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Thread: Fuel Line Choices

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    Stillwater, OK
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    16

    Default Fuel Line Choices

    I have a kitfox III. What are most people running for fuel line? Also, do most people run a valve at the fuel tank and if so, what part number?

    F-4040-A PVC FUEL TUBING (yellow)
    TYGON LP-1200 FUEL LINE TUBING (white)
    PARKER SUPER-FLEX 397 SERIES FUEL LINE HOSE (black)
    1/4" POLYURETHANE FUEL LINE (blue)

    Thank You,
    Matt

  2. #2
    Senior Member jiott's Avatar
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    Jun 2010
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    Portland, OR
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    2,960

    Default Re: Fuel Line Choices

    Gates Barricade, Green Line, carburetor hose (not fuel injection).
    Jim Ott
    Portland, OR
    Kitfox SS7 flying
    Rotax 912ULS

  3. #3
    Senior Member fastfred's Avatar
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    Nov 2016
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    herkimer,ny
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    Default Re: Fuel Line Choices

    Why not fuel injection line.? I used that on my prior 7 and it all but stopped fuel odors . The other options always seemed to let fumes through eventually.

  4. #4
    Senior Member 109JB's Avatar
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    Mar 2019
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    Morris, IL
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    484

    Default Re: Fuel Line Choices

    Gates Barricade fuel injection hose.
    John Brannen
    Morris, IL
    Sonerai IIL (Single Seat)
    Kitfox 3/4 1050 - Rotax 582 (Back Flying and sold)
    Kitfox IV 1050 - Rotax 582 (sold)
    Kitfox IV 1200 Speedster - Rotax 912 UL (project)
    Piper Twin Comanche (Sold)
    Glasair 1 FT (Waiting to start)

  5. #5
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
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    Jun 2015
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    Yorba Linda, CA
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    Default Re: Fuel Line Choices

    Gates 27003 Fuel line from Amazon is what I use. The original hose provided by Kitfox will allow fuel smell to escape, especially with Mogas. It did improve once 100LL was put in but I replaced the hose with this Gates product and with 100LL I don't smell fuel at all. Im looking forward to the new aviation fuel so I can quit buying the fuel additive for the lead.
    Eddie Forward
    Flying
    SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X

  6. #6
    Senior Member
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    Apr 2009
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    Chisholm Mn
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    Default Re: Fuel Line Choices

    A few years ago, I bought some of the yellow tygon 1/4" tubing from a local farm and fleet type store. Less then a year later, the tubing had shrunk and stiffened up. Don't know if it was just a bad batch or what, but that stuff was junk. Somewhere I have a picture of me holding about a 2' long piece of it sticking straight out without it bending down at all. I used to use the blue stuff from leading edge, but I don't think they sell it anymore. JImChuk

  7. #7
    Senior Member jiott's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fuel Line Choices

    Why not fuel injection hose? I am going to just repeat what the knowledgeable folks over on the Rotax-Owner.com forum have been recommending for quite a while now:

    - For one thing fuel injection hose is totally unnecessary on a carbureted engine. Its pressure rating is way above what's required.

    - Its high pressure rating also prevents it from taking as small a bend radius as the standard hose without kinking.

    - The standard Gates Barricade hose will NOT let fuel vapor permeate thru it.

    - Fuel injection hose has a harder, stiffer, inner lining (related to the pressure rating) that doesn't seal as well on barbed fittings. In fact high clamping pressure can cause the barbs to cut into the lining and small particles to break off the inner lining under the clamp and migrate downstream into your carburetor.

    - This all being said, they say fuel injection hose is ok to use if you avoid sharp bends, and barbed fittings (use the smooth bulbed-end type or proper crimped ends), but why? There are no advantages.
    Jim Ott
    Portland, OR
    Kitfox SS7 flying
    Rotax 912ULS

  8. #8
    Senior Member fastfred's Avatar
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    Nov 2016
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    Default Re: Fuel Line Choices

    [Thanks for that input. On my other kitfox the Barricade did stop the fumes from coming through especially on a decent to land but the fuel injection hose solved it . I did use the existing barb fittings but maybe over time it would have started to leak.

    My Newer 7 is now getting pretty fumy sitting in the hanger , I done find any leaks so the lines could be getting bad?

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Lawrenceville, GA
    Posts
    180

    Default Re: Fuel Line Choices

    My method is to use aluminum tube for long runs in the cockpit. Then either use fittings or if need be put a bead on the end of the tube and use a short length of hose. A good low permeation hose is the marine A1-15. It is a little pricey but I don't need much.


    Quote Originally Posted by fastfred View Post
    [Thanks for that input. On my other kitfox the Barricade did stop the fumes from coming through especially on a decent to land but the fuel injection hose solved it . I did use the existing barb fittings but maybe over time it would have started to leak.

    My Newer 7 is now getting pretty fumy sitting in the hanger , I done find any leaks so the lines could be getting bad?
    Building a KF IV Classic

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