[90 Shillings]

Last Friday I crashed my bike (K2). I smelled gas, then boom went down. When I caught up to the bike which was lying 50 feet away, gas was gushing out from under the tank. When I got it home the fuel line was off the intake and turning the key sent gas everywhere. I figure this caused my rear tire to lose traction around a turn.

Here's my question: As I lay in bed with road rash unable to sleep, I realized the last time I rode it was to go and have the chain and sprockets replaced. The mechanic yanked on the clutch cable quite a bit to get the sprocket cover back on. It snakes right up by the fuel line. Is it possible he could have pulled the fuel line loose and 100 miles later it came off?

PS these are not locking fuel lines, I redid them about 2,000 miles ago with hose and clamps. Haven't had any problems until now. I'm trying to see if I have any leg to stand on to approach the mechanic about fixing my bike. Needless to say, I had liability only.

Appreciate any opinions.

Road Rash :furious:

 

[greywolf]

You replaced the locking fittings and had a problem as a result. This one is on you.

 

[Wess23]

Is it possible he pulled the fuel line and it losened a little, sure, anything is possible, and that's going to be your problem. I don't see how you are going to prove your theory is the only possible scenerio that caused the fuel line to come off, and then on top of that carry it foward to be the proximate cause of the accident. Sorry to hear of your get off BTW.

 

[richw]

Sorry about your accident

Heal up, move on you own this one, even if you don't this mod would so confuse the issue

Perhaps the dealer will "help" when you tell him your story and ask

 

[HCorn]

I think you're out of luck.

When you put the hose back on, how tight was it?

I'm with GW in thinking you were probably the guilty party more so than the mechanic, but there's really no way to know. But I can't imagine how much pulling he would have to do to pull off a hose with a properly tightened clamp. - Much less doing it in such a way that a failure wouldn't be immediately apparent.

Hope you heel up quickly.

 

[scott1000]

Yeah that stinks you had an accident and messed up yoursekf & ride. However, I don't think you can argue its the dealer/mechanic's fault since the lines were altered. At least you'll heal in time and there's always other plenty of other parts/bikes in the sea..

 

[90 Shillings]

I tightened the crap out of the hose and it was fine for 2K miles. This happened on my first ride after they worked on it. I saw the guy yank on the clutch cable, rocking the bike, to get the sprocket cover back in. He finally did what he should have done and unbolted it and pulled it out. This cable runs around the fuel line and up to the lever.

Not asking for the world here, I'm already covering all my med bills. I just know they are part at fault or it wouldn't have come off.

 

[tmcgee]

Whomever is at fault, you have no chance at proving anything. Heal up and move on.

 

[Garbage Marc]

The clutch line runs along the frame and is held in place there so it shouldn't be anywhere near the fuel line sounds like your fix just gave out to me.

 

[90 Shillings]

Yeah that stinks you had an accident and messed up yoursekf & ride. However, I don't think you can argue its the dealer/mechanic's fault since the lines were altered. At least you'll heal in time and there's always other plenty of other parts/bikes in the sea..

About that...can you recommend an affordable route? So far it's left fairing, foot pedal, kickstand, rear pedal, handlebar, grip, clutch lever and something broke off the front axle.

 

[richw]

Did you use the special "high pressure" fuel injection hose clamps and NOT regular screw type?

 

[MikeB]

PS these are not locking fuel lines, I redid them about 2,000 miles ago with hose and clamps.

Would you care to share with us why you did that?

 

[kenneth_moore]

Would you care to share with us why you did that?

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing as I read the thread. I've read other threads where guys have broken the connector removing and replacing the tank, and I gather the parts are expensive.

Sometimes the "cheap" fix is not...

 

[Joe S.]

I tightened the crap out of the hose and it was fine for 2K miles. This happened on my first ride after they worked on it. I saw the guy yank on the clutch cable, rocking the bike, to get the sprocket cover back in. He finally did what he should have done and unbolted it and pulled it out. This cable runs around the fuel line and up to the lever.

Not asking for the world here, I'm already covering all my med bills. I just know they are part at fault or it wouldn't have come off.

I think you have a reason to wonder but like the others have said, you have no way to prove anything. 'Knowing' something and proving it are too very different things.
As hard as it is to do sometimes you just have to let it go and move on. Certainly not worth dwelling on.

 

[kenneth_moore]

I saw the guy yank on the clutch cable, rocking the bike, to get the sprocket cover back in. He finally did what he should have done and unbolted it and pulled it out. .

This is why most shops don't let customer watch. Or why Dads should never, ever be allowed in the room when their wife is having a baby.

 

[Jarvis]

There is a reason that fuel injection uses the locking type lines.

A fuel line with a screw type clamp will loose up over time due to plastic deformation of the fuel line. You can go back in and tighten them up and they will gradually loosen up again.

This is not too big of a concern with carbs since the fuel is generally at a very low pressure and will not cause the hose to release from the fitting. But FI is a whole other beast.

It is likely your mod is at fault and not the mechanic.

 

[90 Shillings]

Would you care to share with us why you did that?

External filter mod.

 

[90 Shillings]

rude post deleted

Mods are cool with this?

Not cool. Use the

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[DougInKY]

I tightened the crap out of the hose and it was fine for 2K miles. This happened on my first ride after they worked on it. I saw the guy yank on the clutch cable, rocking the bike, to get the sprocket cover back in. He finally did what he should have done and unbolted it and pulled it out. This cable runs around the fuel line and up to the lever.

Not asking for the world here, I'm already covering all my med bills. I just know they are part at fault or it wouldn't have come off.

As G/W said, you modified the lines. It is your baby. Sorry...

 

[ozart]

Last edited by greywolf; 11-27-2012 at 07:18 PM. Reason: Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip, August 11, 2012 on GoComics.com

*sigh* oh well ...