Fuel line fittings..tap/valve in 8mm

[deckie]

Howdy...i have a couple of above deck s/s cruisetanks i'd like to join up and connect to a single line going thru a racor fuel/water separator...and give me the option of which tank to use and/or both.

Fuel lines are 8mm (5/16ths) but i can only find just one 8mm fuel valve off the shelf that could do the trick..a 3 way brass tap at Whitworths, its close but that still wont let me feed the motor from both tanks at once as far as i can tell...just one at a time.

I can get inline taps for each tank but seem to be for 10mm lines which isnt much use to me.

I'd like to be able to choose one or the other tank, or both at once...is this unrealistic ?...or where could i get simple inline taps for 8mm hose ?

I'd also need some sort of T or Y type join fitting to bring them to a single line into the filter.

Tx for any advice.
Steve.

[tunaticer]

Yrs ago i had a fuel pump with selective inlet ports, 1 running to each tank. I haven't seen them on the market since but then again I have not looked for them either. From memory I think i got it from TJM 4x4 shop at Geebung. gotta be 20 yrs ago now tho.

[deckie]

tx jack...will ring them tomorrow, cant see anything on their website but they might know who/where. Thanx. Makes me think i should try motorbike joints as well.

Hope i explained it alright. I just assumed there would be taps for 8mm fuel lines to outboards but cant seem to find anything except 10mm, and the one i spotted at Whitworths.


Edit: these are the sort of taps i was looking for, means i can run either or both tanks...found only the 10mm at Whitworths and they said were only made in 10mm, now i just check their website and this one is listed as 1/4 inch which is 6mm isnt it ??
Nothing at bla
Now i'm all confused. Might need to ring them up.

[tunaticer]

The 1/4" tap is 1/4 BSP thread, the standard fuel line thread that handles up to 10mm fuel line depending on the fitting you screw into it.
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_nkw=3+way+fuel+valve
http://www.biotuning.co.uk/PartsValves.htm
http://www.jpwmarine.com.au/products...y-1-4-npt.aspx

[sharkcat one]

deckie,-- I personally wouldn't run both tanks at once, If you have one hose longer than the other to the filter , one tank might empty out faster than the other and you will start to suck air. You shouldn't need to run both tanks into a "T" or "Y" connection , have a look on the filter inlets there should be 2 inlets and 2 outlets. just run each tank through a valve that you showed above and into the separate inlets of the filter, then you can turn one on and one off . You can pick up all the fittings from any industrial flexi hose supplier.

Cheers.

[Dicktracey]

Go to a honda Moto dealer ask for a CRF 450 fuel tap with the three spouts.
Standard they will have off, main and reserve, you can pull internals apart and turn valve plate around to give you tank 1, tank 2 & both.
I have used these for years they are rated for fuel and have 8mm hose barbs.
Cheers
Dick
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CRF-...item2a22418e72

[deckie]

dble post deleted.

[deckie]

The 1/4" tap is 1/4 BSP thread, the standard fuel line thread that handles up to 10mm fuel line depending on the fitting you screw into it.
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_nkw=3+way+fuel+valve
http://www.biotuning.co.uk/PartsValves.htm
http://www.jpwmarine.com.au/products...y-1-4-npt.aspx

Ahhh ok...so the 1/4" tap handles say 6mm-10mm lines depending on those tail fittings.
I played around with these taps at the store and couldnt get a tail meant for 8mm to screw into it. Maybe they just ran out i dont know but didnt think to ask and moved on.
The 3 way brass one (like in your ebay website there) is what i assumed is probably the standard thing guys use, and they had fittings that screwed straight in peachy for 8mm fuel lines. The reason i was thinking about 2 individual taps though is the advantage of being able to take fuel from both tanks at same time....but the more i think of it the less i;d probably need it. Was a time i used to think it;d be nice to be able to feed from both, and went chasing that up today coz i have new tanks and lines, but rapidly got out of my depth coz fuel obviously aint my thing.

Will go back and ask for tails to 8mm fuel line and try that 1/4" tap again. You;ve been a brilliant help thanx matey.

I then realised i'd need to join both lines up into a single to feed into the fuel/water separator, so i think i need some sort of brass T or Y connector. Might be simplest to just put one of those 3 way taps in between them coz solves it that issue as well.


That biotuning article u put up is interesting in how it says the concern is always getting air in the lines due to a 3 way tap. Nothing can be easy can it geeeezus...not sure if there's a proper way to disconnect to leave the fuel system in storage if tap is installed, or somehow bleed lines before start up. Starting to sound like too hard basket

Great advice, tx for the feedback Jack. I'm a lot less lost than earlier in the day and now have a clue

[Dicktracey]

Deckie you can also get a 90 deg elbow should be 1/4 " male thread on each end and mount taps straight onto fuel tanks to give the valves support.
Then just use 2 x 1/4 to 5/16 hose barb and a standard T piece to join tanks.
Dick

[deckie]

deckie,-- I personally wouldn't run both tanks at once, If you have one hose longer than the other to the filter , one tank might empty out faster than the other and you will start to suck air. You shouldn't need to run both tanks into a "T" or "Y" connection , have a look on the filter inlets there should be 2 inlets and 2 outlets. just run each tank through a valve that you showed above and into the separate inlets of the filter, then you can turn one on and one off . You can pick up all the fittings from any industrial flexi hose supplier.

Cheers.

thanx sharkcat...sounds like solid advice re the air. Very much helping to make my mind up to leave the idea well alone and just stick two new taps, one on each line...or one of the 3 way brass valves.
The filter is brand new glass bowl type 10 micron racor but in a spot very hard to access the top where the lines go in...i assumed there was only one inlet but never really looked hard at it, so will get right under and have a good look now. The two inlets would definitely fix that connection issue as u say.
Will look at those flexi hose suppliers tomorrow too.
Tx very very much bud. The air issue is starting to sound v important...and i;m completely out of my depth with fuel so tx again.

[deckie]

Go to a honda Moto dealer ask for a CRF 450 fuel tap with the three spouts.
Standard they will have off, main and reserve, you can pull internals apart and turn valve plate around to give you tank 1, tank 2 & both.
I have used these for years they are rated for fuel and have 8mm hose barbs.
Cheers
Dick
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CRF-...item2a22418e72

Deckie you can also get a 90 deg elbow should be 1/4 " male thread on each end and mount taps straight onto fuel tanks to give the valves support.
Then just use 2 x 1/4 to 5/16 hose barb and a standard T piece to join tanks.
Dick

Cheers DT, sounds like i;ve got a lot of searching and learning this week. If i can easy pull that valve apart and switch them around that sounds like a great solution. Is this what you've run before ? and used to draw on two tanks at same time ? Did u ever cop any air in the line issues associated with this type of setup ? Sorry to badger u with more Q's. Was thinking of mounting the taps fairly central fixed to superstructure so i can easy reach under and turn. Those elbow fittings sound damn handy, will look for them too.
Thanx again

[deckie]

psst DT, whilst i;ve got you..would you just epoxy those single line metal valves to the s/s tank ?

Also...and this is possibly a stupid Q but i need to ask...do you need to use something like stag paste to join the tail fittings to these valves ? i.e. like used when putting outlet fittings into a s/s tank ? The screw threads look long and tight on the tails but unsure if need to use stag on these also.

tx again

[Dicktracey]

As previously mentioned if you run any tank dry you will draw air in.
Couple of things to think about if the tanks are removable you could mount Valves straight to tanks via 1/4" 90 deg elbows and then fit quick disconnect tails to other end of valves. Female end then on hose. If tanks stay onboard just hard pipe it with holes tails straight out of valves.
So long as your primer bulb is between Tpiece and filter worst case you may have to reprime system if you run dry.

I use the 3 way valve on desert racing bikes with front and rear tanks but would work fine in a marine application.
Dick

[deckie]

Tx bud, very much appreciate the time u spent explaining.
Getting a bit of a handle on this now.
Cheers
Steve

[Dicktracey]

DecKie just grab a roll of thread tape for sealing all joints, its just teflon cheap as, your tank should have a thread in it already you need to match that up for your 90 deg to suit valve.
Dont panic if the thread in tank is 3/8" "bigger" than 1/4" vlave you can buy a reducing bush.
Any Bias or whitworths should be able to sell you all of it or a Gas fitting supply company will have it all. A pneumatic components supply business should have them as well.
Good luck
Dick