Is the plastic coating around the fuel hoses necessary?

[tussey]

Is the plastic coating around the fuel hoses necessary?

I'm going to replace them and I can't find a reason to keep those plastic covers. If you say, "oh it's to protect from heat", then how come no other hoses have them? 

[JamesG]

Yes they are there to protect the fuel line from heat and vibration against the frame and engine. They should just slip off the old line and onto the new one.

[dgyver]

I use spiral wrap instead. Easy to put on even if the hose/line/cable is already installed.
Plus I have rolls of it from when I used to cavedive.

[Queso]

Hrm... sounds like I shoulda kept those when I replaced my fuel lines, eh?? oops...

[Wrecent_Wryder]

6t

[Turd Ferguson]

They are mainly to protect the line from chaffing as JamesG said.

-Turd.

[The Buddha]

Those things do have that small amount of protection. however the stock lines are so shitty ... I swap them for better sheite off ebay. Look for fuel line and there are some made of this material called tygon. Good sheite, and you ahve to chew the end before putting it on ... they are that tough.
Cool.
Srinath.

[The Buddha]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SNOWMOBILE-ARCTIC-CAT-FUEL-LINE-20-of-1-4-id-HOSE-N_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ100450QQihZ006QQitemZ160020782035QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Yea use that ... that same dude has more sheiete. just dont buy ... ewwwwww purple.
Yea ... 
Cool.
Srinath.