fuel line routing

[mjpxs11sh]

just read up on posts and learned the "t" line from the left frt petcock outlet is connected to carbs 3,4 and the right frt petcock connects to 1,2? is there someone who can verify, cause it seems the line from the frt petcock to the t is too long on my 81 special w/octy. the OEM diagram at Bike Bandit doesnt show that and i connected mine according to the diagram
http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmot...8246#sch222003

[Owestfall]

it sounds correct, when you refer to the front left and front rt petcocks are you refering to the octy or the tank? If the line to the t is to long it maybe that you have the line that is your primary fuel line from the tank connected to the t you should have two lines from your tank petcocks one will be for priming only and one will be for run and reserve the primeing line should be on the t line the other line goes to the #3or4 stem on the octy you can tell be turning the valve to prime or run-reserve and suck on line or if you have gas in tank it will come out if it comes out on prime and its connected to the t its right may have to just swicth around or cut it check to see if the octy is opening to allow fuel to flow I by passed the octy plugged the prime line and went right to carbs installed an in line shutoff on both lines so I dont use the tank shut off works hard and is old might start to leak could rebuild but just as easy

[mjpxs11sh]

it sounds correct, when you refer to the front left and front rt petcocks are you refering to the octy or the tank? If the line to the t is to long it maybe that you have the line that is your primary fuel line from the tank connected to the t you should have two lines from your tank petcocks one will be for priming only and one will be for run and reserve the primeing line should be on the t line the other line goes to the #3or4 stem on the octy you can tell be turning the valve to prime or run-reserve and suck on line or if you have gas in tank it will come out if it comes out on prime and its connected to the t its right may have to just swicth around or cut it check to see if the octy is opening to allow fuel to flow I by passed the octy plugged the prime line and went right to carbs installed an in line shutoff on both lines so I dont use the tank shut off works hard and is old might start to leak could rebuild but just as easy

hey O. ive got them connected as per the diagram. im ref to the petcock outlet ports. , left petcock, frt outlet to t which is the prime outlet to 1,2 carbs. right petcock, frt outlet to t to 3,4 carbs. octy if fine, and t doesnt go there. my question was do the prime lines go to opposing carbs. i dont remember them routed that way, but the short pri line off the tank seems a klittle too long and is kinking. i could shorten it, but im looking for some experienced advice. thanx 4 ur input
Michael

[DGXSER]

That diagram is correct. First check that your petcocks are on the correct sides, they have an L and an R stamped into them. Left and Right refers when your sitting on the bike looking forward.

If the petcocks are correct, then the front nipple on each petcock goes to the T, the back nipple on each petcock goes to the center two nipples or inlets on the Vacuum valve - OCTY. The outer two outlets or nipples on the OCTY go the T that the front outlets of the petcocks go to. Now you simply hook the third side of the T on each side to that sides fuel T on the carbs. Then hook a vacuum line form the side outlet nipple in the back of the OCTY to the carb boot vacuum nipple for no 2 cylinder.

It seems you were referring to the criss crossing of fuel lines to let the right side petcock feed the left side carbs and vice-versa. Some folks do that when they eliminate the OCTY. I never have myself.

[mjpxs11sh]

to be clear, it can be simply stated as:
are the 2 fuel line t'd at the bottom of the carbs that feeds carbs 1,2 and 2,3
connected to opposing R AND L TANK petcocks so they r crossed under the carbs b4 they connect to the primary line t? it was simple in my mind, but more difficult to explain. anybody with me?

[mjpxs11sh]

ok, thanx DG. i didnt think they were x'd when i took them apart. i guess in actuality, it doesnt really matter. how my L/S petcock PRI fuel line has more slack, i dont know. ive had them off more than ive wanted to, so its not my first time, and theyve been ok. ive adjusted the length of the loop at the t to carb line to make up my slack. seems ok 4 now.

[CatatonicBug]

On the Special, WITH the octy, the lines are NOT crossed. Lines from the left petcock go to carbs 1&2, lines from right petcock go to carbs 3&4. Of course, if you feel like crossing them, I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything. Just no real reason to do so.

[neJeff]

If you take the octy off (which I just did) do you need to cross or can you just hook left side to l1/2, right side to 3/4?

[CatatonicBug]

If you take the octy off (which I just did) do you need to cross or can you just hook left side to l1/2, right side to 3/4?

Crossing the lines is an attempt to prevent kinking. You don't have to, but you can if you like. If they are crossed, it will also require a little more line, which may make things easier when you turn the tank around and connect it backward for syncing the carbs.

[neJeff]

Your right, they are better off crossed to avoid the kinking. Thought maybe there was some other reason. Thanks