Octopus woes

[newc4]

I've been working on my 79SF fixing the turn signals. Turns out the br/wh wire in the switch had broken off. Re-soldered it and the signals work fine now.

In the meantime I ran the bike and it started right up with the tank off. Did this several times for grins until it finally died when it ran out of gas in the bowels.

Put the tank back on expecting it to start right up. It only fired intermittently and then would just crank away with an occassional back fire out the exhaust. Couldn't get but an occassional firing regardless of choke position. Finally I took the tank back off, and let it set a bit. Hooked a line right out a fuel can into the A pipe on the left side blocking off the other hoses. Bike would only start on full choke, throttle didn't affect it. Finally it seemed to clear itself and throttle response was normal. I'm not sure what is going on. Seems to have been in a flooded situation.

Questions.

Are the two lines out of each petcock, fuel lines?
When I pulled off the one side, fuel came spurting out both lines - didn't turn the other side petcock to off. Is this supposed to happen?
Do the fuel lines go over or under the air lines out of the air box?
Where can I get some spring clips for the fuel line ends, I can only find standard screw hoseclamps.
It seems I'm getting a flooded condition, is a carb break down in my future?
What are the fuel line sizes? PO put on different, thicker fuel lines.

Thanks,
Darrell

[trbig]

It's been discussed here recently that when the bowls go completely empty, sometimes the float needles get cocked in the carbs and the floats can't close. This is what it sounds like to me. Sometimes vibration will straighten them out... sometimes they need to be taken out and the float tangs bent up slightly. (Down if the carbs are upside down)

Tod

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Darrell,

The OCTY is a PITA, there's info in tech tips on how to test it, if bad, just yank out and bypass. Fuel does come out of both spigots, but supposed to be only 1 at a time, IIRC rear for run-reserve, and front for PRIME. IF it's pouring out both, time for a rebuild!

I remember seeing those small spring clips on either DK or JCW. The fuel lines are 1/4" ID single walled style, you'll want to get them from bike shop or good auto shop that know the difference vs. vacuum hose!

IF you only hooked up a fuel line to one line of the OCTY, then you were only feeding 1 pair of carbs. Sounds more like a lack of fuel problem, but also leaky petcocks and possibly a bad OCTY?
T.C.

[acof911]

spring clips for the fuel line ends

my local NAPA auto parts store has 'em.
Andy

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

I know it sounds shabby, but I ended up using clear Lawnmower Fuel hose to replace my old lines. No kinks, no collapses and best of all, no leaks!

[scott0757]

I took the gas lines off my octi as it was leaking. I left the vacuum line from carb 2 connected to it.

I also rerouted the the gas lines so that both lines from each petcock T into the one line that passes through the gas filter. This allows me to continue using the Reserve setting and not have an unfortunate incident running out of gas.

So far that seems to work fine. Just make sure your float levels are set correctly and your float pins shut the gas off!