Hawk Fuel Filter
 

I went to ride my Hawk this morning to find ants all over the place. Over night they had decided to live in the backpack I keep strapped to the back seat. I looked in the tank and didn't see anything but just in case (and I had planned to anyway at some point) I'm putting on a fuel filter.

Any recommendations or just anything will do?

I ran some clear 3/16ths fuel line and a small universal fuel filter from the parts store with 1/4" fittings. The fuel line was a little tight going on the filter, but it works and seals well. The main thing to look out for is that the fuel filter isn't too long, because the run of fuel line from the tank to the carb isn't very long and requires 90 degree bends. Most small engine/lawnmower type filters will work well though, either 3/16ths or 1/4.

EDIT: If I had to do it again, and probably for next season, I would run a filter more like this one as it suits the space available better than a more tranditional "canister" style filter.
https://www.amazon.com/Visu-Filter-U.../dp/B00J4ZAQP6

Thank you for the recommendation Megadan, I was actually wondering how I was going to fit a traditional filter in there. This one costs quite a bit more but I figure it would be worth it rather than futzing around trying to fit a filter that is too big.

I saw an opaque one for a lawn mower, but I like the clear one you found. Mostly so I can see if any ants are in there... Ants are terrible in Oklahoma this year.

Yeah, no problem. I went through a couple different styles before I found one small enough to work. It's still a more traditional looking unit, but it works...barely.

You don't have to buy the one I linked. That was simply the first one I found that I wanted to use as an example lol.

Only word of advice, don't try to use traditional automotive fuel line as it will be too thick and won't go on the carb side. Stick to lawn and garden/small engine fuel line. It's not under pressure, so it doesn't need to be thick at all.

As long as the one in the tank is still in good shape, I'm not going to bother with an inline one.

Just make sure the filter is good for gravity flow. A lot of auto filters won't flow fuel fast enough for a motorcycle. Most small engine fliters are OK. Be aware tho that some small engine filters are nothing more than a screen inside a plastic housing.

Briggs and Stratton has these, at least on the twins. I don't know what is in it, but it does the job...ARH

Most of the B&S ones that I have dealt with have brass screen inside of them. The bigger engines that have a vacuum type fuel pump use a paper element. These filters are big and usually round and look like a small metal or plastic can. These can be used in a gravity flow set up where the tank is 12 inches vertically high or higher above the carb. I'm not sure the distance between the petcock and carb inlet on china bikes. Probable 3 or 4 inches at best. Anyway, I'm getting off topic here. :)

My B&S engine is a horizontally opposed twin with a vacuum fuel pump, and has the small fuel filter. I've never found sediment in the float bowl, so that is why I think the small filter works...ARH

They do work. If that filter is like the original, it may be an actual paper element in it.

This style is a brass screen filter.
http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/02...09_500X500.jpg

This style is a paper element style that is for use with a vaccumfuel pump.

http://www.partsimple.com/media/cata...ton_691035.jpg

Yeah, mine is like the little red one. So those aren't supposed to be used on 18 HP Briggs opposed twins?...ARH

Not exactly :p this type also the most universal among mainland China. Genuine Suzi https://www.bike-parts-suz.com/micro...image=Chercher is just <$2 (the paper element <$1)

If you ask a factory trained tech, he'll have a hiss fit over the small red filters being used instead of a paper element filter with a fuel pump. It's possible for very fine debris to be pumped through the screen and into the carb jets. Where a gravity feed system doesn't push fuel through the carb, so any debris will usually settle in the bottom of the carb bowl. If your fuel container is clean, and your fuel tank is clean, you may never have problem with just the little round filters. My ride on mower didn't come with a filter from the fractory. I added one after I had carb problems. It made it about five years with no problems before I installed the filter. My mower dosen't have a fuel pump. It's gravity feed system.

umm..... no

Only on injection systems is fuel pumped through "jets".

I couldn't find the image at the site above. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?...ARH