Leakingg gas. Help!!!

[lorenc]

81 1100SH I need you guys experience here. I changed the petcock washer (rubber thing with 4 holes) on the left side last week. It was very easy to do so I also took out the Air cleaner unit. when I put the ari cleaner back in, it just slipped right into place. Now I have a puddle of gas on the floor but the petcocks are both turned off. Any Ideas?

[Snow]

Sounds like you didn't get the rubber disc orientated correctly and also have a float/float valve problem in your carbs. Check your oil level and also see if you can tell if it smells of gas...it probably does now...and gas makes a very poor lubricant!

Even if petcocks are free-flowing, the float valves should close when they are at proper level and stop the fuel flow.

I'd put a clear line on the petcock fuel orifice and test both petcocks for flow when they shouldn't be. Also, do you still have your "octopus" or did you remove it?

[prometheus578]

81SH... Ok, you've got a Special, with the octopus fuel system, I believe. (I've got a special around here somewhere, but as I've never clowned with it yet, I've haven't as yet had to fight the octopi.
You didn't mention why you had to change the "Holy Disk". leaking at the petcock?
Either way... only two things can cause leaking fuel. Petcocks not shutting off... but more importantly, float needle seats not sealing, and the carb bowls overfilling.
Is this a new bike for you? Just pick it up? Has the bike sat fer a spell and you're just getting it running?
Regardless of problems with the petcocks, etc... the float needles should have stemmed the flow. Pull the carbs, use some Q tips and chrome polish and clean up the float needle seats, and buy new float needles.
Oh yeah, were is the fuel coming from? Is it leaking from the petcocks, or through the carbs to the airbox? If it's the airbox, how much of a puddle. If the carbs overflow and fuel runs out of the airbox, it also has a tendancy to run forward into the cylinders, past the rings and into the oil. Fix the fuel problem first, then change the oil.

[lorenc]

The "octopus" is still there. I will have to look at it tonight to see if that maybe got jiggled around. Why would I leak if the petcocks are turned off?

[Snow]

Originally posted by lorenc
Why would I leak if the petcocks are turned off?

That little disc with the holes in it is what controls the flow of fuel through the petcocks. If your petcock lever is turned to "off" yet the disc is in incorrectly, it may actually be set to "prime" or "on" - the holes or lack thereof let the fuel flow.

Also, you may end up needing to rebuild your octopus - it involves basically the same thing as the petcock rebuild... if the octo is worn out and the petcocks are good and set to "on", then it will have the same effect as being on "prime"... specials do have prime, don't they?

[81xsproject]

One of my petcocks would still dribble after a rebuild. I took it back apart and tweaked the spring washer so it would apply a little more pressure and that did the trick.

[lorenc]

Thanks guys. It has been 2 hours since I replaced a pinched fuel line, rebuilt the octopus, changed the oil, looked at the holy disk and repositioned it. I dont have any gas on the floor now but the jury will still be out till morning.

This is a bike I just purchased after 27 years since my 850 special. 27 years without bugs in the teeth has been too long. The previous owner did ride it about 400 miles per year and its always been garaged. Total miles on it is 14000. I guess prometheus578 can spot a rookie very well.

Do I need to turn off the petcocks at night or when its going to sit for a day? I dont understand the vacuum system, it would seem that if it takes vacuum to start fuel transfer, the bike needs to be running.

[mro]

?..??

What Prom said...and

Easy to test petcock(s)
Remove fuel line from petcock to carb at the carb end, place in can/jar what ever. Turn to diferent posistions to see what happens. Leave in off postion for a while to be sure it's not leaking.

In-line filter not a bad idea.
Only takes a spec of rust fron tank to stick open float valve. Same with old fuel lines. Had flaky piece o rubber make a carb leak on my 80G. Just put carbs back on my hot rod XS after work tonight. Had put those fancy glass in-line filters on it which do not filter as good as the cheapy plastic/paper ones like on my 80G.


mro
hey Prom.. No "Novel" answer?
just a little Novel'et

[prometheus578]

"You literary genius, you!"

MRO... little novels are called novella's (I'm sure WildKat would have slapped you over that one, if I hadn't)

Spot a rookie, Lorenc?
(spot a wookie?)
same thing.
No... I just know carbs to a certain degree.
These are old bikes, and even if they have low miles... the float needles are still aged. (especially the "Vitron" tipped ones)
I was gonna remark, as I just noticed it, that a sure sign of spring is all the carb related threads that have suddenly appeared.
Ah spring, "when a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of ...." trying to start his bike again.
Have five bikes currently in the shop right now... all drippin' fuel.
Gee... I wonder what causes that?

[mro]

Gee... I wonder what causes that?

Spring.... seansonal thing eh?

Next month tune in to learn about "XSive monthly cycle"


mro
bad speller.

novelette

Main Entry: nov·el·ette
Pronunciation: "nä-val-let"
Function: noun

[prometheus578]

"I'll play your game... and win, as usual."

Novella: Noun...
A short prose tale marked by wit, terseness, or satire.
(pretty much sums up my abusive writing style)

[Ljay40]

Hi lorenc

Say dont FORGET to check that oil pan for gas
as was stated it does not make a good lubricant.

[mro]

potato...tatters...

novellas : a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel ....


mro