Son of a * - gas on the floor

[maicorider]

Well guys, now that I got the electrical problem found, I went for a ride last night. I always shut off the petcocks cuz of the horror stories I hear of gas in the oil. So anyway, after a break in the ride, I get back on and notice a little puddle of gas. This morning, in the garage a slightly larger puddle. I noticed gas dripping off lines on the right side, so I yanked the tank, and sure enough, now my right petcock has a slow drip that slows or speeds a bit as I slightly move the lever around the 'off' position. The gas dripping off the lines makes me think I've also got a fuel line problem somewhere on the right side. Suggestions?

Rebuild petcocks I'm guessing. Re-hose octopus I'm also guessing. Anything else I should be looking for?

[ratbyk]

Leaking Petcock

maicorider, before you go to the effort of rebuilding the petcock and your octopus I would;
Remove the two small Philip's head screws that hold the chrome ring that retains the petcock lever. Under it is what I call a wobble washer. This washer provides force against the lever and helps form the seal between the lever and the rubber diaphragm behind. Put a small (and I me small) bend in the this wobble washer to increase the effort it places on the lever/diaphragm. I had the same problem that you describe and that is all it took to correct the leak. If this does not solve your problem you should obtain a new diaphragm before you disassemble. The diaphragm is likely torn or damaged in some way.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"

[maicorider]

I also wonder if the leak wasn't already there, and in the process of removing/replacing the tank 4 times in the last 2 days I've upset a fuel line, since it's dripping off the lines.

[TheDjost]

Fuel lines cost pennies and should be changed fairly regularly. there can't be more than 2 bucks worth on the whole bike. I change mine every spring. Every month if I use clear type.

-Justin

[POOLBOY]

Not more than a one beer job

Just rebuild the petcock's. It wont take more than an hour.The cost is slight,compared to $2/gal gas.

[pgg]

Maico if the gas still flows out on 'reserve' or 'on' ; stretch out the diaphram coil springs to make them stiffer or replace them with springs from a ball-point pen. If leaking out the handle tweak the sprung washer.

[maicorider]

It's dripping out the nipple towards the front of the bike. I haven't checked which one that is. I haven't touched it in a day out of frustration. Tonight I'll be tackling, or at least diagnosing further.

So, since it's coming out a nipple, it's probably the dpring fix you're talking about?

Also, where do I get a rebuild kit? I looked at partsnmore but it says those kits aren't for an SG model, and I hear the petcocks are different.

Oh, and so I don't get myself more upset, what size fuel line should I be getting? Since it's dripping off the lines, I'm pretty sure there's at least 1 line or t connector I'll need to replace. And now that I think of it, the line that's coming off the leaky nipple is the clear kind of line, maybe it's just time to replace it. There are a couple of pieces of line on the octopus that are of the clear type. This could be a problem.

[TheDjost]

Clear line becomes hard and brittle after a couple of months. Not good on bikes. If you can, change all the clear line to te black kind made for injection cars. Make sure you get the kind with the nylon braiding inside, not just plain rubber. they last longer. The size should be printed on the hose.

My bike uses 1/4 I.D. for all fuel lines. Just make sure they are all the same size: some petcocks use 2 diffrent sizes for the octopus, one size for ON and a diffrent size for PRIME.

-Justin

[maicorider]

Thanks. It makes sense that the clear line would start leaking. Especially since the tank's been off and on about 5 times this week. I've never trusted that clear line anyway. My buddy uses it on everything, he must not tell me about all the replacing of fuel line he does.

The only time I put clear line on anything is when I'm bleeding brakes. Makes it clean (when you can direct it somewhere other than the floor), and VERY easy to see when you've got the air out. Then I toss it.

[pgg]

Leaking at the vaccuum nipple means the suction diaphram isn't snapping shut and sealing. The springs have probably lost their tension.

[John]

Originally posted by pgg
Leaking at the vaccuum nipple means the suction diaphram isn't snapping shut and sealing. The springs have probably lost their tension.

I don't think his problem is with the diaphram spring. His bike is a special and doesn't use vacuum petcocks. It uses the octopus instead. He said the leak is from the foward nipple? That is the one that fuel flows through in the on position. He would need to rebuild the petcock to cure the problem. First, remove the chrome plate, wave washer and handle. Behind that will be the valve seal, it's like a flat o ring. Now on to the money part, the rubber disc. It has four holes in it and there are raised ribs separating the holes. The back of the handle has a slot which directs the fuel flow. If the ribs are worn down, then fuel will leak past the ribs and into a nipple. He may get lucky and be able to flip the disc over. It is ribbed on both sides.

[skids]

Stretching the springs caused a problem in my left petcock (standard) because it doesn't allw enough flow rate at 70 mph. I have to switch it to prime sometimes...

Originally posted by pgg
Maico if the gas still flows out on 'reserve' or 'on' ; stretch out the diaphram coil springs to make them stiffer or replace them with springs from a ball-point pen. If leaking out the handle tweak the sprung washer.

[pgg]

I know nothing about octopusses - have only ever had standard vaccuum taps. I've just looked in a manual at the octopus setup - Jeez what a dogs breakfast! What in gods name is that all about? If it was me, I'd junk the whole system and go to standard taps! Skids, I've never had any problems with pen springs in the petcocks. No leaks and no starvation - even at 200kph.

[Guy]

check e-bay for petcock kits
Guy

[maicorider]

All better now. I opened the petcocks and turned the gaskets over (they wee looking a tiny bit chewed). Then I found the cracked fuel line. Replaced all the clear-type fuel line (PO did the inline filters and used a lot of clear line to do it). Glad as hell the filters are there. I got a lot of gunk out when I took the inlet hose off.


Thanks for all suggestions!!