How the Fuel Line Comes Off and Goes Back On — 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY

Shop parts for a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY Dirt Bike.

Rubber fuel hose is among the cheapest parts on a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY and one of the few that can end a ride outright. It hardens, cracks, and weeps fuel where you cannot see it, eventually either starving the engine or putting gasoline somewhere it should never be. Swapping it needs no specialty tools and no shop time.

Understand the 300 SEF FACTORY Fuel Delivery First

The 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY is fuel-injected, so the tank feeds a pressurized line rather than a gravity-fed one. Look for the absence of a petcock underneath and an electrical connector at the pump assembly. On this 300 SEF FACTORY, the hose to the throttle body may use a locking quick-connect with a tab or collar you depress, instead of a hose clamp.

Symptoms Worth Catching Early

Catching a bad line early is mostly about paying attention during routine checks. On a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY, these signals should send you looking at the hose.

  • Wet spots on the frame or cases. Fuel evaporates fast, so look for residue rather than liquid.
  • Fuel odor that will not clear. A leak too small to see is still large enough to smell.
  • Hairline splits near the clamps. The clamped section takes the most stress and cracks first.
  • Hose that holds its bend. If the line refuses to straighten, the rubber has hardened.
  • Symptoms resembling a fueling fault. Bogging on hills or running lean with a full tank.

Getting Set Up Before You Start

This is a low-cost job, and most of the preparation is about containing fuel rather than turning wrenches.

  • Replacement fuel line rated for injection pressure and sized for your 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY. Low-pressure carburetor hose is not a substitute.
  • Line-clamping pliers. With no petcock on the 300 SEF FACTORY, these are how you stop the tank siphoning while the line is open.
  • New clamps or the correct quick-connect fitting, depending on your connections. Some injected models need no clamp at all.
  • Nitrile gloves and eye protection. Pressurized fuel can spray when a connector releases.
  • A fuel-safe drain container and a funnel.
  • Shop rags positioned at the fitting before you break it loose.

Take the fuel handling seriously. Vapor sinks and spreads, so ventilation matters more than most people assume — work outside or with the door up, and kill any appliance with a standing pilot flame. Keep the drain container closed between pours and wait for the engine to cool.

Why Rubber Fuel Hose Gives Up

Rubber fuel line fails for reasons that have little to do with how hard you ride. Age drives it: the plasticizers keeping the hose flexible slowly migrate out, and pliable rubber turns stiff and glassy, so a small flex — bolting the tank down, rocking the bike onto a stand — opens a hairline crack. Dry, hot storage accelerates that, pulling volatiles out faster than a temperate garage would. Ethanol-blended pump fuel left sitting in the hose adds a second mechanism, attacking the inner wall and leaving gum that can flake into the fuel path on a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY.

Working the Original Hose Free

With no petcock on the 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY, the shutoff is mechanical: clamp the fuel line closed with line-clamping pliers upstream of the fitting you plan to open. That isolates the tank and keeps it from siphoning once the connection is broken.

Relieve the pressure before separating anything. Let the bike cool, then wrap a rag around the fitting and release it slowly so residual pressure vents into the rag rather than across the engine. Keep your catch container underneath.

Release the fitting according to type. A quick-connect coupler has a tab, collar, or wire clip that must be depressed or slid back before it will separate; it comes apart with a squeeze and a straight pull, never with a screwdriver. A clamped barb fitting on the 300 SEF FACTORY works like any other — retract the clamp, twist to break the seal, and pull the hose free. If the rubber has hardened onto the fitting, cut it off rather than levering against a throttle body inlet.

Installing the Replacement Hose

Match the new hose to the old for length and make sure it is rated for injection pressure. Standard low-pressure carburetor line will not survive on a fuel-injected 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY. Cut both ends square so they seat cleanly.

Begin with the connection nearest the tank. A quick-connect fitting goes together with firm, straight pressure until you feel it lock, and the retaining clip should return to its seated position; tug on it afterward to confirm. No clamp is needed there. A conventional barb needs the hose pushed past the full raised section before a clamp goes over it.

Skip any lubricant on the fittings. Grease and oil compromise the seal and can foul a locking coupler, and neither belongs near the fuel path. Once both ends are joined, follow the line from tank to throttle body on the 300 SEF FACTORY, checking clearance from the exhaust and for any kink that would restrict flow.

Confirming It Is Sealed

Release the line-clamping pliers and let the system pressurize. On an injected 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY, cycling the ignition on for a few seconds runs the pump and pressurizes the circuit without starting the engine — do that, then inspect both joints closely. Pressure finds a marginal connection far faster than gravity.

Start the engine and check again warm. Watch quick-connect fittings especially: a coupler seated only partially can hold briefly and then let go, so confirm the lock is fully engaged and the joint is dry. Dampness means remaking the connection rather than tightening something never designed to be tightened.

A note for the 300 SEF FACTORY: the fuel filter on injected models is usually part of the in-tank pump assembly rather than an inline part on the visible hose, so there is nothing to change out on the line you just replaced. Dispose of drained fuel properly and reinspect after the first ride. For more general grounding in fuel line care and the storage habits that shorten hose life, our general guide to replacing a dirt bike fuel line goes further.

Related Shopping Categories

Shop Fuel Lines for a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY Dirt Bike.

Shop Fuel Line Clamps for a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY Dirt Bike.

Shop Petcocks for a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY Dirt Bike.

Shop Fuel Filters for a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY Dirt Bike.

Shop Fuel Stabilizer for a 2018 Sherco 300 SEF FACTORY Dirt Bike.

Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your dirt bike's official owner's manual. Always refer to your manufacturer's documentation for model-specific instructions, torque specifications, safety procedures, and maintenance requirements. If you are unsure or inexperienced, consider seeking assistance from a qualified mechanic or technician.