Fuel lines.....rubber or metal?
 

I'm working on a couple tractors (a129 and a 149) and the fuel lines are cracked and leaking. I've seen metal lines on some tractors and i really like the look. Is the any advantages to metal lines? Will they crack or leak do to engine vibrations? What different types of metal are used? I've seen some that look like brass and i really like those. Any ideas or comments will help...

Being a HVAC/R Technician, and having run thousands of feet of piping, and having all the tools, I would chose good quality Rubber Hose for my gas lines.

antique cars used copper fuel line and short pieces of rubber hose or flared ends for connections. steel line is what most cars and trucks use ,but stainless is being used alot more today. rubber hose is probably the cheaper and easier way to go. stainless would be the most expensive and difficult to use,copper bends easily but kinks easy . if you have never bent steel brake or fuel lines,and lack the special tools to do so i suggest sticking with rubber

If you choose to use steel line, the common Brake/Fuel line is what is plentiful.
I noticed Auto zone is using a dark coated line now, it appears to be a polymer coated instead of galvanized/zinc.
Prolly because of environmental reasons.
I find a ball bat works well in a vice for making various radius, just pull the line tightly against the bat, as you are bending it.
It makes those fancy flex coils that are usually used near the master cylinder on vehicles.
I have various size tube benders but they are pricey for a person who uses them infrequently.:beerchug:

There is no need to use metal lines for the Cub Cadets you listed, rodderbeck. They have a gravity feed fuel supply to the carburetor. I say, keep it simple and use rubber fuel hose.

I would not use steel lines on a wide frame. The tank is attached to the tractor.
Narrow frames had a steel line but their tank was attached to the engine.
Wide frame with steel would need somewhere to flex. That's just my opinion

I definitely agree with keeping it simple. I was wondering about the vibrations causing problems. I also think IH knew what they were doing when they built these tractors and used rubber for a reason. It doesn't need to be over engineered. Thanks guys for your comments. :beerchug: