Hoping that someone here has seen this. I was replacing the fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter on an Ariens 20hp 42" mower. The fuel line that I was using I had purchased last year, and I had used small portions of it to replace the line from the fuel filter to the fuel pump, and from the pump to the carb. So assuming that it was good line, I used the remaining portion to replace the line from the tank to the filter. While working with the line, I noticed that my hands were getting black. What would have caused this?
I reinstalled the old line, and I guess I just need to throw out the line, but I would really like to know what happened to it.
Your fuel line is starting to break down, main cause is cheap line and breaking down due to hot dry storage. This is very common with DIY guys who try to cut corners by purchasing more than they need, at a low price and store remaining line hanging on a hook in a dry environment. Unless you have a good reason, by good line and only what you need.
#5
Hammermechanicman
I have found automotive vacum line and cheap ebay fuel line does this in a couple years. Get rid of it. You can get fuel line cheap. Good quality 1/4" line will last at least 10 years.
This wasn't cheap line (at least I didn't think so), and the sections of it that are in use currently are holding up very well. This section was on a shelf with the other small engine parts. It didn't get exposed to anything. I just cleaned up the old line, checked it for any cracks, and reinstalled it. This wasn't a purchase from ebay, I bought this from a local O'Reilly's auto parts store.
#7
Hammermechanicman
Look at it for writing. Most quality fuel line will have size and company name on it. I have seen the rocket scientists at auto parts stores sell vacum hose for fuel line because since it wasn't high pressure fuel injection that vacum hose would work. I was at a NAPA of all places last week looking for an odd tapered roller bearing and BOTH girls behind the counter didn't know what a tapered roller bearing was or how to measure them. I had the bad one and one girl tried to use a tape measure and there was a dial caliper in the drawer she got the tape from. Asked her to use it and just got the deer in the headlights look. This after I gave her the measurements in thou and metric. Her name tag said assistant manager. I guess McDonald's wasn't hiring.
#8
StarTech
what worst is most taper bearings have their part numbers on them; unless, they were very cheap after market ones. Just a magnifier glass helps to see them.
I had once Tygon fuel to fail with a few days of it being installed. What weird was when I replace the bad line the new line came off the same stock roll here. So sometimes just a section of line can be bad even when new. Most fuel lines for rider here I use 30R7 line in the correct ID size.
#9
Hammermechanicman
The bearing said timken and USA but didn't have the number which I thought was strange
#10
Scrubcadet10
I use Gates and only Gates 1/4" fuel line. won't see me being blamed for a fire.
What brand and where do you buy it at? What type also is it?
I have used that clear vinyl stuff you get from Ace Hardware. It lasted like 5+ years until I sold that push mower. It is not even fuel rated that I can tell. Just the cheap clear non reinforced stuff.
I know the stuff from Autozone and O-really's is junk. I've bought their fuel injection hose as well. Still get about a year or so till it gets hard and starts leaking. They only sell Gates if I recall correctly. That was when I used to drain all my equipment for the winter. Obviously it leaves the lines dry to well, dry out over the winter. All my mowers are in the garage. Better than outside.
Started using Stabil year round, leaving fuel in the machines. No more issues with dried cracked lines. Got a 9 year old Maruyama trimmer with the original lines on her.
