Fuel Line Question Please??

[hansgroenewold]

Hello Forum Members,

Upon completing my ride yesterday, I noticed fuel leaking from the bottom of my scooter (150cc TaoTao Lancer).  It looks the fuel line separated from the carburetor.  When I tried to feel for the piece attached to the carburetor, it came off in my hand. I was hoping to get someone's opinion before I do this repair. 

The piece of rubber (Picture 1) tubing, the flat end went on the carburetor and the tapered piece attaches to the metal piece (Picture 2). Is it safe to assume the metal piece was attached to something?  I'm thinking whatever it was attached to came loose and started pulling on the hose causing it to separate from the rubber tube?  If it was attached, the bolt holding it is gone so I'll need to replace it to avoid a repeat of this happening?  Anyone have a source for that?

As always, thanks for any feedback you may be willing to provide.

Best regards,
Hans

[pinkscoot]

The first hose is a breather hose the second is the drain for the Carb bowl. Which hose was leaking?

[hansgroenewold]

Thanks for your reply. Fuel was coming out of the small hole on the pin on the metal piece at a fast rate and emptied the fuel tank. So the breather hose has nothing to do with the other piece then? I saw the breather hose and the metal piece seems like it needed a hose attached to it, so I thought they went together . Would you be willing to tell me where the metal piece goes, please? Thanks for your help.

Best regards,
Hans

[pinkscoot]

The metal piec is a drain that usually attaches someplace through the tab with a hole. On the bottom of the metal piece should be a screw that opens and closes the valve.

[FrankenMech]

The drain hose is for the carb float bowl. It is normally used just to drain bad fuel, possibly water contaminated, out of the carb float bowl. Some people may use it for other purposes such as draining fuel before carb maintenance. The tab is used to secure it with a screw/bolt/zip-tie to keep it from flopping around. Some carbs just have a drain valve built into the float bowl and therefore do not have the hose with the valve at the end. Some carbs with the built in drain valve have a plain rubber hose on the valve, some don't. -Carb setups vary...

Normally the fuel tank has a valve called a petcock in the line either vacuum operated or manual to shut off fuel to the carb when the engine is not operating. This prevents a leaking fuel bowl float valve from filling the engine with fuel while the engine is off.

Put the carb fuel bowl atmospheric vent line back on with the bevel end pointing down.

[hansgroenewold]

Thanks so much for the good info. The drain hose for the carb float bowl was open, explaining the loss of fuel . I'll secure it so it doesn't flop around. Regarding the atmospheric vent line, is it essential to put it back on? I'm assuming it is, otherwise, it wouldn't be there. It looks like it'll take some effort to get to it. It came off when I touched it, and it was already a tight squeeze. I think I can get to it by removing the air cleaner housing. I know the top comes off and I'm hoping the bottom will come off too. Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

Best regards,
Hans

[FrankenMech]

Get used to removing the plastics.

[hansgroenewold]

I got it done. I accessed the top of the carburetor by removing the luggage bucket to put the breather tube back on and I attached the carburetor drain tube to the CVT cover. Thanks again for all your help.

Best regards,
Hans

[GrumpyUnk]

Normally the drain line would be routed towards the ground at the forward end of the CVT case. That makes it accessible(somewhat) for its designed purpose. Routing it atop the case should work but if you want to drain the float bowl for any reason, I would unfasten it from the CVT case, and let it flop towards the ground and a drain pan to collect the fuel.
I do not know for sure, but expect you have a vacuum operated petcock attached to the outlet fitting of your fuel tank. It would have a vacuum line connected to the intake elbow which would open the petcock when the intake has vacuum, cranking or running. It would spring load the outlet valve closed to attempt to prevent a leaking float valve from spreading a tankful of fuel all over the garage or road or storage area...
Otherwise, a mechanical valve can be fitted if desired and the vacuum petcock defeated or replaced.
FWIW.
tom