Debugging of my Caterham begins

[mrmustang]

2 hours ago, MV8 said:

Gates "Barricade" fuel hose is essentially a traditional rubber hose with a soft, synthetic liner. No fuel touches the rubber and the rubber provides the reinforcement for the pressure and abrasion resistance.

 

There are different grades of metal braided plastic lines. The cheaper ones build an electrical charge from the fuel flow that can create pin holes from static discharge to the braid. Rigid, dark plastic are typically nylon with carbon added to prevent that and provide uv protection. Steel with barricade hose is best all around and allows the line to be bent to follow curves. It is difficult to reform oem type nylon which still needs a flexible section (similar to barricade hose) at the engine for movement and barricade at transitions to traditional barbs for removable hose versus nylon barbs. I'm not aware of any way to repair braid over white plastic line but there are splices for oem style nylon and other types.

 

I debated on the blue (socketless) Aeroquip line vs their braided steel line and decided that the braided line would give me that extra 10-20% of safety, at least in my mind. Sure a little extra work for the hose ends, but I've been working with this type of line and fittings for close to 40 years as a hobbyist, so what is just a few more hose ends to build. Once they are finished and mounted with the rubber coated adel clamps, I suspect I'll not have to worry about them again. Form and function, along with peace of mind is always a plus in my book, whether it is on the street, or on the track. Although, I find myself less on the track these days with any of my cars, and more on the street.

 

Bill

[Slonie]

On 4/26/2025 at 2:58 AM, MV8 said:

Rigid, dark plastic are typically nylon with carbon added to prevent that and provide uv protection

I suppose this is what my car was plumbed with. Call me naïve but I was surprised as I didn't know fuel hardlines could be made of anything that wasn't metal. Thanks for the roundup. My fuel lines in the engine bay look to mostly be the braided type IIRC. For whatever reason, the rear fuel lines all looked fine except for the one closest to the filter which was horrible. I changed them all as a preventative, but boy was that one gross. Josh at Rocky Mountain Caterham set me up with a new one (since this one also has the banjo bolt)

 

[Slonie]

Oops, double posted again...

Edited April 28 by Slonie
Ye old double post

[mrmustang]

And the survey says, DOA battery, even after a trickle charge to full charge last night

 

Kept meaning to pull and check it, my fault and nobody else to blame but myself.

 

Once I'm back at the car, I'll have to check what the part number is for sizing/fitting purposes and replace it as I'm not going to reinvent the wheel at this point. Hopefully later this morning or early afternoon.

 

 

[mrmustang]

Battery pulled, ETX20L (agm) and tested, bad cell., 9 years old  Now waiting for replacement to get here tomorrow morning.

Edited May 1 by mrmustang
added age of battery

[mrmustang]

New battery in, car fired right up, buttoned up, quick 5 mile ride as the heavy rain started to roll in across the valley. Made it back home with 5 minutes to spare.

 

Still a little hesitation here and there, clutch pedal is softer than before I bled the system, will have to bleed again to see what is going on. Down to less then a 1/4 tank on the gauge that will be my first stop the next sunny day I can get the car back out of the garage. A little more debugging, a good vacuuming out, and a wash and buff, and the car will be ready for the summer.

 

 

[fotsyr]

910 PTFE Lined Aramid Braided Lightweight Racing Hose is the only hose that I would use for a fuel line. It is not affected by ethanol.