Topic: That doesn't sound right...

[eigenvector]

My Sabre has a petcock issue, it won't stop dripping.  I have a new one coming in soon, but until then I'm keeping as little gas in the tank as possible.

That said - I'm running the engine after the carb rebuild to see how it went.

So after work today, go out back to start her up
<Rrrrrrr BANG!> (Very loud metallic clanging noise) <rr....>
"Okay..."
<Rrrrrrrrm.......>
"Hmmm, sure does smell like a gas station around here.."
<Rr....>
<Rrrrrrr ROAR!!!!> and off she goes like nothing happened.

What good is the freakin' fuel shut off valve if it won't stop a leaky petcock from overflowing into the cylinders?

I'll be glad when that petcock comes in - these vacuum operated petcocks are a royal pain in the keister.

[Terry in Australia]

Check your engine oil mate, leaking fuel taps used to be a problem on many big jap bikes back in the day, and the fuel would run into whatever cylinder had it's inlet valves open, the fuel would work it's way past the piston rings in a cold engine, and flood the crank cases.

This has happened to me as recently as this year, when my Honda XR500R's fuel mixed with engine oil pooled under the bike due to a failed fuel tap causing fuel to leak in and fill the crankcases, and dried kickstart/gear lever shaft seals allowed the oily fuel to pass out onto the floor. I often wonder what would happen if I ran that engine with crankcases full of fuel.........

[eigenvector]

Well I spent the afternoon taking the petcock apart and trying to cut up old inner tube rubber for a new gasket.  The old one was cracked.

The trick will be putting it back together since I had to drill out the rivets they used to pin it together.