fuel line clamps - Recommendations?

[n4yhd]

What is the best clamp to use? Are zip ties acceptable? Worm clamps, pinch clamps?

thanks

93 650 Waverunner III and 95 700 Waverunner III, still working great......

[K447]

Best hose clamps?

Oetiker gapless/stepless ear clamps.

Must be sized to fit the OD of the installed fuel hose.

[Cutlass]

I use nice tight zip ties on fuel lines.

[Jonesyfxr]

[K447]

Those look like repackaged Oetiker stepless/gapless hose clamps.

[Myself]

It depends on the fuel line being used. If you're using the colored/translucent poly line, then 4" zip ties will be fine. If you're using a thick walled, stiff, marine grade fuel hose....then you need ss hose clamps, either worm gear OR oetiker style. You could even use brass or stainless safety wire on any of the above.

[Pacer]

Stainless grip wire!! I’ve never used it as a hose clamp, but I remember seeing people use it back in the day and they claimed it was easy and held tight.

[wmazz]

Pink zip ties drive me crazy!

I thought it was important that customers could not tell if I had just worked
on their ski. So I used new Oetiker clamps when I removed one. I used Yamaha
zip ties when I replaced a fuel filter, or carb work on a Yamaha. I don't remember
if Kawasaki sold zip ties or not.

My point is that I judge a persons work as soon as the hood comes off, and if
there is aftermarket fuel lines with ugly hose clamps, or colored zip ties. Uck!!

If possible I use permanent clamps on hoses (including water) that are rarely removed,
and (black or white) zip ties that are removed often.


Bill M.

[K447]

...

I thought it was important that customers could not tell if I had just worked
on their ski. ...

Bill M.

Why would that be important?

If the work is properly done and perhaps better than OEM (say, Oetiker clamps instead of zip ties or gear clamps), what is the downside?

OEM factory might have been the minimum the factory thought would suffice. Sometimes it turns out the factory method was not really that good, hence the spread of commonly applied upgrades and improvements over time. If the factory method or material choice was truly terrible, service bulletins or even perhaps actual recall may be necessary.

[steve45]

Stainless grip wire!! I’ve never used it as a hose clamp, but I remember seeing people use it back in the day and they claimed it was easy and held tight.

As an airplane owner, I have a fondness for safety wire (it is NEVER used to secure hoses on airplanes BTW). I've used stainless safety wire for years to secure oil lines on PWCs. I've used it on fuel lines, too, but prefer Oetiker clamps.