that is attached to a catch-cup under the fuel level sending unit. That can be vacuum hose, as it should never have to carry any gas in it. The breather hose sounds expensive if you get it from Bike Bandit. I just got one for my son's 850. The price was just under $20. The nice thing is that you get more than you thought you would. Instead of a perfedtly-fitting hose, you get a section that is 2 meters long. That's just over 6 feet of hose to fit in an area that requires less than one foot. LOTS of extra hose.

Buy the right hose. Buy OEM. Buy it once.

.

[Steve]

Thats what worked for me I went to the hardware store and picked up the clear stuff got like $.50 a foot.

I have found that you have to be careful with some of the hardware store hoses. Not all of them are compatible with constant exposure to gasoline. They will harden in a relatively short period of time. But, before they get a chance to harden, some of them don't tolerate heat very well, either, so there is a chance that your new hose will deform due to heat, then harden and stay that way. I still like the idea of OEM.

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[Skyboy8950]

On my last bike, I bought a vacuum hose and fuel line from a motorcycle store. They were meant for fuel and worked very well. I just didn't remember the sizes. My breather hose is listed for $7 or so, but I'm sure I can find something locally that will work.

As for the other tank hose, you are correct. Emergency drain.

[chiphead]

Read Steve's posts right above. He is absolutely correct. I screwed around with hardware store hose the first year i got my bike running. The clear plastic stuff hardened in a season. Ordered OEM. Fits like a champ, stays flexible and like he says, they give you enough for two bikes. Just include it on your next OEM parts order.

[Skyboy8950]

This is what I am talking about.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/114/104

[bwringer]

The fuel hose on an 850 is 8mm. 5/16" works quite well, since these match up almost perfectly when you convert (5/16" = 7.94mm).

The vacuum fitting is 6mm. Some 1/4" hose is too loose (1/4" = 6.35mm), but some brands are a little tighter and work fine.

I believe the breather hose is either 10mm or 12mm. 3/8 hose converts to 9.5mm, so it'll work OK on a 10mm fitting.

If it's 12mm, most 1/2" hose will be a bit too big, since 1/2"=12.7mm. Again, you'll need to experiment a bit if you replace this with 'merkin sizes.


And finally, the vent hoses are 5mm. 3/16" hose converts to 4.7mm, so that's close enough. It'll be a wee bit tight, but not really noticeable or a problem.


I agree that ordering the OEM stuff works well and you usually get more than you need.

[Johnny K]

I have an 82' 850GS and was wondering where you purchased your fuel and the vacuum hose? My hose I took off today was 5/16" I think your right about the size of the vacuum hose. Just wondering where the best place to purchase OEM hoses. Thanks.

[Steve]

This is what I am talking about.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/114/104

That stuff is just a bit better than what is available at my local hardware store. I'm sure it will do a fine job.

Besides the obvious benefits of getting the right diameter tubing when you order OEM, you also get the thin-wall tubing that isn't so hard to get around the corners that are inevitable in the tight spaces under the tank, around the carbs.

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[psyguy]

Any replacement fuel hoses that you get nowadays have to be super-thick and abrasion-resistant

yeah, you're right, but they look so "serious" (lol) so thats just what i use