air filter saturated in fuel

Hi guys

I hope someone can help me here. Last week when I took the bike out for a ride it had been losing fuel. It was coming from the intake tube on No1 cyl. I loosened the screw and re-adjusted the intake tube, the tightened up the screw again. I thought this had fixed my problems.

I go out this morning for a ride as it is a nice warm Sydney winters day. I start the bike without any drama, I give it a few revs, then give it about 1/2 choke. It starts to run like a pig and stalls. I notice fuel coming out. It is lost around a 1/4 of a litre. I look to see where the fuel is coming from and there is a hole at the bottom of the air box.

I then lift the seat, undo the 3 screws and sure enough there is fuel in the air box and the air filter is saturated.

Does anyone have any idea on what is going on?

Is the float level too high on the carbs.

1/4 of a litre is a heap of fuel.


Thanks for any help in advance.

Cheers
Mark

 

Yikes! Glad you weren't dragging on a fag when you started it up! Wooosh! Sizzle! Ouch! I'm betting that your float got stuck and the fuel just happend to run back into the airbox. You weren't by chance parked with the head uphill were you? Get those carbs checked out in a hurry or your going to be doing a lot of cleanup and waste petrol! We're up to $4.00 a gallon here (hummm.... that makes it about 1.00 a liter right?). Not to mention all the possible damage due to oil dilution (it will get past the rings in sufficient quantity and wash the oil off the cylinder walls, not good). I'd do a float check right away and make sure your petcock is in the off position every time you shut down the bike to prevent flooding. Hope this is of some assistance.

 

Thanks Robert

Thank god I have been off the smokes for the past 14 months and fuel in Sydney is around $1.49 for 98RON premuim unleaded. At 11 bucks a packet of 30 smokes it makes for a great saving.

The bike was on the centre stand when I started it and it happened and it is pretty flat. When I first notcied it was using fuel it was on the side stand. I will go through the manual tonight and have a look at the float levels tomorrow.

The Mrs mentioned after seeing the spill on the driveway for me to buy a new bike and I went out looking for a CBR1100XX or a ZZR1100 today. Still there is so much more to learn and I dont want to pass my problems onto someone else.

It would no be because the petcock is suck in the PRI position? and is is dumping fuel down the throat of the carbies? Still she started so easy.

 

Both of you are right...

The petcock should be on main. On main it requires vacuum to let the fuel flow - on prime it just flows. Fixing the petcock is a good start.

Secondly - usually the floats have to stick for them to overflow... In your case what you need to do is check your oil level - if the oil level is high then the floats have stuck and gas has flown into the cylanders washed them clean and drained from the cylanders down into the oil bath.

If the oil level is correct I'm surprised... I guess that's where Robert is getting his question on the hill the bike was parked on. If it was on a hill perhaps the fuel flowed down the air pipes to the airbox first... instead of the cylanders.

WHATEVER the case - don't start the bike until you've figured it out. Start with the petcock (clean and maybe new rubber bits), find out if the floats did stick, find out if there is gas in the oil, replace the air filter and the oil filter if need be.

good luck,
woot.

p.s. both are fine bikes aren't they?

 

Even if your fuel line is set to Prime gas shouldn't leak out into the airbox. I would say it is a stuck float. My bike was doing this quite a bit at first after I replaced the float valves. Once I got them put together and seated right, they are working great. Also from what I understand all of the floats should be set to the same level. I wouldn't adjust one with out adjusting the others.

-Kevin

 

Thanks again for the tips guys. I am going to have a fun day today now as I have to replace the clutch slave cyl on the car, then onto the bike. I guess all this hard work will work up thrist for the amber fluids tonight.

My first idea is to remove the intake tubes one at a time to see if any fuel came out. That might hazzard a guess to which carb/carbs the float/floats was sticking. I spent a little last night reading through the manual so I have a better idea on the carbs, etc.

I only did the oil and filter last week, so I guess the bike will be even more happy with somemore fresh oil after a few hundred k's.

Also with the cylinder walls since they have been rinsed with fuel, should I squirt some oil in via the spark plug holes, or should be be ok to start once I replaced the oil and filter?

Thanks again guys and I will post up when I find more out.

Wort they are fine bikes and perfect for a guy my size at 6'2 and 110 kgs. That Blackbird looks oh so nice in my eyes, just see what the Minister of War and Finace has to say.

Cheers
Mark

 

Mark, a shot of a teaspoon of oil into each cylinder would be fine to help with the lubrication issues, but only once will be necessary after you fix the fuel issue. Better yet is the engine oil foggers that are available (boating shops have it for sure). I would only do this, and sparingly, because it will insure there is sufficient lub for the pistions and rings until the undiluted oil gets back into the system. Your deductions on pulling the air boots one at a time is a capitol idea, good on you. I'll bet you find the culprit quickly. Provo is a very beautiful place Mark, your in God's country out that way. Nice riding up in the mountains. Sigh, I want to visit again. Just don't have an excuse anymore (she liked someone else a little better). Good luck on the slave cylinder, they're pretty easy.

 

Thanks Robert,

It is just on 8:30 Saturday morning here. The Mrs is still in bed and I am about to tackle the car first, do the weekly shopping with the Mrs, and then start on the bike. I have been in thought over the past few hours on how to tackle the problem, and I think I will remove the carbs and have a look at each of the floats, the needles, give everything a good clean, just to be sure all 4 carbs are ok as Kevin and you guys suggested. Might even go and buy a set of vacuum gauges as well.

It has been years since I have played with carbs and that was a 650Dp Holley on a 351 Cleveland V8. I am going to take my time, do a little more reading up in my manual and use this web site to make sure everything is done correctly.

Cheers on the oil tip. I was going to buy 2 oil filters and do the first change after the fuel issues are fixed. Then let it run for a few miles before dropping the oil and filter again and doing another change. Just to make sure there is no fuel left in with the oil.

Sydney is a nice place and we are currently building a house up in the Blue Mountains 40 odd miles west of the centre of Sydney. I am yet to visit the west coast of the USA as I have only done the North East states from Maine, and across to Chicago and all the places in between along with Ontario and Quebec in Canada, I loved my time in the states and I plan to take the Mrs over there in the next few years and we plan on doing a trip through Washington State, Montana, North and South Dakota, the head down to visit Uncle Jim Bean in Kentucky and Uncle Jack in Tennessee.

Cheers
Mark

 

Good idea changing oil again shortly after the initial change, you'll clean a lot of goo out besides. I regret to inform you but apparently I was really tired when I posted my reflections of Provo. I was referring to Provo Utah here in the States. I'm still trying to figure out how on earth I wandered down that path last night. Must've been dreaming. Dangerous thing a weary mind. Never know what will pass from my typing fingers! I love the itinerary you posted, it sounds like quite an adventure! I wish my lovely bride was a little more interested in journeys like yours. Got her on the bike once in 7 years of marriage. She allows me my time but I can't seem to get her interested. She is insistent that I sell off all my diamonds and purchase a newer BMW RT series. I'm not budging, I worked and suffered too long to just give up my babies now. You really ought to include a stop in Pigeon Forge up past Knoxville in the Great Smokey Mountains if your headed to Lynchburg. Beautiful during the summer (bit of a tourist trap but you control your wallet, they don't). My wonderful aunt and uncle live in Knoxville and I just love visiting Cades Cove and Sevierville. Appalachia is just beautiful no matter where you visit.

 

I have to second the motion to goto Cades Cove and Sevierville. My family heads down there every year and it is beutiful. Hope you get everything working well. I'm planning on taking a cruise with my father and brother, hopefully all goes well.

-Kevin

 

Well guys after a full on day it is done.

I am now sitting down on my second amber ale and what did I find out, the beer wench brought me the first one out just as I was checking the float levels, what a wonderful girl .

Well I pulled the carbs out and found 2 more tubes, between the air filter and the carb not on correctly. Still I pulled it all off and had a look at one float at a time. Nothing seemed to be sticking needle looked ok, so I pulled it all apart, cleaned it up and it was a little dirty and put it all back together.

Once I got the carbs back on the bike, check all the tubes were tights and on correctly. I connected the tank back up, flicked it to PRI, I then checked the float level using a piece of 6mm clear plastic hose. The fuel level sat just below, where the screws are on the float housing.

I could be wrong but to me that shows the float level to be ok?

All levels were the same.

I am going to change the oil and filter and kick her in the guts and see what happens. I am still at a loss with what happened the other day, so I guess as this is my first time really working on a bike, it will treat it as trial and error and thank goodness I got a good paycheck for the fuel I might waste.





Thanks for the tips on places to go guys. I have traveled a fair bit around the world and have lived in asia for several years thanks to my father being an serviceman. I have been to Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, & India. I also spent 8 weeks in the US and Canada back in 98 and stayed with family friends up in Vermont, which I used as a base for my tours around the north east.

I have to admit I did fall in love with the north east of the USA and Canada. I love all the mircobrewries I visited and the people in general, they were different to here in Australia, but still very close and I was made very welcome.

My better half, has only left the state we live in twice and that was to visit my family in 2 states. She loves the stories I tell of my travels. She is into the country and western stuff (i'm not) and want to visit Nashville. So she is happy enough to do the Motana, North/South Dakota thing with me. Lets hope we can hire a conertable Mustang this time.

Anyways guys the Rugby is on TV and I am off for another Ale. I will update you again in a few days and thanks so very much for your help.

Cheers
Mark

 

I'd start looking at your fuel petcock at this point, you've eliminated the floats. Enjoy that brew! And don't forget to tip the barmaid who so lovingly supplied the refreshment in time of need! (Sounds like a keeper to me!)

 

B I N G O

B I N G O

B I N G O

and Bingo was his name.

The diaphragm was rooted in the Petcock. I got up this morning after the mrs went to work and pulled out the petcock. I ended up picking another one from the local wreckers for 25 bucks and connected it up.

In the mean time the engine oil/Fuel was dumped and there was around 5 litres all up. I replaced the filter as well and put in 2 1/2 litres. I then took the bike on a 20 minutes ride, came home, dumped the oil again, then filled up with fresh Shell Advance.

She runs like a charm now thank to you guys and if you lived closer I would shout you all a beer and not that Fosters rubbish either.

Thanks again guys your all legends.


Mark

 

Glad to hear of your success! Keep the rubber on the road and take care.