Fuel Pump Fuel Line Kink as standard?!

[hat22]

Hi Guys,

I'm having problems with my bike choking out at about 4500rpm. As a result, I decided to clean out my tank and fuel pump. However, as I was starting to remove the tank, I noticed that the fuel line that connects the pump to the tank is forced nearly 180 degrees, as it travels down and then back up. Is this normal and standard? The reason I ask is that it the bend is narrowing the fuel line and I think could be causing my problems. I have attached a photo to this post.

Please can someone confirm if this is a known issue. Please can someone also confirm a solution and whether I need to get some kind of u bend to stop it narrowing?

Cheers all for the help in advance.

Graham

[grog]

Mate,not sure if youve done an intro post, its a usual first post. Anyway, low pressure hose has right angle moulded into it at pump end as does yours. Your problem looks like high pressure hose is under it and creating extra bend.

[hat22]

Thank you for your reply grog.

However, I can't see where the right angle is moulded in like yours is. It just seems to be regular pipe that's pushed onto a fitting that points down. Maybe someone replaced it before me and used regular pipe instead of the original?

Maybe I should buy a "Fuel Line Quick Connect 90 Degree Push-On Single Barb Fuel Hose Adapter Connector for 5/16 to 5/16 Rubber Tubing"?
I found it on Amazon here https://www.amazon.com.au/AUTOHAUX-Connect-Degree-Adapter-Connector/dp/B0B8ZXYCZ4

Sorry for lack of intro. Many years ago I was a member of gsx1400.org. I bought my k5 in 2008 when I lived in the UK. I emigrated to Australia about 8 years ago an bought it with me because I love it too much lol.

[grog]

Mate, Dayco DSHB8F0 will solve your problem for $20.

[Hooli]

I'd run it under the high pressure hose, but not worry about it.
That won't be the cause of your issue unless you're on rather low fuel at the time. Normally petrol pours in from above to fill the swirl pot, it's only on low fuel as accelerating that the low pressure hose you're concerned about does anything much. As petrol sloshes to the rear of the tank, it'll squirt down that hose into the swirl pot keeping the pump fed even if the tank is empty above it.

I'd be thinking more of a blocked up high pressure filter with your issue. You can either bypass it with an external filter as a lot of the Ozzies like to do, or look for a fake Huyabusa filter on ebay. They fit and are about £20 over here not the £170 Suzuki want for a genuine one. The only difference with the busa filter is two small brass threaded inserts in the top where the fuel level sensor fits on them.

That's assuming you've had the pump out & cleaned the teabag filter?

[Will14]

I'd run it under the high pressure hose, but not worry about it.
That won't be the cause of your issue unless you're on rather low fuel at the time. Normally petrol pours in from above to fill the swirl pot, it's only on low fuel as accelerating that the low pressure hose you're concerned about does anything much. As petrol sloshes to the rear of the tank, it'll squirt down that hose into the swirl pot keeping the pump fed even if the tank is empty above it.

I'd be thinking more of a blocked up high pressure filter with your issue. You can either bypass it with an external filter as a lot of the Ozzies like to do, or look for a fake Huyabusa filter on ebay. They fit and are about £20 over here not the £170 Suzuki want for a genuine one. The only difference with the busa filter is two small brass threaded inserts in the top where the fuel level sensor fits on them.

That's assuming you've had the pump out & cleaned the teabag filter?

@Hooli what would be your best guess on the fuel level for the system to become dependent on the LP side? Never thought about this before, but the slight hesitation issue that I had went away after trying many different things, last Friday evening I was down to two bars still showing on the gauge (very close to it going to one bar) and had done approx 150 miles from what was a full tank and twice I had a bit of sudden hesitation when I quickly opened the throttle, steady on the throttle and all was good. It did cross my mind that it may have been down to low fuel head, now I'm thinking it's more likely, possibly a restriction in the LP tank outlet, I did get a bit of gunk out of there years ago, maybe try a flexible brush/cleaner or just put the tank on that I bought 5 years ago and never fitted 

[Hooli]

I'd guess about that sort of level, I think that's when I used to see it occasionally too. I've got old & don't ride that hard as often these days.

Talking about dirt in there, Seth suggested a cheap fuel filter in that line, with the direction of flow going forwards towards the pump. It does trap a lot of crap & saves cleaning the teabag. I need to refit one, I had trapped the last one against the frame & deformed it so it blocked the fuel flow.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

I use this one in line on the LP fuel hose:

[Andre]

How much resitance does this add to the flow? Will it impair the flow enough to make a difference in low-fuel level during acceleration of our little behemoth? Not an issue for me as I am highly unlikely to let a low-fuel level occur.

Fuel here is virtually void of crap. Only particles trapped in the HP-filter were rust. Only things (note: things - not particles) trapped in the teabag were left-overs from manufacture of the tank. Lucky to live here in this regard.

Back on kink topic. I replaced with a non-kinky straight thick after-market hose. No kinking, intended or otherwise, anywhere.

[Hooli]

Doesn't make any difference I've noticed when the filter is clean.

Mine tends to trap little flakes of rust.

[Will14]

Just a little update on this, something was bugging me with the original thread & the bend in the fuel hose

I couldn't recall the low pressure hose on my bike having a 90 degree bend where it connects to the pump, just been out to the garage tonight and had a look under the tank, there is no bend in the hose as the tail coming from the pump swirl pot is at a 90 degree angle, I have also checked the spare pump that I have and that is the same. Although the part number of the pump assy is the same for all years from what I can gather the design of the swirl pot changed from K4 onwards, sort of explains why the low pressure fuel hose without bend for K2/3 is no longer available yet it is available with the bend from from K4 onwards

@Hooli or anyone else with a K2 or K3 I would be interested to know if yours is the same as mine or if I have a mongrel, unlikely as the spare pump is the same 

[Hooli]

On mine the connection under the swirl pot goes straight down, I don't recall seeing anything different even on later bikes I've fixed for people. I can't remember how the original hose looked though as I replaced it years ago.

[Hooli]

Actually let me change that answer.

I've checked some old pics & can confirm the original bits on my K2 look the same as a friend's K5 when I did a load of work on it for her.

My K2 back in 2010 when the hose was original..



A K5 with the original hose etc in 2021..

[Eric GSX1400K3]

My K3. I have replaced the hose as its 22yo, but with generic auto motive fuel hose, plus the inline lp filter mod has been done.

[Barbastro K6]