I took an old S&S carb off my bike recently and it was a mess inside. Lots of crap in there. The only filter I have is the fuel strainer inside the tank, right over the fuel shut off.

I’m considering installing a low-pressure fuel filter. Have any of you guys tried any of these?

I'm considering a 5/16" paper filter. It seems like it would be the most effective as far as filtering goes but I don't know how well it will flow in a gravity fed system.

My fuel line is 1/4" so I may have to go with a brass or stainless steel filter instead since they don't seem to make a 1/4" paper filter.

http://www.knfilters.com/fuelfilter.htm

 

If you have 1/4" bore rubber hose it will probably push over the 5/16" filter flanges.

 

There is no better filter than the plastic strainer at the petcock, assuming it's not damaged. It will filter ANYTHING that an external can catch and still allow fuel flow. And yes, it'll stop water too. They aren't expensive from a dealer either.

Seems S&S carb guys have a lot of probs with trash and I'm guessing some gets in thru the bowl vent. But if it's getting a fine, powder-like accumulation in the bowl (which is rust, I call it snuff rust) no filter in the world will stop that. You'll have to clean/coat the inside of the gas tank. Fuel lines can break down on the inside and put flakes of trash in a carb too.

 

You can get a 1/4" inline little metal can filter at any auto parts store. I don't have the cross number with me, but you can look in the picture catalogs for it from fram or Wix. Cross the fram over to another brand. If you really want, I can go to the garage and look at one for the number

 

I go to Lowes and get the Briggs and Stratton little clear fuel filter by the lawn mowers. I go through about one every 8 months. I commute on my sled. I tour at 65 - 70 mph. When they plug up, I'm just glad that stuff didnt get in the carb. They are cheap for like three bucks. Always carry a n extra. Cheap filter that works.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

How do I remove the plastic strainer from the petcock?

I figure I might as well replace that as well.

I have a new one, but I don't want to pull off the old one, because I don't want to break it inside the petcock.

Does it just pull off or twist off?

 

Just wiggle and pull up at the same time. One side has a tube that goes into the petcock just tiny bit and they will only go back on one way because of the offset of the holes. There's a super thin rubber washer that goes between the palstic and the petcock also. They're usually OK, but if it's stretched cut or funky, that's a # 62172-75 if it hasn't changed...

 

Thanks for the info on the rubber washer.

I'm going to get one of those before I replace the strainer.

 

subscribed- S&S Super E here too
likely the problem with my occasion miss and backfire, as everything else is good.

 

At fill ups I always turn the petcock to reserve for a few miles to suck any moisture
from the bottom of the tank to prevent rust, seems to work as I have never had a rusty tank. Just a thought