Hoses under the gas tank....

[sawdustar]

I had great success in getting the O-rings replaced on the intakes last night. What I did find is that many of the hoses under the tank appear to be rotting. What all is involved in getting all the hoses under the gas tank replaced? I'll have to do this myself...so what kind of pain will this be?

Thanks to all of you for advice and tips on repairs so far. Much appreciate it. 

[salty1]

Glad to hear the intake Oring job went well. What hoses are you referring to? I thought you had desmogged your bike.? If you haven't, are you referring to the vacuum tubing? If you have, then the only other "hoses", other than gas lines,  would be coolant related but most of that in this area is metal. Maybe the tubing from the air filter box?  ??? Do you still have a nOEM petcock, the vacuum line from the petcock to the intake on #6?  Are we having fun yet? 

[Joe Hummer]

The answer to this varies depending on if your bike has been desmogged or not and if you have the stock petcock or not.  It isn't necessary to desmog your big but it could alleviate issues in the future.  Personally, I haven't done it and have 121k miles on my bike.  But that isn't what you asked about.

I use 5/32 vacuum/washer fluid hose I get in bulk from my local parts store.  you don't need more than 6 ft of the stuff (I recommend 6 ft unless you cut something short...don't ask...) and you will have some left over for the next time you need it.  You won't be able to use the stock clamps (hose O.D. is too big)...and that is ok.  The service is vacuum so my nature, the hoses are held in place.   And the fit on the nipples is pretty tight.

If you bike has been desmogged...you will only have a line from the #6 intake to the petcock (granted your bike still has the stock petcock).  You don't need to remove the tank for this but you do need to take loose the petcock extension arm (again, if you have the stock petcock).  take the hose loose from both ends, hold it up against the new hose, and cut to length.  

If you bike hasn't been desmogged, then you will also have lines coming off of the #3 and #5 intakes.  These meet together in the middle to a tee and then go up to the pair valve.  For this install...you will need to take the tank off the bike and remove the air cleaner box...to gain access to everything under there.  Seems a lot of trouble for just one home but it is the process.  Some may be able to do it without removing everything, I can't.  Again...take the hoses and measure them to the new hose and cut.  

You will also want to replace the caps on the other intakes.  If your hoses are bad...good chance your caps are bad too.  I recommend going with these guys:  http://redeye.ecrater.com/p/3301919/three-vacuum-caps-honda-valkyrie .  Good parts at a good price and good service.  

Hope this all helps.  

Joe

[salty1]

+1    http://redeye.ecrater.com/p/8464393/shiny-desmog-kit-chrome-honda

[hubcapsc]

I think it is real hard to replace those rotted hoses.

I found some of mine to be rotted a few years ago, and spent
a while reaching in there and replacing a few of them, but not all
of them.

More recently, I had my intake runners off to replace the
O-rings... I realized I better change out the rest of the vacuum hoses
at the same time, because they're easy to reach with the intake runners
off.

It was still hard to see and reach the main gas line, though.

More recently I was reviewing some old pictures, and found
one from when I was going through my bike when I first
got it. The gas tank was off, the airbox was off and the intake
runners were off. Every gas line and vacuum line was in plain sight
and reachable 

-Mike

[sawdustar]

Thanks guys......

As best I know it....the bike has NOT been desmogged (whatever that means). I found hoses going from 3 of the intakes.....clutch side - front wheel towards seat - #2 & 3 with a cap on #1....front brake side - front wheel towards seat - #2 only with caps on #1 & #3.

If the position count goes:
1 2
3 4
5 6

Then the hoses would be on 3, 4, & 5. Those hoses are all but rotted near each nipple.

If I need to desmog my bike, then I need to know what it is for and what all is involved. I'm also thinking about polishing the inside of my intakes in hopes of improving my fuel mileage.

[salty1]

Ok, those vacuum lines are probably in need of replacement or removal when you would do a desmog. I would do the latter with the help of the redeye kit shown above. You will need to remove your tank and the airbox. Then the fun begins removing all that PAIR valve system and all of the vacuum lines except the one between #6 and the petcock. A little reading and using the search engine will get you ready for the job. 

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/smog.htm

[hubcapsc]

Then the hoses would be on 3, 4, & 5. Those hoses are all but rotted near each nipple.

If I need to desmog my bike, then I need to know what it is for and what all is involved. I'm also thinking about polishing the inside of my intakes in hopes of improving my fuel mileage.

I'm not sure you got the order right, but a bunch of hoses on your intake runners shows that you're
not desmogged, and the rotted lines you found were vacuum lines... if you haven't ridden your
bike yet, it probably runs better now that you replaced the lines

There's some great info on desmogging, you can search the tech board and a real good
article in shoptalk. If you're desmogged, then you have almost no vacuum lines, and much
less chance of vacuum leak. My personal opinion is that you should not jump into a
desmog right away... I helped Stanley Steamer replace his vacuum lines once, and we
didn't think it was hard... made me kind of wish my bike wasn't desmogged.

If you're desmogged, there's still lines to worry about... all the drain lines from the carbs and
the vacuum line from the petcock to #6 (that's the rear one on the left). Having rotted drain
lines (as I did) doesn't cause your bike to run worse.

If you do desmog, find and use good plugs on all the intake runner nipples. I don't think much
of the thin vinyl vacuum plugs you can get from the auto parts stores. I got new OEM plugs
for each runner. Some people cut off an inch or so of vacuum line, plug up one end
with a small bolt, and use that to good results.

-Mike

[pancho]

Hey sawduster,,  the cylinder numbering goes this way....


   2  1
   4  3
   6  5

just to keep things on the same page..

And, if you are going to be replacing those hoses, dint forget to replace the rubber caps on the intake nipples as was mentioned above as they will be shot too and cause vacuum leaks.

[sawdustar]

Hey sawduster,,  the cylinder numbering goes this way....


   2  1
   4  3
   6  5

just to keep things on the same page..

And, if you are going to be replacing those hoses, dint forget to replace the rubber caps on the intake nipples as was mentioned above as they will be shot too and cause vacuum leaks.

The I have vacuum hoses on 4, 3, & 6.
If "desmogging" will help me on down the road and I have to remove most of the stuff anyway, then I'd rather do it all at once and call it done.

[pancho]

I personally see no reason for "desmogging",, If you want to get rid of the vacuum hoses that is OK, you can get rid of them (the ones from 3 &4), remove the pair valve, and connect the two reed valve assemblies together with a piece of automotive hot water hose and leave the rest of the equipment in place. It is up to you,, many remove all the pieces for some reason.....  I think just to get rid of stuff..??

The vacuum hose on #6 you need to run the OEM petcock,,,,  probably getting about time to replace the rubber pieces in it also,, or at least shut it off when the bike is not running.

[salty1]

...
If "desmogging" will help me on down the road and I have to remove most of the stuff anyway, then I'd rather do it all at once and call it done.

Your call, but I've desmogged both of my Valks to eliminate other problems down the road. I also installed a Dan Marc valve at that time. I replaced my OEM petcock and the vacuum line between it and #6. I used the shiny desmog kit that redeye sells and bought a few more intake vacuum caps. So it is all good stuff and I'm quite happy with the outcome. 

[97BLKVALK]

 I recommend going with these guys:  http://redeye.ecrater.com/p/3301919/three-vacuum-caps-honda-valkyrie .  Good parts at a good price and good service.

   On Red Eye!

Michael

[sawdustar]

Hey sawduster,,  the cylinder numbering goes this way....


   2  1
   4  3
   6  5

just to keep things on the same page..

And, if you are going to be replacing those hoses, dint forget to replace the rubber caps on the intake nipples as was mentioned above as they will be shot too and cause vacuum leaks.

The I have vacuum hoses on 4, 3, & 6.
If "desmogging" will help me on down the road and I have to remove most of the stuff anyway, then I'd rather do it all at once and call it done.

I can show you how to do it for $4.

For $4..?????  Tell me more.!!!

[al v]

The general consensus on the board seems to be that you do not want to smooth out your intakes.