fuel line on a C

To all those who responded to my earlier post "dead in the water", thanks. Starts with the starter now like a champ. Next up, fuel supply line. Since I'm not looking for a show restoration, what's your opinion on flexible gas line and an in line filter versus the sediment bowl and metal line? I see on OEM lines with a curl built in. Is this to aid in preventing vapor lock? Being a motorcylce guy, I'm thinking about installing a petcock for shutting off fuel and the flexible line / in line filter mentioned above. Will appreciate all responses. My apologies to the purists and the "in ain't correct" folks. Just thinking out loud. Thanks.

Oh did you open a can or worms! I personally have sediment bowls on my show tractors, just to keep the know it alls away, since I think most of them have little or no life. On myworking tractors, I have a ball valve and a clear Mr Gasket filter. I have absolutley NO problems at all with this set up. Just make sure you get a filter that isnt made for a pump type system.

Thanks, John. Thought as much. What a grin. I'll be looking forward to the responses!

I have a sediment bowl and a piece of rubber outboard motor fuel line. I like the sediment bowl because I don't have to pay when I clean it out and there is not the need to keep spare filters on hand. I have heard that the rubber hose is more dangerous in case of fire, but I have not had to deal with that, for which I am thankful.
Zach

(quoted from post at 15:55:56 11/02/10) I have a sediment bowl and a piece of rubber outboard motor fuel line. I like the sediment bowl because I don't have to pay when I clean it out and there is not the need to keep spare filters on hand. I have heard that the rubber hose is more dangerous in case of fire, but I have not had to deal with that, for which I am thankful.
Zach

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I've tried an in line filter on my M, and it starved for fuel. Could just be that it was not meant for a non pressurized fuel system. But now I just use a new sediment bowl, with a rubber fuel line on my C, H's, and M.

the curl in the original line is to prevent the line from cracking from vibration.

Believe me your far better off with a sediment bowl and the correct factory type filter set up then you are with any in line filter. Now as for being a motorcycle guy I am also and am working on year #41 on 2 wheels and will be at year 41 Jan 5th of next year. As for a line brake line works real well or a good type rubber line works also but note I said good and I use the type made for fuel injection systems since it stand up better then the run of the mill rubber line

And yes Dave you can get buy with a filter like what is used on a motorcycle but again in the long run you will find it will cost you 10 times more since every year or less depending on how good or bad your fuel tank is and how much junk you may get into the system. I.E. a sediment bowl with it screen will last a life time and then some with maybe a gasket replaced once in a while but an in line filter will cost you $4 or so every year if not more

Yup.

The shape of the pre-fab line is to keep it low nad away from the head and still give the gravity flow the path it needs. It's steel -- copper will get brittle over time and crack -- so if you want to make your own, brake line is good stuff.

Rubber line will work, but one of the others mentioned, and I'd agree, marine grade fuel line will serve better.

As for inline filters . . . other have touched on that, as well. I'm not sure what problem you have with the sediment bowl. The screen on the top of it is a pretty good filter all by itself. From the factory, there was a second screen in the elbow into the carb that served as a backup. Worked pretty well as long as the tractor was working.

Tractors that have set around or accumulated a lot of crud in the tank, that can be another issue, but I still kinda favor the sediment bowl. If the screen gets plugged up while working, it's something you can clean in the field. Can't do that with a plugged up inline can filter.

If your preference is stilll for the inline can, go for it, just heed the advice someone else gave that it be of a type intended for gravity feed systems.

Use a steel brake line looped to prevent metal fatigue. Keep ypur settement bulb setup, it is much better than an inline filter for this application.

Harold H

My experience is, and Ive bought them from the cheapos to the high dollar ones, and I havent had one last more than a couple of years without leaking. I figure 40 bucks for the sediment bowl 12 bucks for a 3 pack of filters, hows that cheaper. I have now that is less than a year old, put on in January, and it leaked with a month. Besides, if they are so great, why arent they using them anymore, oh wait, blame it on technology!

Funny I never seem to have any problem with sediment bowls working as the should and lasting for years. Again it all comes down to opinions and to me the sediment bowl is the only way to go on a tractor. Now on my motorcycle yes I have in line filters on them but then they are used a whole lot different then a tractor is and they are not in as much dust and dirt a a tractor is.
Oh must be nice to be able to fine filters that cheap I can't in my area.

I guess I will toss my 2 cents in, but I have not tried putting a filter on my tractors. My C has what I believe to be the original sediment bowl. Or at least this is the same one that has been on it for nearly 50 years as it has not been replaced in that length of time. I have replaced the screen, gasket on the bowl, screen in the inlet of carb, and I had to replace the steel line due to the brass fittings being rounded off from being removed to service carb. I took the line down to auto parts store and found a near identical length of straight brake line, which I bent to match. Mine did not have a loop, and i believe that to be the original line that I replaced. First line lasted about 50 years, and this replacement has went about 10 so far without cracking. I am reluctant to replace the sediment bowl with an aftermarket, as I do not believe the replacements will hold up for more than a few years at best.

Yep hard to beat the factory sediment bowls. I have a number of them laying around from tractors that I have had that where to far gone to fix and I remove the sediment bowls and stick in a fridge I have in the shop where I keep carbs etc. Nice to have a spare sediment bowl when you need one.

Thanks, everybody. I should add I"ve recently acquired this tractor. It seems to me I see a lot of sediment bowls on tractors that leak gas. What might be behind that? You often see one painted up nice that had a puddle under the bowl. I was really looking to eliminate that possibility.

(quoted from post at 17:20:23 11/02/10) the curl in the original line is to prevent the line from cracking from vibration.

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Exactly. And it is made of steel so it will not rip apart if you get too close to a tree or other brush.

One post I read is that if you have an engine fire, no matter how small, if the rubber gas line burns through you have a bad fire real quick. Steel line probably would not burn through as quickly. Makes sense and makes me think. Just my two cents worth. Allan.

You can make a new fuel line using a braided hose
and reusable swivel nut fittings. I made these for my garden tractor's hydraulic lines. These are No5 (5/16) JIC fittings. Hal