oil-n gas

[Bikeboy]

Well here we go again. The old XS has been sitting up for a few months. No time to ride. Came home the other day and got her out for a spin. She did'nt want to crank, but after a few tries she came to life. Was missing pretty bad and smoking. She's done that before, but after I rode her for a few miles it cleared up. Not this time. She was missing real bad and smoking like you had poured oil into the carbs. Rode about one mile and she died. Oil was leaking underneath from the air filter, about a 1/4th a quart on the ground, had to push her home. When I got her home I checked the oil, it had gas in it. And the battery was bad. Also checked the air filter and there was about 4 table spoons of oil in the bottom of the air filter housing. Went and got a new battery today and got it on the charger right now. Also changed out the oil and filter. And cleaned out the air filter and housing. Going to put her back together tomorrow and see if she will run. Any ideas on what made this happen? Comments welcome.

[Winterhawk]

Your petcocks are leaking and the float needles will not hold back the gas most of the time it seams.

Take a hose off and check each setting on On and Reserve. If the reserve doesn't leak park it with this setting. Beware the K@L repair kits diaphragm will not work unless the plastic block is modified thinner in the recessed area. Try a repair kit using your old diaphragm maybe.

[prometheus578]

Yup, time for some new float needles and/or petcock rebuild. Need to do this before you ruin your new oil. Pull the carbs, put in new needles, and set the carbs up on a bench. Put the tank on a milk crate, and using extra fuel line, hook everything up. You can check the petcock for leaks, too, while you're at it. Let the whole thing set for a half an hour. If it doesn't leak, then they should be good. In-line fuel filters might be a good addition, as well as new fuel line. Carb needles get a wear ring on the taper and leak, or else a piece of deteriorated rubber or dirt from the 25 year old fuel line stopped the needle from seating.

[fxrer]

Chris

Gas in oil = BAD. Oil in Air box (especially combined with above) = WORSE!!

I would STOP until you understand exactly what hppened. Not the kind of problem that works itself out.

The crankcase breather tube vents oil (vapors) back to the air box. Could there be so much pressure (or fluid volume), that the gas/oil mix is somehow being blown back to the air box?

I’d make sure I figure this out completely before I drove even one mile, with that potentially engine killing problem.

[skids]

If your crankcase was very full of oil plus gas, the crank breather might have belched into the airbox, but there is filter oil on the filter and dirt, so it might LOOK like engine oil.

[scalded dog]

Stop the gas from running into the carbs, whike bike is sitting, go to any hardware store, and buy some in line cut off valves, I have installed them in two of my bikes, just remember to cut the gas off each time you park the bike. Later 'Dog