Dissapointment on first startup (a bit long sorry)

[beemeerr11]

Well i finally got to the stage where I have the bike ready to start, i put cheap oil in the bike and left the old oil filter in just to run the bike and then flush and replace with good oil and new filter.
Placed the Carby's on but after reading about carby problems on this site, didn't put on the air filter cover/boots (good decision in the end).
Cleaned out the fuel tank that had 6 month old fuel and pulled out the taps and cleaned, fresh fuel put in. My method of carby position is carby #1 is the one on the right hand side as you sit on the bike, carby #4 is the left one, using this method as that is how my spark plug leads are numbered. Placed the short hose from #3 inlet boot to the octi and the vacume hose to carby #3. Turned on the fuel taps and carb #3 leaks out the back, (will check floats again) carb #2 leaks out through the air pilot screw located on the back of the carb, (Any ideas?) Push the button and the bike starts YEEEHHA, the leaking fuel stops. I look at the ground and there are two big oil spots, one I haven't tightend the sump plug, DONE, the other seems to be above the head gasket on #3 exhaust, but below the tappert cover. (I'll need to get closer) Also I turned off the fuel taps and let them run dry till the bike stalled, only to find a big pool of fuel under the bike this morning WTF? Where does the suction come from with the taps turned off?

Cheers and thanks in advance

Lou 81RH

[Ivan]

I am pretty sure #1 is on the left side of the bike. Its too cold in the garage now, or I would go look...

As to the fuel leak, it isn't uncommon for the petcocks to leak even in the off position.

[rpgoerlich]

Left to right 1-4.
The petcock could still leak in the off position if the Rubber ring with 4 holes behind the handle is deteriorated along with the o'ring on the diaphram.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

# 1 is on the left side of the engine #4 on the right. AFIAK

The oil leak sounds like the valve cover (tappet cover) is leaking around the spark plug area and the oil is draining out the drain hole for the spark plg recesses. BTDT

Fuel leak could be anything.

[petejw]

Hey Lou,
Its much easier to refer to the cylinders from left
to right as you sit on the bike, this is how its refered to
in the manuals.
With regards to the fuel, if its leaking out the back of the carbs,
then the needle and seat arent closing fully. Even tho the bike runs it will be running extremely rich.
remove the carbs empty the fuel bowls and remove,
turn the carbs upside down, the floats should be closed in this position
now with ur mouth blow into 1 of the fuel inlets, if the needle and seat are leaking u will see and hear it, do this to the other inlet to check the other 2 carbs.
The petcocks are a precautionary thing, even if they are leaking the needle and seat should stop any fuel going past .

Also make sure no fuel has flowed into the engine.

With the oil leak all i can suggest is you wash the engine down then start it up and see where the oil leak is coming from, (could be the tensioner)
Its also been suggested to put powder over the area, the powder will absorb the oil making it easier to see where the leak is.

[beemeerr11]

# 1 is on the left side of the engine #4 on the right. AFIAK

The oil leak sounds like the valve cover (tappet cover) is leaking around the spark plug area and the oil is draining out the drain hole for the spark plg recesses. BTDT

Fuel leak could be anything.

Hey XSokieSpecial, you might be right on the money, I didn't check that area, only the front, as it was dripping down and onto the cam chain tensioner, as I thought that it was head gasket related, I'm starting to think positive!!!!
I used Copper gasket, with no tappet cover gasket as it was broken in several places.

O.K. as far as numbers go, I'll stick with your method, where #1 is left and #4 is right, so there isn't any confusion, and I'll renumber the plug leads to show that.

Hey PeteJW, definately not the tensioner!!!, and realy hope is is the tappet cover as i have repainted barrels, heads and tappert cover and would hate to scratch it up.
I'll take the carbs off, it's not that difficult at this stage, and do them again, what about carby #4 leaking out of the rear air pilot jet? I have some "O" rings at home and will replace all 4 on the seats.

Lou 81RH

[petejw]

Lou,
The fuel leaking out of the pilot air jet
is from the fuel bowl flooding, you've probably
got a bit of muck between the needle and seat.
Have you got fuel filters fitted.

[DGXSER]

I agree with the left to right numbering, all books and most info on this site refer to them in that order.

As to the oil, it typically only runs down not up, so see where it starts up high.

As to the fuel, as stated, if your carb float needle valves work correctly, you will not get the fuel out the inlet bells on any carb. It is surprising how little can cause the issue of the float needle not seating.

Anothe idea as to the puddle on the floor, look at your petcock to tank mounts. I tried to reuse the old gasket and got a gallon or so on the garage floor overnight from that seal leaking.

[beemeerr11]

Lou,
The fuel leaking out of the pilot air jet
is from the fuel bowl flooding, you've probably
got a bit of muck between the needle and seat.
Have you got fuel filters fitted.

petejw,
I had the carbies apart, soaked cleaned and blown out, the floats are set at about 22/23mm when upside down, the manual I have doesn't have things in it for our bikes and makes me wonder how correct it is? what should I have them set at? No I don't have filters at this stage, but when I cleaned the tank out last night there are gauze covers over the taps!! but I run fuel filters on all my other bikes, seems like you nearly need to run 4 small ones, and there ain't much room. Also you might be able to tell me as I have put in new fork seals, the manual says 217cc on a standard, but I have read somewhere on this site either 225cc or 250cc? which one?

Cheers and thanks once again.

Lou 81RH

[XSokieSPECIAL]

petejw,
I had the carbies apart, soaked cleaned and blown out, the floats are set at about 22/23mm when upside down, the manual I have doesn't have things in it for our bikes and makes me wonder how correct it is? what should I have them set at? No I don't have filters at this stage, but when I cleaned the tank out last night there are gauze covers over the taps!! but I run fuel filters on all my other bikes, seems like you nearly need to run 4 small ones, and there ain't much room. Also you might be able to tell me as I have put in new fork seals, the manual says 217cc on a standard, but I have read somewhere on this site either 225cc or 250cc? which one?

Cheers and thanks once again.

Lou 81RH

Float height is 25.7mm + - 1mm

fork oil for a standard is 212cc

[tarzan]

Float height on an '81 should be @ 23mm unless it has pre 80's carbs.
78 & 79 carbs with the brass floats are set at 25.7.

[petejw]

Lou,
Try to set all the floats exactly, can take a little
time and patience but makes it well worth it in the long run.
I set them at 23mm,
setting them at roughly 22-23 isnt good enuff, the bike will
accelerate and run like crap.

With regards to the fork oil, our bikes are similar to the specials in the states, im running progessive front springs, but if your running stock springs
the manual states 225ml.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Float height on an '81 should be @ 23mm unless it has pre 80's carbs.
78 & 79 carbs with the brass floats are set at 25.7.

Sorry if I'm wrong y'all. Those specs are quoted directly from this
Clymer manual

[petejw]

Hi Greg,
Lou made mention of a standard,
but our bikes '81 RH (Aus) are similar
to the specials you have in the states.

[DiverRay]

Fuel leak is probably the "O" rings around the seat for the float. '80 and newer NEED new "O" rings EVERY TIME you remove the seat. I also use just a thin film of silicone or di-electric grease on them to help them slip into place without tearing. Float height should be 23mm, but I would go to 24mm if you are still running rich.