trouser fire averted

[mikey]

interesting development yesterday... set out for a run around, sunday afternoon, roads nearly dry. About 5 miles in, after a few overtakes noticed the back end starting to squirm so pulled in thinking rear puncture. Not so. Looking down I see a spreading blackness soaking into the dirt of the farm gateway under the bike. thinking major crankcase haemorrhage i go to turn the engine off quick. then hit the kill switch super quick as I smell the petrol fumes evaporating off the exhausts!

Seems a union has parted company from the petrol tap body and is dumping fuel on my back tyre after its hit the exhausts. haven't had time to have a good look yet but as far as I could make out the main feed hose? from under the tap attaches to a rt angled insert that appears to be an interference fit into the tap body and this was going in and out according to vacuum or otherwise pressure depending on revs, with a big dump for good measure on coming to rest.

After the missus kindly came out with some tie wraps, and with a great deal of furtling and swearing at the side of road I rode back without it leaking a drop.

I will obviously replace all fuel pipes anyway but this was not the cause - anybody had similar?

[bagmaker]

nasty business, had the same thing happen at the traffic lights when I first got the bike, nearly sat me on the tarmac.
cable-ties are your friend, check for similar threads, there are a few.

[M.V.]

I will obviously replace all fuel pipes anyway but this was not the cause - anybody had similar?

Yep, elbow on the bottom of the fuel tap fell off, I expect that's what happened.

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

I thought you where lighting farts when I read the heading

[rbaron25]

Happened to me. Cable tied it. Think it's not fully sorted really small leak still. Would love a better solution someone has tried.....

[mikey]

Thanks guys I did a search for threads on 'petrol tap leak' etc before posting but mustn't have got the right wording. Will let you know if I find a 'belt & braces' solution

[Mincehead]

Get the tap off the tank, clean it WELL of fuel residue and any corrosion and Araldite or chemical metal it in, it`ll never move again.

[mikey]

Get the tap off the tank, clean it WELL of fuel residue and any corrosion and Araldite or chemical metal it in, it`ll never move again.

thanks Mincehead, sounds like a plan

[rbaron25]

Clean with kero? Chemical metal - Aussie translation....?
Thanks Mince

[JL]

Perhaps clean with parts/brake cleaner and then some JB weld...

[alextrx850]

Perhaps clean with parts/brake cleaner and then some JB weld...

RIPPER...i dont mind a little Jim Beam..!
And the leak ?

[rbaron25]

I. Assume parts/brake cleaner is a generic one...

[Wombat]

Get the tap off the tank, clean it WELL of fuel residue and any corrosion and Araldite or chemical metal it in, it`ll never move again.

Hey Mince, got a similar problem with mine, although not properly leaking there is a noticeable fuel "smudge" around where the interference fit is.
Am able to get JB Weld (which is petrol resistant) at local Jaycar electronics stores.
When you apply it, is it to the outside surfaces or do you have to pull the elbow off and apply it to the inside interference surfaces?

As far as I can see the tap is still operating properly and the vacuum isnt faulty, so I am hesitant to change it if I dont have to (not at $180AUD a pop, or whatever they cost now ) Also have to replace that stubby little fuel line between the tap and the fuel pump - its original fitment and is starting to perish (unless anyone has a GOOD one going spare? ) Picked up some really cool translucent red fuel line from a drag car shop on Ebay which I'll be fitting when I FINALLY put the FCRs on.

Bob

[mikey]

So.....

I did what mincehead said and it worked at treat. However.

The other week I noticed a petrol type smell when I walked past the shed and guess what a pool of fuel around the bike


Nothing was loose this time and it was difficult to see where the fuel was coming from but naturally I suspected the same as before. managed to wrench the spigot out with the help of some soft jaws in the vice and re-glued it back in again. Still leaked. On taking the thing apart completely I couldn't find anything wrong so took a guess as to what part might be worn to the point of leakage. Happily I chose the right thing and replaced the little o ring in the middle of the diaphragm with one from a box from Halfords ( a fiddly job )

Job done for a small fraction of even a second hand tap!

[Kenny]

If you are fed up with fuel leakage/overflow when bike is parked or stood do the tap mod makes it and on/off reserve tap so you can actually turn the fuel off after a ride. I did this and its perfect.