skyeblueman Posted February 25, 2018 Posted February 25, 2018 Hi all. Just started my bike after about 3 months in garage. Bike started fine but after about 30 seconds petrol started pouring from the overflow pipe that comes out side of bike beside rear brake and it is dripping from the corner of the airbox. There isnt a dedicated hole in the airbox where the petrol is leaking from, it seems to be just leaking out of the gap where the airbox rear and front are touching. I have removed the tank and the tops of the carburettors and the needles inside each carb are moving freely. I did notice that the choke was stuck in the "OFF" position but the mechanism at the front of the carbs operated by the choke lever was treated with WD40 and the lever now moves freely. I left the bike to sit for a day and again after starting it, it idled fine for about 30 seconds and then started to leak petrol (very dirty oily looking petrol) from the same pipe and airbox. Any advice on my next step to cure would be great as I just cant afford to put her into a garage for repairs. Thanks all - Mark Quote
Tango Posted February 25, 2018 Posted February 25, 2018 Stuck float or crap from the tank stuck in the float valve seat...... Quote
Tango Posted February 25, 2018 Posted February 25, 2018 Give the float bowl of each carb a tap with the blunt end of a screwdriver......It may just shake it loose and get you going.......but first, check the oil in the sump in case some petrol has got in there......don't try starting the bike again until you've checked this, otherwise you could destroy your engine..... Quote
Snod Blatter Posted February 26, 2018 Posted February 26, 2018 I have had decent success freeing float needles by leaping about on the seat. Worth a go.. Quote
skyeblueman Posted February 28, 2018 Author Posted February 28, 2018 Thanks all for the replies. I removed the carb "bank" and checked all the floats, they seemed ok and moved freely. No debris in the carbs. Thanks for advice regarding sump oil. I will change that as a precaution. Heading into garage again just now to do the oil change and see if it starts without leaking. I'll post the results. Quote
skyeblueman Posted February 28, 2018 Author Posted February 28, 2018 Give the float bowl of each carb a tap with the blunt end of a screwdriver......It may just shake it loose and get you going.......but first, check the oil in the sump in case some petrol has got in there......don't try starting the bike again until you've checked this, otherwise you could destroy your engine..... Just took off the sump plug and oil/petrol mixture poured out ! (about 6 litres). Hadn't tried to start bike since problem appeared so thanks for the advice - might just ave saved the engine !. Going to buy new oil and filter tomorrow and swill out petrol tank and put in fresh petrol (with a touch of Redex) to see if that helps any. Will let forum know how I get on. Again, thanks for the advice ref sump oil/petrol. Mark. Quote
Stu Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 Give the float bowl of each carb a tap with the blunt end of a screwdriver......It may just shake it loose and get you going.......but first, check the oil in the sump in case some petrol has got in there......don't try starting the bike again until you've checked this, otherwise you could destroy your engine..... Just took off the sump plug and oil/petrol mixture poured out ! (about 6 litres). Hadn't tried to start bike since problem appeared so thanks for the advice - might just ave saved the engine !. Going to buy new oil and filter tomorrow and swill out petrol tank and put in fresh petrol (with a touch of Redex) to see if that helps any. Will let forum know how I get on. Again, thanks for the advice ref sump oil/petrol. Mark. Buy some cheap oil make sure its running without leaking fuel first then once that's sorted change the oil the preferred oil Use the cheap one to wash out the engine of fuel etc Quote
skyeblueman Posted February 28, 2018 Author Posted February 28, 2018 Give the float bowl of each carb a tap with the blunt end of a screwdriver......It may just shake it loose and get you going.......but first, check the oil in the sump in case some petrol has got in there......don't try starting the bike again until you've checked this, otherwise you could destroy your engine..... Just took off the sump plug and oil/petrol mixture poured out ! (about 6 litres). Hadn't tried to start bike since problem appeared so thanks for the advice - might just ave saved the engine !. Going to buy new oil and filter tomorrow and swill out petrol tank and put in fresh petrol (with a touch of Redex) to see if that helps any. Will let forum know how I get on. Again, thanks for the advice ref sump oil/petrol. Mark. Buy some cheap oil make sure its running without leaking fuel first then once that's sorted change the oil the preferred oil Use the cheap one to wash out the engine of fuel etc Thanks, good idea. when I cleaned out the fuel tank I found 3 "bits" loose inside !!. One is an orange rubber thing, one is a small black plastic disc about the size of a 5 pence piece and the third is black plastic "thing" . . . The black plastic piece and the orange rubber bit have holes through the centre as if they should be attached to something - any idea what they should be fixed too ?. I have checked the fuel tank schematic on-line but they don't show up !. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Mark. Quote
Stu Posted February 28, 2018 Posted February 28, 2018 Just took off the sump plug and oil/petrol mixture poured out ! (about 6 litres). Hadn't tried to start bike since problem appeared so thanks for the advice - might just ave saved the engine !. Going to buy new oil and filter tomorrow and swill out petrol tank and put in fresh petrol (with a touch of Redex) to see if that helps any. Will let forum know how I get on. Again, thanks for the advice ref sump oil/petrol. Mark. Buy some cheap oil make sure its running without leaking fuel first then once that's sorted change the oil the preferred oil Use the cheap one to wash out the engine of fuel etc Thanks, good idea. when I cleaned out the fuel tank I found 3 "bits" loose inside !!. One is an orange rubber thing, one is a small black plastic disc about the size of a 5 pence piece and the third is black plastic "thing" . . . The black plastic piece and the orange rubber bit have holes through the centre as if they should be attached to something - any idea what they should be fixed too ?. I have checked the fuel tank schematic on-line but they don't show up !. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Mark. Honestly I haven't a clue! It sounds like it could be out the fuel tap but how its got in to the tank I would never know! Quote
JRH Posted March 1, 2018 Posted March 1, 2018 Thanks, good idea. when I cleaned out the fuel tank I found 3 "bits" loose inside !!. One is an orange rubber thing, one is a small black plastic disc about the size of a 5 pence piece and the third is black plastic "thing" . . . The black plastic piece and the orange rubber bit have holes through the centre as if they should be attached to something - any idea what they should be fixed too ?. I have checked the fuel tank schematic on-line but they don't show up !. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Mark. Post some pictures up may give a better clue.Could they be off the filler cap? Quote
skyeblueman Posted March 1, 2018 Author Posted March 1, 2018 Thanks, good idea. when I cleaned out the fuel tank I found 3 "bits" loose inside !!. One is an orange rubber thing, one is a small black plastic disc about the size of a 5 pence piece and the third is black plastic "thing" . . . The black plastic piece and the orange rubber bit have holes through the centre as if they should be attached to something - any idea what they should be fixed too ?. I have checked the fuel tank schematic on-line but they don't show up !. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Mark. Post some pictures up may give a better clue.Could they be off the filler cap? Don't appear to be from fuel cap or sender unit ! I'll get the Mrs to post a picture of the bits when she gets back from work. Another question, (sorry !), underneath the fuel tank towards the rear of the tank are 2 breather holes to which two rubber pipes are attached. When I removed the pipes I noticed that the metal tube on the left (nearest the petcock) was rusted at the tip - I am able to blow air through the right hand side one and you can hear it exiting near the fuel cap, but, I can't blow air through the one on the left - am I correct in thinking that this should be clear to allow air to travel through ?, and if it is blocked somehow, would this cause fuel "blowback" into the carbs/airbox ?. Long winded question I know but I feel that the vent is there for a reason and should allow air to pass through freely. Thanks so much for your help - the garage is extremely cold at night and I am getting fed up with this bike, which is a pity because when she ran well it was brilliant . . . Mark. Quote
skyeblueman Posted March 1, 2018 Author Posted March 1, 2018 Buy some cheap oil make sure its running without leaking fuel first then once that's sorted change the oil the preferred oil Use the cheap one to wash out the engine of fuel etc Thanks, good idea. when I cleaned out the fuel tank I found 3 "bits" loose inside !!. One is an orange rubber thing, one is a small black plastic disc about the size of a 5 pence piece and the third is black plastic "thing" . . . The black plastic piece and the orange rubber bit have holes through the centre as if they should be attached to something - any idea what they should be fixed too ?. I have checked the fuel tank schematic on-line but they don't show up !. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Mark. Honestly I haven't a clue! It sounds like it could be out the fuel tap but how its got in to the tank I would never know! Im gonna get the Mrs to post a picture when she gets home - doesn't appear to be from the petcock or fuel cap . . . it a mystery ! . . . . Quote
Tango Posted March 1, 2018 Posted March 1, 2018 The 2 tubes......One will be the fuel overflow for overfilling the tank......The other is likely to be the tank vent or breather.......Both should be clear..... Quote
skyeblueman Posted March 3, 2018 Author Posted March 3, 2018 The 2 tubes......One will be the fuel overflow for overfilling the tank......The other is likely to be the tank vent or breather.......Both should be clear..... Thanks for that - I've managed to unblock the "left" tube now (it was full of rust and dirt) so I assume that this is the overflow pipe. Just waiting on new oil filter, air filter and then put it all back together and try and start it again ! - fingers crossed . . . . . . . Quote
skyeblueman Posted March 16, 2018 Author Posted March 16, 2018 Hi all. Thanks for the advice. Bike now up and running. Seems the problem was the blocked pipe within the fuel tank !. Anyway, another hitch !. Bike failed its MOT today - 2 reasons - One. The brake lever is "too short" to operate the front brake (it broke off at the end - about 1.5 inches - strangely it passed its MOT last year with the same lever !!!. TWO. Tester reckoned there was a fuel leak from the Heater Rail fixing !!!. He pointed out the unattached black fitting which seems to have came off the brass hex nut under the carb. I told him that there was no fuel there but because he insisted he could smell fuel, he failed the bike . . . . . . I am just about to send in my appeal - not that its a big problem, I have ordered a new brake lever and heater fixing "thing", but Im a bit fed up that he would claim it was leaking fuel where there is none and that the bike passed a previous MOT with the apparently useless brake lever !!. I will let you know the outcome of the appeal ! (although I aint holding my breath !). Thanks again for all the advice. Mark. Quote
fastbob Posted March 16, 2018 Posted March 16, 2018 At least one of the mystery objects might be a Datatag transponder or similar, I found one in my ER5 . Quote
fastbob Posted March 16, 2018 Posted March 16, 2018 I have had decent success freeing float needles by leaping about on the seat. Worth a go.. A good whacking with a rubber mallet sometimes works . Quote
Tango Posted March 16, 2018 Posted March 16, 2018 I don't think you'll get far with the lever......it'll fail if it hasn't got the ball on the end......safety and all that...... I'm guessing that the other thing is the petrol overflow pipe, which takes any overflow and drops it below the bike, rather than on a hot engine?.... Neither failure sounds like it would take much to fix......so I'd just correct them and represent the bike for its mot...... Quote
skyeblueman Posted March 16, 2018 Author Posted March 16, 2018 At least one of the mystery objects might be a Datatag transponder or similar, I found one in my ER5 . Hi, yes, a bike mechanic at a local dealership said the same thing. I have kept all 3 items in the garage but dont think i will put them back in the tank unless there is good reason to ?. Quote
skyeblueman Posted March 16, 2018 Author Posted March 16, 2018 I don't think you'll get far with the lever......it'll fail if it hasn't got the ball on the end......safety and all that...... I'm guessing that the other thing is the petrol overflow pipe, which takes any overflow and drops it below the bike, rather than on a hot engine?.... Neither failure sounds like it would take much to fix......so I'd just correct them and represent the bike for its mot...... Hi. The part seems to be a "Heater Assembly" according to a schematic I found on-line. Its made of brass and screws into the underside of the carb ( there is one on each carb ) and has an electrical connector attached to the bottom of it. This has broken off on the left hand side carb but there is no petrol leaking from it. I assume it is to monitor the heat of the carb ???. I really dont know. Anyway, Im ordering a new one and will replace it when it and the new brake lever arrive. Off to Isle of Man on Sunday for a funeral so will have to wait. Thanks for the reply. Mark. Quote
Tango Posted March 16, 2018 Posted March 16, 2018 I don't think you'll get far with the lever......it'll fail if it hasn't got the ball on the end......safety and all that...... I'm guessing that the other thing is the petrol overflow pipe, which takes any overflow and drops it below the bike, rather than on a hot engine?.... Neither failure sounds like it would take much to fix......so I'd just correct them and represent the bike for its mot...... Hi. The part seems to be a "Heater Assembly" according to a schematic I found on-line. Its made of brass and screws into the underside of the carb ( there is one on each carb ) and has an electrical connector attached to the bottom of it. This has broken off on the left hand side carb but there is no petrol leaking from it. I assume it is to monitor the heat of the carb ???. I really dont know. Anyway, Im ordering a new one and will replace it when it and the new brake lever arrive. Off to Isle of Man on Sunday for a funeral so will have to wait. Thanks for the reply. Mark. Ah.....ok......it'll be the carb heater then, to try to stop the carbs icing up in cooler weather.......yeah, shouldn't cause the carb to leak..... Quote
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