Tygon fuel line- same as Oregon?

[UncleS2]

The fuel line/gas tank juction(no grommet, just tubing through a hole) on the Homelite leaf blower has been leaking, so after cleaning off the front porch, carport, & driveway with it today I decided to replace that section of fuel line. I called the Hobby Shop in Longview, 30+ miles away, & he said he had Tygon tubing. I thought before driving all that way I'd check the small engine/outdoor power shop within 3 miles of home.

He had some translucent bright yellow tubing, very flexible, labeled "oregon .117 x .211", said it was same as Tygon. Also said that while it's good stuff, it wouldn't last forever, & to plan to replace it in ~1 1/2 to 2 yrs.

Machine is 2 to 3 yrs old, I think, & the original tubing is opaque gray for this section. The rest of the tubing is black.

So- should I have driven 60+ miles, burned over $5 in gas to get the hobby shop Tygon, or is the Oregon brand tubing essentially the same?

And: Thanks to TxGreaseMonkey for his posts on Tygon fuel line.

If he hadn't posted I'd have never known about it.

 

[punisher]

I have the Oregon tubing on my weedwacker. 3 years and so far so good. The lady at the lawnmower shop cut and installed it for $12 if I recall. The original tubing/weedwacker (also translucent yellow) sat for 5 years, unopened in the box, as my dad was stubborn (long story). That original fuel line on the weedwacker literally disintegrated 6 months after I opened up the box and used it.

 

[UncleS2]

Thanks, Punisher. 3 yrs sounds good, I could live with 3 yrs.

I bought 2 ft for $2, installed it myself, & still have about 18" left. That should be enough to replace the rest of the tubing on both the blower & the Stihl trimmer- when they finally start leaking.

 

[TxGreaseMonkey]

The best deal I found on Tygon Fuel and Oil Tubing was at http://www.pspmfg.com/FuelLine.html Super nice people! If you like to work on this type of equipment a lot, like I do, and keep them for years, then I suggest buying a set of Bondhaus (#74637) hex ball screwdrivers and set of Torx (Star) drivers. You can get a great set of 5 Torx screwdrivers from Advance Auto Parts for $5.48. What a deal!

[ May 27, 2006, 11:38 AM: Message edited by: TxGreaseMonkey ]

 

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Typically, fuel lines on these little 2-cycle engines work as follows. When you press the primer bulb, fuel is drawn through one line into the carburetor. You can press it as many times as you want, because any excess fuel is returned to the tank through the other line. This line has a "stop", with a hole in it, so it can't be pulled out. Both lines are designed to be interference fits, so that fuel doesn't leak. If you need to change the lines to slightly larger outside diameter tubing, just bore a slightly larger hole in the tank, making sure it's still an interference fit. My experience with yellow Tygon Fuel and Oil Tubing is that it stays pliable for years and prevents fuel from leaking. It's in a class by itself over vinyl tubing.