Honda fuel pipe spring wrap 17531-377-000 what's its purpose?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I was looking at the above part described as a "Heat Shield" for the fuel pipe - it got me thinking as to how it worked - being steel would it not attract the heat due to it's conductivity?
Mine is missing it got me thinking was this originally designed for the old clear plastic type fuel pipe to stop it going out of shape?
Is there a SS alternative on the market that anyone has used?

[JezzaPeach]

Hi if it wasn’t described as a heat shield I would have guessed it’s to protect the pipe from rubbing on the top of #1 carb, albeit a low risk in the case of the modern pipe material.

[sye]

The heat trapped in the coil will dissipate very quickly due to it's design rather than be absorbed by the dense rubber underneath.

[Bryanj]

Honda NEVER used the crappy clear plastic fuel pipe from the factory

[Lobo]

My guess would be to minimise any chance of Vapour Lock which is basically heat from a shut-down engine vaporising fuel in the lines causing subsequent starting problems. Fairly well understood within the light aviation fraternity.

An explanation here:

https://www.carparts.com/blog/vapor-lock-symptoms-causes-and-solutions/

Notably, towards the end of the explanation it says… “You might also consider covering the fuel lines and the carburetor in heat shields”, which probably explains the spring shield.