[ST] Fuel quick disconnect redux

[Blake Sobiloff <sobiloff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

While on a group ride Wednesday evening I kept on smelling gasoline, 
but when we'd stop for a break I couldn't see any obvious wetness 
around the fuel hoses. However, on Thursday when I did some more 
looking I found some washes of dust that highlighted the path the fuel 
was taking along the frame.

I pulled off the rear bodywork, turned the ignition on and, sure 
enough, saw some fuel welling up past the crimp clamp around the elbow 
QD that lies between the tank and the fuel rail. I chuckled to myself 
as I recalled how I purchased a metal replacement QD a couple of months 
ago when the topic of quick disconnect leaks came up on the liST.

I removed the crimp clamp and plastic elbow QD and examined it for 
cracks. I couldn't see any, and the o-ring was in good condition, so it 
looks like the fuel hose itself had compressed enough over time (and 
34K miles) that the crimp clamp wasn't supplying enough pressure 
anymore to completely seal the QD. Oh well, it was still a good 
opportunity to install the metal QD and use a worm-drive hose clamp.

I compared the plastic with the metal version. Doh! The plastic one was 
3/8" diameter, while the metal QD I had was for 1/4" hose. So, hop in 
the truck and run up to my dealer, where I'd purchased the metal 
connector. Fortunately, they had a 3/8" metal QD in stock. While 
chatting with the counter folks, they commented that they hadn't been 
able to find a rhyme or reason why some bikes used 3/8" while others 
used 1/4". They found variations even within the same model and year, 
so were advising everyone to remove and measure the old QDs first (or 
buy one in each size).

Installation, as the manuals say, was the reverse of removal. I put a 
thin coat of Sil-Glyde on the o-ring before reconnecting the QDs; this 
seems to help keep the o-rings from getting nicked. I fired up the bike 
and, voila, no leak!
- --
Blake "Dawgbert" Sobiloff <sobiloff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
President, Triumph Sport Riders Assoc.
San Jose, CA  (USA)
*** TSRA Western Rallye in New Mexico: Sept. 19th and 20th ***


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