From tank to carb: fuel lines, rubber hoses, clamps and more

Not that there was no rubber available at the beginning of the 20th century. But the types of rubber available at that time were not petrol-resistant, and so the first petrol pipes for Harley-Davidson singles and twins were bent out of pipe material. To prevent the lines from prematurely succumbing to vibrations and material fatigue, they were made with expansion spirals and wide loops.

At the end of the 1960s, Harley-Davidson also started using the first rubber fuel lines. Today, rubber and PVC lines with and without fabric or steel sheathing, together with a wide range of different hose clamps, allow for much more variable hosing of tanks and carburetors.

My Harley has fuel injection. Can I buy bulk fuel line from W&W?

Fuel injection systems on Harleys operate at pressures of 55–61 psi (4 bar ±0.2). W&W lines are designed for carburetors only. Even the armored rubber lines marked SAE 30R7 are only good for about 50 psi.