Ironhead Fuel line routing

[Jtrapass]

I tried the typical rubber fuel line first, but no matter what I did it was either kinking or tapping the head -- the new tank I mounted to my bike has its petcock mounted way down under, closer to the frame. I tried a copper tube next, but it looked like crap.

I came up with a hybrid solution. Make the bends out of 1/4" copper tubing and thread the rubber tube around it.

Bend the tube, cut the tube:


And feed it into the tube -- a little oil helps:


Looks like this mounted:




I'm happy with out it turned out. Figured I'd share it in case anybody else is interested. I still need to field test it, though.

OH, and check out my new paint.

[jharback]

Here's an old school fix for the hose making contact with the head. Take a thin wire coil spring, slide it over the hose and stretch it out some. This will keep the fuel line from making contact with the head. J&P Cycles also sells something similar for under $20. You can find it here:

http://www.jpcycles.com/ProductDetai...7200816&cs=All

[Hopper]

Or you could have got a new gas tap with the spiggot coming out the rear, right next to the connection on the carb, that is how they run stock. I kinda like the magic s-bend rubber hose though.
Bike is looking nice in the pics. What's the shiny new cruiser in the background?
You didn't did you?

[Jtrapass]

Originally Posted by Hopper

What's the shiny new cruiser in the background?
You didn't did you?

I feel so ashamed...

I picked up an 02 vtx 1800 in the fall. I love the power... and the fact that it just starts every time I hit that button... the sportster never worked that way. It's nice to have another bike to ride while I'm working on the sportster... but yeah I definitely feel like I'm cheating.

[hickblood]

think it looks clean, good idea too

[FourCams]

I picked up an 02 vtx 1800 in the fall. I love the power... and the fact that it just starts every time I hit that button...

I rode in Indiana and Kentucky last Summer with a guy who had one of those... It got less miles between fill-ups than the Ironhead with a peanut tank. The damn thing ran out of gas twice.
Nice job on the fuel line.

[Jtrapass]

Originally Posted by FourCams

I rode in Indiana and Kentucky last Summer with a guy who had one of those... It got less miles between fill-ups than the Ironhead with a peanut tank. The damn thing ran out of gas twice.
Nice job on the fuel line.

I have not had the same experience. My dad bought the same bike in grey - but decked out with all of the fixin's -- last year. And after a long ride with him I fell in love with it. Sure, the vtx gets worse mileage than my dad's ultra classic, but it definitely doesn't get worse mileage than my sportster. I was getting about 40 mpg on the sportster, with a 2.2 gallon tank. I'd hit the reserve around 82 miles highway.

With the vtx on hills, I still get around 40 mpg... maybe a little less. Last time I filled up at was at 140 miles and it took about 3.8 gallons. The manual says it's got a 5.2 gallon tank, but the opening is in the center so you can't really fill it up all of the way. I'm not sure how much reserve there is, I've never pushed it after the light comes on.

But oh man has it got a ton more pickup than the sporty ever did. And Nicole isn't afraid to ride on it, which is a plus. The rear en wanders a ton less and it's quieter. I think I'd like to put a set of v&h pipes on it for the sound, but I don't see the point in wasting money just yet.

And 1500 miles into the last oil change, I check the dipstick and the oil looks brand new. This on a bike with 35k miles on it. I'm impressed.

Granted, it's not as rewarding as riding a bike I built myself. So I'll get the sporty back out as soon as it warms up here.

[FourCams]

Originally Posted by Jtrapass

With the vtx on hills, I still get around 40 mpg... maybe a little less. Last time I filled up at was at 140 miles and it took about 3.8 gallons. The manual says it's got a 5.2 gallon tank, but the opening is in the center so you can't really fill it up all of the way. I'm not sure how much reserve there is, I've never pushed it after the light comes on.

I don't think it goes very far after the light comes on.
Maybe it was getting such crappy milage cuz the guy was like 350 lbs.
The right half of the tank doesn't hold any gas does it? I don't think he was able to get anywhere close to 5.2 gallons in it.

[Jtrapass]

Originally Posted by FourCams

I don't think it goes very far after the light comes on.
Maybe it was getting such crappy milage cuz the guy was like 350 lbs.
The right half of the tank doesn't hold any gas does it? I don't think he was able to get anywhere close to 5.2 gallons in it.

I'm like 280. I put a ton of strain on that little sporty.

And that's what I was saying before it leans a good deal onto its side stand, so you can't get any fuel in the right half of the tank. It goes all of the way over there, though. The air cleaner doesn't take up all that much room over there.

Even with that, I'm still really happy with it. And I love honda's parts prices every time I break something. I broke a turn signal lens cover on my dad's because I was an idiot, and the reset button on mine just stopped working one day. each of those were about 7.50 each. Just try getting parts for those prices from harley.

[FourCams]

I'm not rippin on your bike man.. The thing had lots of power and sounded pretty good too... I was just surprised at how often he had to stop for gas... It sounds like he just wasn't filling it up all the way.