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Junior Member
 
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| Hey People - I come forth seeking the advice/knowledge of the MCN posters on a technical matter that has me a little baffled. A good friend of mine (Jim) has asked me to help him with the 16,000 mile maintenance items for his 2004 1700 cc Yamaha Road Star or XV17AS for the geeks like me who want to know the exact model number. One of the maintenance items is "Replace the fuel filters". To be honest - the filters do not need to be replaced until 20,000 miles, but we might as well do it while he's here at my place since he lives 400 miles away. The first thing that threw me for a loop was the plural connotation for "filters" - I've never dealt with more than one filter on a fuel system (cars or bikes). Now, his bike does indeed have the standard plastic cartridge style fuel filter located just prior to the fuel pump which is what I would normally expect. However, there is also a small in-line filter (Yamaha Name for Part: NET FILTER and Yamaha Part #3XV-14994-00-00) located on the inlet to the carburetor. As I interpret the schematic diagrams of the carburetor - it looks as though the filter fits inside the rubber fuel line where it is clamped to the carburetor. We are ordering all of the parts we need from bikebandit.com and according to them this tiny little filter is not currently available at any of the North American warehouses. I told Jim to go to his local Yamaha dealer to verify this is indeed the case in the event the dealer can actually get us the part quickly. The Service Manager basically told him that we're better off either leaving the filter alone since there is the possibility of a fuel leak if we're not careful about properly reattaching the hose to the carb. Or, we can simply clean and inspect the filter and then reuse it. My question: has anyone out there dealt with a similar situation and are we okay with cleaning and reusing it or should we just wait for the new one to show up and replace it? Or, should we just leave it alone since it is a secondary filter? I assume Yamaha has engineered this NET FILTER into the fuel system as a back-up to the main filter in the event of it failing. Or, maybe to protect the carb if the fuel pump begins to disintegrate? Thanks for any help here - Frank
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Senior Member
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| I have little, itty-bitty fuel screens in the tee-fittings between my carbs where the hoses attach. (95 trident) By budd has the same bike and one of his screens is missing. These things are so obnoxious to get to for service that fooling with them seems like a poor idea. If you are in there and want to inspect them, I can see that. If they look perfect, pristine, and otherwise immaculate, don't touch 'em. The fuel filter/screen in the fuel tank is doing its job. The fuel pump filter is doing its job. Replace the fuel pump filter for your peace of mind if you like. If you are taking an extensive&expensive trip/rally to a difficult place, like alaska; I would add an easily servicable and cheap and large capacity fuel filter upstream of the carbs. Having the bike quit because of a blocked fuel filter can be a small aggravation or a minor disaster depending on circumstances. If you are in there and adding a cheap filter is e-z and promotes harmony of soul, go ahead. The screens at the carb inlets are not worth the aggravation when there is a better way. My bike still has its screens at 95k miles. I can easily inspect them when I have to remove my carb bank to service the air cleaner, grrrrr. They are always immaculate making me wonder why they are there in the first place?
nobody rides half as well as they know how.
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Average Member
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Last Login: 11/25/2008 5:43:42 AM
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I will not bore you with the details, but I did have one get plugged with moisture. It took hours to figure out why I could not get any RPMs out of the engine, it would ideal. If at first you do not succeed read the directions! The part was not in stock, three day to get it. I tried blowing compressed air through it backwards, Gas / water additive to brake up the water and let it dry out, the engine drove a little better, but in the end I had to replace the filter when it came in. When I picked up the part, I was told that is the first one he has ever seen replaced and most people and shops don’t even know it existed. Replace it, don’t replace it, but if you fill your tank from fuel cans in the garage, know it could need to be replaced someday.
Gfurlo
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| Good point, gfurlo. How do you think the water got past the fuel tank screen? Note to all. If you are using fuel containers to fill the bike, it might be best to have a handy funnel with a fuel screen in it for the job. Its one thing to fill the cruddy lawn equipment without a filter. And quite another to pour unfiltered fuel into the bike. I have no problem filling my antique from the garage gas can. The bike's tank filters are good. And the carbs are out where service is no problem. The modern bike's carb bank is a PITA to fool with. And fouling the fuel system on that is to be avoided. Many adventure bikers and rallyists carry paper fuel filters in case they have to buy fuel from passing vehicles or agricultural tanks.
nobody rides half as well as they know how.
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Junior Member
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Last Login: Today @ 8:29:42 AM
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| Hey Guys - thanks for the input. I was leaning towards just leaving the in-line filter alone and now after reading about your perils I am convinced. I forgot about the pick-up screens in the fuel tank acting as filters - I've never really had any problems with them. How would the pick-up screen or an "in the fuel line screen" filter out water? If it's a metallic screen the water would have more of an affinity for it than gas, or is it a surface tension difference...............?
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Senior Member
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| The fuel filter mesh is too fine for water to get thru. Fuel is much thinner than water and passes the screen. A fine screen in the narrow hose would be blocked by as little as a tear drop of water. The water being heavier than fuel would lay up against the screen effectively 'corking' the hose. A very small drop of water would tend to remain spherical allowing some fuel to dribble past. "Moisture" in the fuel line could congeal into a drop ( like the surface tension that you mentioned.) at the filter. In the past, such moisture would form at the bottom of the float bowls where it could easily be drained. Nowadays its better(?) to have water traped in the fuel lines. I harken back to the 50's when iced fuel lines were not unknown. Add-on inline fuel filters have enough room in them that water will settle out and not block the whole thing until a lot of water has accumulated. If I had had Gfurlo's experience, I would have whirled those little demons out of there and across the shop. It would be much better to have water in the easily drained float bowls. If a rider suspects water in the fuel line, open a carb float drain and see if fuel passes and continues to flow for a couple-three ounces. This is the kind of stuff that ranks right in there with Gold Wing air filters and trident air filters. Neither of which can be serviced without taking most of the bike apart. Reeeeal good design...burying a fuel filter(s) where it cant be reached! My only saving grace is that I know that I have such things and can deal with them if forced to. And I fully expect to have one clog at the very precise moment to cause me as much mental grief as possible.
nobody rides half as well as they know how.
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Average Member
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Last Login: 11/25/2008 5:43:42 AM
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I no longer throw stuff. The last time I throw something down on the ground out of anger; it bounced up and hit the passenger side window of my truck. Man do those windows shatter into a million little pieces, I was vacuuming up glass for hours. I do still yell and swear where things go wrong, but I am working on that, but not real hard, you have to have a few vises, or what fun would a person be to hang around with
Gfurlo
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