Advice RE: fuel filters

[dchrist]

can anyone tell me the difference in performance for regular vs. high capacity fuel filters?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2002783/showCustom-0/p-2002783/N-111+10211+600014694/c-10111

thanks,

d

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I would assume the high capacity would flow more fuel per minute. Helping prevent nasty things like fuel starvation. Just a guess though.

[CirclesCenter]

Most fuel filter flow WAY more than enough for the GS.

Remember you're not feeding 150 horses, if you're lucky you're feeding like 50 (at the crank)

[dchrist]

I see..... so because of the horse power, the regular one is fine. yes?

[Ed89]

I remember there is a thread mentioning the fuel pump factor.  It is true that most cars require higher fuel flow rate than the GS, but most cars also have fuel pumps that assist in the high flow rates.  The GS relies only on gravity.  Getting the higher flow rate filter is probably better, but then other factors come into considerations.  For example, there is very little room to fit a decent size filter between the petcock and the carb.
Also, the filter is a potential reservior of trapped air (vaporized fuel?), which is a probably contributing factor to fuel starvation.  Fuel starvation is annoying and potentially dangerous.  To avoid this potential fuel starvation issue, you can mount the filter between the tank and the (frame) petcock.  But then you need two filters, one for the main line and one for the reserve line.  Since the main line gets used 95% of the time (if you run the bike to reserve and fill up as soon as possible after that), maybe just the filter on the mainline is sufficient.  But consider that the feed in the tank for the reserve is lower, there is potentially more crap coming through the reserve line than the main line, etc., etc. 

I used to have fuel filter, but it was much more trouble than it is worth.  I took it off and couldn't have been happier.  Personally I think the fuel filter is overated in its importance here on the gsboard.  But take that with a pinch of salt since I am no master of GS much less motorcycles in general.

Cheers,
e.