Craftsman Weed Wacker Fuel Line

[lefty]

Hi

Craftsman Weedwacker
Model: 358.791510
Serial: 04196N100067
Carb: Walbro WT628

I'm working on this for a neighbor. The fuel line had deteriorated and I need to replace it. As far as I've been able to tell from research, the proper dimensions for the line are OD 3/16 and ID 3/32. I've tried that line but it won't fit. Way to tight. If I do manage to get it onto the fuel filter or carb it's not without tearing.

Do I have the wrong specs for this? It's important that the fuel line is the correct size as it passes through a hole on the bottom of the tank and creates a water (or gas, of course) tight seal.

Should I warm it a bit first to make it a little more pliable?

A modification idea that popped into my head was to drill the hole in the tank out a bit to accommodate a larger OD but I would never do anything like that without running it by my friends at PPETEN.com.

Thanks

[KE4AVB]

Edited to add picture.

Don't drill out the hole unless you have access to an larger line.

Line should fit. It will be and need to be a tight fit prevent later leaks as the line shrinks.

To install line in the tank cut your fuel to length needed plus 1/2".

Install the fuel filter onto the line.

Now cut an taper of about 30 degrees on the opposite end of fuel line.

Using a needle or similar poke a hole through the taper near the bottom.

Take a length of tag wire and install it on the fuel line using the hole you just poked in.



Feed the tag through the tank fill hole and through the hole where the line needs installing.

Now pull the fuel line into place using the tag wire be carefully not to tear out the tag wire from fuel line. A little fuel mix on the line may help in pulling of the line. Once the line get past the taper you use what you what to pull the line through the rest of the way.

Once the line installed cut off the taper from the line at 90 degrees and install the line onto the carburetor fitting.

[lefty]

Thanks for the response. I actually am pretty strait with the process, I'm just wondering why the recommended line appears to be too small for the fittings. Can't get the line over the fuel filter or carb fitting without great difficulty and tearing.

And there is no wiggle room on the outer diameter without modifying the hole in the tank. I have some other line laying around with a larger outer diameter that would fit the bill on the inner but would require modification to the hole in the tank.

Per parts databases for the model, I suuposively have the correct line but it doesn't seem like it.

Should I heat it up a bit, abandon the recommended line and drill for a new line or am I missing something.

Thanks.

[Deere2me]

I just finished workin on a Craftsman ( Poulan) saw, replaced the fuel line with no problems. Used .080 X .140. So you shouldn't be having problems using the 3/32 X 3/16.
You DONT wanna drill a bigger hole OR heat the tubing! 3/32 should go over the carb & filter with no problems. You might could put a drop of oil on the male fittings. I use needle nose pliers holding the line close to the end to push it on. The tubing shouldn't split or tear, something ain't right. You wanna be using tygon/clear not black rubber.

[lefty]

Thanks Deere. I thought the same but I'm still puzzled. I've attached a photo to show the line with the filter, which I'm told is the original filter. Tell me if I'm just being a big baby and should force this over that shoulder on the filter. Maybe I'm just being to hesitant. I would think so but the tearing made me pause.

Just curious, not being facetious but from a wanting to learn standpoint, why would one not want to drill and use a slightly larger OD line? Thanks so much.

[img][IMG]http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a542/lefty2cox/491537a3-a4fc-4d60-b768-7777fdef9ea3_zps81397179.jpg[/img][/img]

[KE4AVB]

That is the original fuel per the IPL and Image looks the same that Sears sales as the replacement.

That line looks more like .080 X .140 line instead the 3/32 x 3/16. I haven't use any clear line here so I don't know anything about it properties. I use Tygon F-4040 clear yellow line and even .080 ID will fit over a Husqvarna 13/64 fuel filter barb without tearing. If that line is indeed the .080 line it is return line anyway and not the supply line.

From my experience enlarging leads to leaking, Larger lines that are use don't fit the carburetor very well with them leaking later which will require line adapters so can use the small line the carburetor needs. I got a few Homelites here that new tanks used larger lines and don't match up with the carburetor fittings and took me a while to source those plastic fittings.

[bgsengine]

That is the original fuel per the IPL and Image looks the same that Sears sales as the replacement.

That line looks more like .080 X .140 line instead the 3/32 x 3/16. I haven't use any clear line here so I don't know anything about it properties.

OEM Poulan Weedeater lines work best of them all - and last longer, they install relatively easily once you can get them threaded through the holes and something to grip and pull them through.

Not to mention the kits are relatively cheap and plenty of extra line to work with

530-069216 and 530-069247 we keep them in stock the smaller diameter is usually the fuel pickup line, and where used, the larger diameter usually the purge return line - rarely if ever use any Tygon here, other than OEM spec'd sizes (which very often you can't even get in bulk rolls in aftermarket in the exact dimensions as made-to-oem spec.)

[lefty]

Thanks guys. This is weird because the box the line came in clearly states that it's 3/16 OD 3/32 ID. Yet, and I gather KE4AVB agrees, it looks too small.

I appreciate the part number BG but the line has the same specs.

What are your thoughts on the likely hood that the source of the line stinks. I bought the line at a local hardware store, Aubochon Hardware, because my cousin is the manager and I like to keep my business local. Here's a link to the same product by Arnold at Lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_134371-442-490-240-0008_0__?productId=3159195

Has anyone had experience with line being mislabeled?

[bgsengine]

Thanks guys. This is weird because the box the line came in clearly states that it's 3/16 OD 3/32 ID. Yet, and I gather KE4AVB agrees, it looks too small.

I appreciate the part number BG but the line has the same specs.

but, not the same material composition.

The lines I.D are smaller because the barbed fitting on the correct O.E. filter is smaller but the line itself while a tight fit, is also very stretchable, and very *firm* unlike Tygon line have never had any problems installing the OEM line to the OEM filter (or even aftermarket equivalent) , nor to the carburetor or purge pump fittings. Have seen lots of Tygon on equipment that came IN, and it ends up hardening, becoming brittle , and shrinking - even a correctly sized tygon line ends up leaking often in as little as a year... so we just do not use it.

What are your thoughts on the likely hood that the source of the line stinks. I bought the line at a local hardware store, Aubochon Hardware, because my cousin is the manager and I like to keep my business local. Here's a link to the same product by Arnold at Lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_134371-442-490-240-0008_0__?productId=3159195

Has anyone had experience with line being mislabeled?

Entirely possible, but since we use largely OEM lines from OEM suppliers, have never really paid any attention at all to the *dimensions* of the lines... we just get OEM or OEM Spec, and it just plain fits, works, and lasts... saves us a lot of time in the shop, and saves us on a lot of comeback work.

[KE4AVB]

Personally I have had only a handful of returns to line failures using the Tygon but of course I have only been using the Tygon for 5 years. I have seen where the fuel additives have soften it to mush in the fuel tanks and resulting with 2 filters to breaking off when the fuel contained above 10 percent ethanol.

I personally had more trouble with the OEM Homelite grey fuel line that comes with their fuel tanks. Splitting, snapping off at the tank, leaking, or just crumbling are just few of the problems. Now I have only seen a couple trimmers come in with clear lines but lines were in just as bad of shape as the other lines; I thought they were air line sold for aquarium use.