tom3c75
Hero member
- Location
- Cape Town South Africa
I've used Ariete. It goes hard over time.
mcnicol
Hero member
- Location
- Safety Harbor, Florida, USA
The problem with plastic hoses is that they all rely on plasticizer molecules "lubricating" the cross-linked long chain hydrocarbon molecules so that they actually slide over/past one another. And the plasticizers dissolve fairly well in hydrocarbon solutions (petrol is mostly octane, although God knows what else is in there) and get carried away quite quickly. So while polymer chemists could make a clearish plastic that could be formed into tubing and would stay flexible with petrol running through the tubes (and they actually do) it's meant for very specialised markets and is hellishly expensive. Typically it's not available for distribution outside target markets like industry or scientific research.
Rubber, on the other hand, can be formulated without plasticizers or with water-soluble plasticizer-like molecules, which don't dissolve in hydrocarbons (petrol). So it's not at all unusual to have original rubber fuel lines on pre-war vintage cars and motorcycles. The perishing of old rubber lines is usually due more to exposure to air than to whatever fluid flows through them. There's millions of vehicles on the road using 40-year-old pressurised brake hoses, and they're still safe. Sort of. Well, really should be replaced.
Ken
Rubber, on the other hand, can be formulated without plasticizers or with water-soluble plasticizer-like molecules, which don't dissolve in hydrocarbons (petrol). So it's not at all unusual to have original rubber fuel lines on pre-war vintage cars and motorcycles. The perishing of old rubber lines is usually due more to exposure to air than to whatever fluid flows through them. There's millions of vehicles on the road using 40-year-old pressurised brake hoses, and they're still safe. Sort of. Well, really should be replaced.
Ken
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Thanks for the technical explanation Ken.
Legs
Hero member
- Location
- Adelaide Hills
My RGS came with the standard green fuel hoses, thought nothing of it until about a year into ownership I had the tank off and thought it might be a good idea to clean the carby fuel filters. Took the whole assembly off; fuel rail, hoses and banjos. Was pretty shocked to find the short lengths between the rail and carbies were rock hard and had started to crack. Replaced with proper fuel lines and Jubilee clamps.
These days, if any company put out a product with fuel lines that deteriorated when fuel was added would find themselves hit with a global recall!
These days, if any company put out a product with fuel lines that deteriorated when fuel was added would find themselves hit with a global recall!
murphus
Senior member
- Location
- Lost in the Midwest
Not sure what it is Wolfgang sells, it's blue when new and turns a bit green, but it's worked well for me for years without turning rock hard.
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Great minds think alike Gerald. I use the same 5/16" light blue polyurethane as you. I also made the same comment about it turning green 
(see reply #14)
(see reply #14)
Jo
Hero member
- Location
- Cologne, NRW Germany
Gerald said:
Sounds it would exactly behave like the one I got last summer from OCT. Picture shows the same hose before and after the trip to Breganze:
It hasn't turned rock hard yet though and I can live with the colour change ...
8)
Laverda SF
Hero member
That Neoprene CRAP fuel line will harden and crack and set your bike on fire within a year. Use Automotive Black Rubberized Fuel lines (Pipes) designed for Gasoline.
"Fuel Lines" NOT "Petrol Pipe" - What an expression ;o)
If running Hi-Pressure Fuel Injection, I recommend Braided Hydraulic Hose.
Braided Hydraulic Hose works great as a Manifold Crossover between intakes - It don't collapse.
"Fuel Lines" NOT "Petrol Pipe" - What an expression ;o)
If running Hi-Pressure Fuel Injection, I recommend Braided Hydraulic Hose.
Braided Hydraulic Hose works great as a Manifold Crossover between intakes - It don't collapse.
