Question about the stock fuel lines

Bonwit · Feb 18, 2014

Going back to the Amal carbs will allow me to run the stock fuel lines again. I see that there are a number of sets on Ebay and elsewhere, but can someone tell me what sort of lines Norton used in '74? Were they clear hoses? Braided? Solid?I see that Commando Specialists has both clear and braided in stock. Are either of these correct?

Thanks!

CanukNortonNut · Feb 18, 2014

I would go for the braided Line system with the Alloy banjo cups as opposed to the plastic line and plastic banjos and Tee sections.
The plastic lines don't tend to last much past a season or two. I also find the 180 degree alloy banjos work the best. Far less chance of fireworks. You can make them up yourself or buy them as a kit.
Cheers,
Thomas
CNN

mike996 · Feb 18, 2014

Originals were clear hoses. The current clear AN hoses can be bluish tinted when new but will very quickly turn yellow-brownish tinted just as the original clear ones did.

CanukNortonNut · Feb 18, 2014

mike996 said:
Originals were clear hoses. The current clear AN hoses can be bluish tinted when new but will very quickly turn yellow-brownish tinted just as the original clear ones did.

Mike996

Yes that is how the original were. I think a lot of our crowd uses TYGON fuel line as an option. This product resists hardening with the new fuels that comes out of the pumps these days. http://www.hoseline.net/hose/fgpvc.htm
Thomas
CNN

pete.v · Feb 18, 2014

I have always used the 150 degree banjos cause they hug the carbs then angle toward the barbs coming down from the petcock.

Not that it is needed, but they are also a larger diameter, 5/16. Fuel line is easy and cheap, even the good stuff.

Making up your own is a no brainer and offers yet another source of pride when looking at the bike.

texasSlick · Feb 18, 2014

CanukNortonNut said:
mike996 said:

Originals were clear hoses. The current clear AN hoses can be bluish tinted when new but will very quickly turn yellow-brownish tinted just as the original clear ones did.

Click to expand...

Mike996

Yes that is how the original were. I think a lot of our crowd uses TYGON fuel line as an option. This product resists hardening with the new fuels that comes out of the pumps these days. http://www.hoseline.net/hose/fgpvc.htm
Thomas
CNN

Tygon is an excellent flexible tubing product that is inert to almost everything....but it will harden given enough time ( measured in years). Tygon is my choice if I were going to use a clear flexible product.

Slick

DogT · Feb 18, 2014

I used the clear lines from OB and the plated brass ferrules, my originals were like that. Replaced the plastic banjos with metal ones from Amal, and got rid of the H harness and did the newer style with the short link between the carbs and the double ended banjos. I used the 180° ones. Lots cheaper than buying the whole thing assembled, unless it doesn't matter to you and then you can have a lot of extra line too. I bought plenty of line and ferrules. You can crimp the ferrules with a Rigid line flaring tool or a proper sized nut cut in half in a vise.

Dave

Bonwit · Feb 18, 2014

This is what Commando Specialists sells. Clear tubing, but they don't say what kind. The banjo fittings are metal.

DogT · Feb 19, 2014

Here's the one I made from parts. I think for $65 you could make up about 4 of them from parts, not including the banjos, they're expensive. I forget, seems they were about $18 each. But I've got plenty line and ferrules left.

chasbmw · Feb 19, 2014

Venhills in the UK sell all the parts for making up SS braid covered fuel lines. They look good and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than making it up yourself. They claim that the fuel lines is ethanol resistant.

rvich · Feb 19, 2014

Bonwit said:
This is what Commando Specialists sells. Clear tubing, but they don't say what kind. The banjo fittings are metal.

That appears to be period correct for 1974. I would contact Commando Specialties and ask them if you are concerned about the quality of tubing. Their "contact" page on the web site has a photo of a nice looking gal with good lipstick and a big smile. What have you got to lose?

http://www.commandospecialties.com/contact.asp

Bonwit · Feb 19, 2014

Thanks for the info. A photo in Duckworth's book showed yellow colored fuel lines. Guess the fuel turned them that color. Commando Specialists wants $55 for the made up set in clear. Probably not a bad price.

pete.v · Feb 19, 2014

Bonwit said:
Thanks for the info. A photo in Duckworth's book showed yellow colored fuel lines. Guess the fuel turned them that color. Commando Specialists wants $55 for the made up set in clear. Probably not a bad price.

2 banjos @ $7.50 each = $15.00
5/16 barb with nut @ $5.00 each = $10.00
Fuel line about a buck a foot X2 = $2.00
Total $27.00

swooshdave · Feb 19, 2014

pete.v said:
Bonwit said:

Thanks for the info. A photo in Duckworth's book showed yellow colored fuel lines. Guess the fuel turned them that color. Commando Specialists wants $55 for the made up set in clear. Probably not a bad price.

Click to expand...

2 banjos @ $7.50 each = $15.00
5/16 barb with nut @ $5.00 each = $10.00
Fuel line about a buck a foot X2 = $2.00
Total $27.00

That's not the total cost of the complete set.

pete.v · Feb 19, 2014

swooshdave said:
pete.v said:

Bonwit said:

Thanks for the info. A photo in Duckworth's book showed yellow colored fuel lines. Guess the fuel turned them that color. Commando Specialists wants $55 for the made up set in clear. Probably not a bad price.

Click to expand...

2 banjos @ $7.50 each = $15.00
5/16 barb with nut @ $5.00 each = $10.00
Fuel line about a buck a foot X2 = $2.00
Total $27.00

Click to expand...

That's not the total cost of the complete set.

If I ordered these things from Amal today, except for the fuel line that I get down the road for $1 a foot, that is what it would cost me to make my own, from petcock to carbs to petcock.
Just like this,

CanukNortonNut · Feb 19, 2014

Bonwit said:
Thanks for the info. A photo in Duckworth's book showed yellow colored fuel lines. Guess the fuel turned them that color. Commando Specialists wants $55 for the made up set in clear. Probably not a bad price.

Some Tygon fuel line is Yellow in color.
Thomas
CNN

texasSlick · Feb 19, 2014

CanukNortonNut said:
Bonwit said:

Thanks for the info. A photo in Duckworth's book showed yellow colored fuel lines. Guess the fuel turned them that color. Commando Specialists wants $55 for the made up set in clear. Probably not a bad price.

Click to expand...

Some Tygon fuel line is Yellow in color.
Thomas
CNN

Tygon will yellow, and harden, over time. It also gets an "oily" look and feel to it (after many years). I don't know of any clear flexible tube better, however. I would suspect anything offered for sale not specifically named as Tygon , is not Tygon, but a knock-off.

My source for Tygon was http://www.coleparmer.com

Slick

swooshdave · Feb 19, 2014

I actually have Tygon that has gotten stiff. Still usable but I'd consider replacing it. My guess is that it's about 9 years old. I paid .13/in so I think I got my money's worth...

Bernhard · Feb 22, 2014

Plastic fuel pipes, whether clear or braided are not petrol proof and will become hardened over time, they were what was available in the late 1960s early 1970s.
The world has moved on since then and the black petrol proof fuel pipes available now are far superior, I would not consider looking with the bike looking original, the thought of the old style pipes splitting, catching fire if you really are unlucky and watching the bike go up in smoke……….. ……………………….

Question about the stock fuel lines

Similar threads