Fuel from drain hose - reasons?

idl1975 · Post by **idl1975** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:25 pm

Well, after 8 years in storage (!) and a new set of locks, some oil and fresh coolant, my TRX is running again. Hooray! One slight problem, however, is the fuel pissing all over the rear shock linkage from the right hand float bowl drain (the hose on the bottom of the float bowl cover). Hmm.

I popped the carbs back off quickly and was pretty sure I managed to tighten down the relevant drain screw, but after reseating everything and checking the rest of the hoses, it's still spitting fuel out all over the floor. And occasionally the exhaust.

It may just be the drain screw needs to be backed off and then tightened up more firmly with a carefully selected phillips head of exactly the right size, but speaking as a relative novice in the disassembly of carbs, is there any other reason why fuel would be coming out of that particular hose? E.g., float height incorrect, float not seated correctly, etc. etc. I had to rebuild the carbs due to the familiar ovalised emulsion tubes and rock-hard 10 year old rubber gaskets, but there are no other apparent problems with the fuelling that would lead me to suspect a continuing issue with either carb.

Help!!! (The traditional cry of the incompetent amateur mechanic...)

youngy · Post by **youngy** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:41 pm

Sounds like dirt in the drain screw seat stopping it sealing. no other reason I can think of for fuel coming out of there.

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:56 pm

Sounds like you have a leedle peece of sheet in the float valve... Assuming it wasn't leaking before storage the float height won't have changed, but if (as was the case with my red one) you have a few years accumulation of rust and shite and general tank debris flowing down the fuel lines it doesn't take much to hold the float valve open and cause the problem you describe. If it's any consolation, my tank was so full of shite it blocked off the gauze filter on the tap and it was what I'd dislodged while cleaning that which caused my problem.

Once you've cleaned the carbs bung a paper in-line fuel filter in the main fuel line to the carbs - you'll be surprised at what it will catch!

G

idl1975 · Post by **idl1975** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:38 am

Thanks guys! I'll try both options. I also wonder if the float didn't get unseated when I put the cover back on, as you have to finesse it quite a bit to fit it on without pulling the float out of its 'plug'. I have a bunch of new hoses on order anyway, so I will pull the carbs out this weekend.

Time to book me a trackday, I think!

idl1975 · Post by **idl1975** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:44 pm

Anyone know what diameter hose that is?

Greg wrote: Once you've cleaned the carbs bung a paper in-line fuel filter in the main fuel line to the carbs - you'll be surprised at what it will catch!

G