Fuel hose inner/outer diameter

[Bikermike1411]

Hi all

Does anyone know the inner and outer diameter of the oem BMW fuel hoses inside the tank, between the fuel cap and fuel pump plate?

I believe it has 5x10 written on it, which I think means 5mm internal, 10mm external, but I could be wrong!

Also, are all the hoses the same dimension (e.g the long inner tank ones, ones connecting the pump to the fuel filter and the external two to the fuel line dry break quick release unions), or are they different bores?

I’m hoping I can buy 3m of the stuff and replace everything at once.

Thanks in advance!
Mike

 

[Hay Ewe]

Make sure the hose is rated for submersion in petrol.
I thought it would be easy to get some...... it wasnt, it was easier to get it from BMW.

 

[Paul Young]

The ‘U’ shaped pipe in the tank is a special item and can’t be replaced with normal tubing. Expensive for what it is, but don’t scrimp on it as it’s a critical piece that stops the bike running if it splits.

 

[IanRT]

Hi all

Does anyone know the inner and outer diameter of the oem BMW fuel hoses inside the tank, between the fuel cap and fuel pump plate?

I believe it has 5x10 written on it, which I think means 5mm internal, 10mm external, but I could be wrong!

Also, are all the hoses the same dimension (e.g the long inner tank ones, ones connecting the pump to the fuel filter and the external two to the fuel line dry break quick release unions), or are they different bores?

I’m hoping I can buy 3m of the stuff and replace everything at once.

Thanks in advance!
Mike

Hi
Just replaced the tank tubes yesterday. Both vent tubes. One for water under the petrol cap and the other to vent the tank.
I got mine from Motoworks. It comes as a 1m length and I just halved it to give longer tails when connecting the pump flange. It was not cheap. I also paid for the 1-2 day postage. £40. A lot for a piece of tubing.

 

[Bikermike1411]

Hi
Just replaced the tank tubes yesterday. Both vent tubes. One for water under the petrol cap and the other to vent the tank.
I got mine from Motoworks. It comes as a 1m length and I just halved it to give longer tails when connecting the pump flange. It was not cheap. I also paid for the 1-2 day postage. £40. A lot for a piece of tubing.

Thats my thought exactly, especially when the external pipe is cheap as chips.

I accept that it’s 5mm bore, and SAEJ30R10 compliant, but surely global economies of scale for stuff like this mean it shouldn’t be £30 a metre!

 

[Bikermike1411]

The ‘U’ shaped pipe in the tank is a special item and can’t be replaced with normal tubing. Expensive for what it is, but don’t scrimp on it as it’s a critical piece that stops the bike running if it splits.

Yeah, between that, the vent and drain pipes, a handful of new stainless clips and postage I’m staring down £70!

 

[Bikermike1411]

All internal pipes and clips ordered.

I’ve just told the kids they’re having beans on toast for the rest of the month…..

 

[Paul Young]

All internal pipes and clips ordered.

I’ve just told the kids they’re having beans on toast for the rest of the month…..

Did you also order some QD couplings, if not already fitted..? Even if already fitted, make sure they’re fitted flowing in opposite directions so they can’t be connected the wrong way round.

 

[Bikermike1411]

Did you also order some QD couplings, if not already fitted..? Even if already fitted, make sure they’re fitted flowing in opposite directions so they can’t be connected the wrong way round.

Already fitted, but they were both broken when I bought the bike. I’ve replaced them and actually did exactly what you suggested so I couldn’t mix them up!

 

[IanRT]

Thats my thought exactly, especially when the external pipe is cheap as chips.

I accept that it’s 5mm bore, and SAEJ30R10 compliant, but surely global economies of scale for stuff like this mean it shouldn’t be £30 a metre!

It is ridiculous and profiteering at its best, however, the tubes I removed had expanded and ballooned out and had started to disintegrate. Bits were in the tank. This, along with the pump end filter had split along its seam, contributed to the pumps demise. Think of it this way if you used inferior tubing, you could lose a lot of fuel in a minute or so depending on where the rupture was. Costly!
There are not many rubber tubes that can withstand being submerged in petrol.

 

[Steptoe]

There are not many rubber tubes that can withstand being submerged in petrol.

Really …My local old fashioned car spare’s shop has a large selection of fuel hoses in various sizes which are fully submersible in petrol … and inexpensive

 

[IanRT]

Really …My local old fashioned car spare’s shop has a large selection of fuel hoses in various sizes which are fully submersible in petrol … and inexpensive

Please let Bikermike1411 know where this shop.

 

[Steptoe]

Please let Bikermike1411 know where this shop.

I said “local” … my “local” shop is in new Malden, surrey … feck knows where bikermike lives …
Just checked, he lives in Lancashire, a lot nearer to you than me

 

[Bikermike1411]

I went to my local car place first! They had plenty of external rated pipe (R6) but nothing internal (R10). Apparently the distinction is critical.

It’s all good. I’ve ordered everything from Motorworks for peace of mind, including the little bend pipe.

 

[Bikermike1411]

Update and advice needed….please….

Everything came, alls good.

Came to put it together tonight and discovered the recommended clips supplied are too small for the hose once it’s on the pipe unions.

The hose is 14.5mm OD, which increases to 15.5mm OD once it’s on the unions. This means the 12-14mm clips supplied are too small to fit.

I got one one with some wrangling (see photo) then decided it shouldn’t need any wrangling so put the job down as I can’t afford to get this wrong and damage the fuel sensor or new fuel pump.





As you can see, there’s not much thread on the screw coming through, and I’m not about to overtighten them for fear of splitting a hose (or worse, damaging the plastic outlet on the new fuel pump)

I’m wondering if I should have just ordered the 16mm Oetiker ones. I still have the originals, but I’m reluctant to even try and open them up to reuse them as I don’t want these letting go under pressure inside the tank.

Honda just use spring Mikalor style ones…easy peasy….

Any advice would be welcome!

Cheers
Mike

 

[Hay Ewe]

To me, it looks like you need to push the hose on a bit further and then the clamp will be a bit further away from the bulge in the metal pipe, and then it will be good.
How you have it is close, just a bit futher.
I checked my photo archives and no photos of that to share, just a bit more.

 

[Bikermike1411]

The trouble is the OD becomes 15.5mm when the hose is on the pipe, which is beyond the 14mm nominal outer range of the clip.

Had a genuinely nice email from Motorworks - this is the right clip for this application. I can’t see how it’s so tight.

If I open the clip and put it in situ the nut side is so far round that the curve of the clip fouls the screw and doesn’t line up.

I could slide the pipe a bit further down (by a few mm) then slide the clip up, but this isn’t possible on the fuel pump or fuel filter where it has to start in situ as there’s nowhere to ‘keep’ the clip until the pump/filter is in place.

I managed to get this one on with some choice language. It is currently tight, but isn’t so tight that it is visibly digging into the hose rubber so I could potentially tighten it further. However, I don’t want to split the hose, and I can’t risk damaging the plastic pipe on the fuel pump.

 

[IanRT]

The trouble is the OD becomes 15.5mm when the hose is on the pipe, which is beyond the 14mm nominal outer range of the clip.

Had a genuinely nice email from Motorworks - this is the right clip for this application. I can’t see how it’s so tight.

If I open the clip and put it in situ the nut side is so far round that the curve of the clip fouls the screw and doesn’t line up.

I could slide the pipe a bit further down (by a few mm) then slide the clip up, but this isn’t possible on the fuel pump or fuel filter where it has to start in situ as there’s nowhere to ‘keep’ the clip until the pump/filter is in place.

I managed to get this one on with some choice language. It is currently tight, but isn’t so tight that it is visibly digging into the hose rubber so I could potentially tighten it further. However, I don’t want to split the hose, and I can’t risk damaging the plastic pipe on the fuel pump.

Hi Mike
Just noticed you are still having problems.
The clips I used are 11mm-13mm
They are tight! You need to put the 2 clips onto the metal pipe first.
Then using a silicon lubricant thoroughly lube up the internal bore of the pipe.
For the pipe over the metal pipe until you reach the edge of the pipe that couples to the fuel pump.
The gap between this pipe and the plastic fuel pump pipe is very short about 3mm to 6mm.
You then have to pipe the tube back up and over the metal pipe and across onto the fuel pipe.
You can then feed the clips back over the tube and clamp it well away from the nipples.
I had to carefully squeeze it backwards and forwards over the metal pipe a few time until it moved a bit easier but it was still very tight. It is a pity you are a bit away or I would come and help you. I have a couple of spare clips you can have and I can send them first class this afternoon. However, I am new to the forum and I amnot sure about the etiquette of sharing personal details. Let me know how you think we could do it. The bit of hose in the pic is spare and is about the length you need. Good luck with it. Ian

 

[Bikermike1411]

Hi Mike
Just noticed you are still having problems.
The clips I used are 11mm-13mm
They are tight! You need to put the 2 clips onto the metal pipe first.
Then using a silicon lubricant thoroughly lube up the internal bore of the pipe.
For the pipe over the metal pipe until you reach the edge of the pipe that couples to the fuel pump.
The gap between this pipe and the plastic fuel pump pipe is very short about 3mm to 6mm.
You then have to pipe the tube back up and over the metal pipe and across onto the fuel pipe.
You can then feed the clips back over the tube and clamp it well away from the nipples.
I had to carefully squeeze it backwards and forwards over the metal pipe a few time until it moved a bit easier but it was still very tight. It is a pity you are a bit away or I would come and help you. I have a couple of spare clips you can have and I can send them first class this afternoon. However, I am new to the forum and I amnot sure about the etiquette of sharing personal details. Let me know how you think we could do it. The bit of hose in the pic is spare and is about the length you need. Good luck with it. Ian

Thanks Ian!
I sat down with a brew yesterday and, with some mild cursing, managed to get it together!

It was one of the most frustrating jobs I’ve ever done…’this shouldn’t be this hard!’ was uttered more than once….

However, the story continues in the next thread…..

 

[IanRT]

Thanks Ian!
I sat down with a brew yesterday and, with some mild cursing, managed to get it together!

It was one of the most frustrating jobs I’ve ever done…’this shouldn’t be this hard!’ was uttered more than once….

However, the story continues in the next thread…..

That is great Mike.
Well done, it should be a simple task, but is far from it.
It runs about 4bar pressure (60PSI) so I suppose the components need to be tight.
I look forward to your next thread.