I'm no mechanic and don't know an awful lot about the bikes other than taking them out for a ride however my bike is leaking fuel from a black box at the side of my carbs which is also linked. As I've not yet passed my test I'm not in a position to take it for a ride so I've just been ticking it over every so often. The last couple of times I've had my bike out I switch on the fuel tap, choke which has normally needed to be on and turning the ignition. For some reason I've switched off the engine and fuel has leaked. Today it sounded as if it's miss firing every so often and when revving it it's as if there was nothing there. Switch the engine off and again fuel leaking. Can anybody help please
Is your fuel tap on prime? If so that will do it, if not sticky float..just zoomed in on the picture looks like after market tap so no prime.so sticky float try running red x through it
I'm not too sure to be honest. I will check. I only knew on off and res. Am I best getting a genuine tap and replacing the one currently on? I will look at getting the red x thank you
Tap should be fine. Try draining float bowls as well. Get a Haynes manual, that will help with all sorts of things.
Yes I will do that. I looked for one earlier but only found version for 1998 and above. I will contact Haynes tomorrow. Thanks again Bogg
Brill, got the code from your picture and found one on eBay hopefully draining the float bowls won't be a big challenging task and hopefully cure the problem.
Draining the float bowls will help to get some of the crud out, with red x in the fuel as your running the bike try tapping the float bowls lightly with a screw driver handle that may release the float
I had this exact same issue with my 98tbs. I have very limited knowledge of mechanics, especially carbs, but I was told that what was happening was that, when on the side stand, the fuel would drain into the left hand carb and cause the right hand one to "open"(?) Meaning fuel would run continuously and flood out from the left hand carb through the air box. This is my understanding anyway. The solution was to turn the fuel off and let the bike run for around 30 seconds to let the fuel levels in the carbs drop a bit before switching the ignition off. This has worked for me.
When you say black box, i take it you mean the air box. If thats the case then you may be in trouble. Its caused by sticky floats or as Dirty big Hands said Side stand ,.If its sticky floats It might free itself or you may have to strip the carbs. Now the worst thing about this happening is the petrol could have got into the Engine and watered down your oil. See if you can smell petrol when you open the oil filler?. If you can, then its an oil change as well. TOP TIP Always turn off your fuel just before you get home to empty your bowls.
Yes I would say it was the airbox. Let's hope the carbs don't need dropping down then. It certainly won't be a job for me. I will check the oil this weekend and if it needs an oil change at least it's no big job. Thanks again guys.
Just to let you know Ashley my Thunderbird done the very same thing once and has never done it again. I had spripped the bike as part of a rebuild including Carbs. I think what had happened was the carbs were dry for a while and when they filled with petrol one was a bit sticky or because they were on a side stand as Dirty big Hands mentioned. The point i'm making is it may never happen again. Don't spend money on something that might be a one off. Just take the precautions we mentioned. Just make sure the oil don't have petrol mixed with it. Its like watering down your bikes blood. Best of luck .
Ah I see. So even though one dried out it soon got the fuel moving about to loosen the float. So on my initial post I mentioned when the engine was on tick over it sounded as if it was miss firing. Also when giving it some revs it was as if there were nothing there. Could both of them be caused by the float and fuel issues. I'm not in a position to take the bike out for a spin. Garage only insurance and unfortunately not having my full licence yet but I obviously want the bike ticking over every so often so can you advise me what's the best here?
Store your bike upright in the garage with a bikestand.saves a bit of space too.I've got them for both my bikes, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Golpus-Mo...566852?hash=item3f65e6d744:g:oigAAOSwtJZXWQdu There are other make have a look at ebay see what takes your fancy.
Standard legend tap. They did not have vacuum tap. Always turn off when not riding. Check your oil. If it had the slightest smell of fuel change it straight away.
Thank you for your reply. Yes it does make sense. I've recently bought a paddock stand so all being well once I've followed the things everyone has said then I won't have a reoccurring problem.
It does smell of fuel. I will do an oil change this week. Just drop the oil and change the oil and oil filter? Or is there anything else needed to do? The fuel could have mixed into the oil months ago when it happened the first time.