Topic: What was leaking from my bike?

[Suke]

Hi,
I have another newbie question. 

I took my bike for a ride yesterday, which was the first time I started it within the past week. It took a few times for it to start up, and once it did it started leaking a bunch of liquid from the bottom of the bike! Do you know what this was? It smelled like gas, but kind of hard to tell. It was almost 95 degrees outside here in Chicago so not sure if that had anything to do with it. Once I rode it around for a minute or two, the leaking completely stopped. Anything to be concerned about?

Also, thinking maybe I flooded the engine the first few times I tried starting the bike. What is the proper way to un-flood an engine?

Thank you very much!

[Bob Wessner]

It probably was gas form a carb bowl overflow tube. Do you have the little rubber tubes attached so it drains back of the engine, or does you'r lack the rubber tubes (many do by now) so it actually drains mid-top engine then runs down the engine sides. It was probably a stuck float, or float valve and riding jiggled it free, or perhaps the float heights need checking and riding drained off enough gas to keep it from overflowing.

You might want to check the float heights, and definately make sure you shut off the fuel at the petcock (if it is manual) whenever you stop. Depending on how much raw fuel was sucked into the engine, the oil may be diluted and may need changing.

Another possibility is sediment getting into the carb bowls and causing the float valves to stick open occasionally. What's the condition of the fuel tank interior, any rust, particularly loose rust/junk?

[TwoTired]

In addition to what Bob said, it doesn't take much of a particle to keep a float valve from closing.  If your fuel supply has gone chunky on you...  Any rust in the tank?  Have you drained the carb float bowls and checked what comes out for non-gas pieces?

To unflood this engine, you open the choke and the throttle all the way and crank the engine 'til it clears and starts.

Cheers,

[eldar]

OR you can say "piss on it" and cuss till you are blue in the face and drive your car!   Letting the bkie sit will also clear a flood as the gas evaporates provided there is not a constant seepage.

[Suke]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I just got the bike a few weeks ago, and haven't done much exploring on the mechanics of it since it's my first bike and it's pretty intimidating. The inside of the tank looks nice considering it's the original and it's 32 years old. There is some minor rust on the inside but doesn't look like anything too major. I also just filled it up with fresh gas a week ago. I haven't checked the bowls and your other suggestions but will try to do that as soon as I get a chance. I think it does have those little black tubes hanging out the bottom, because that is where the liquid was coming from. 

[Bob Wessner]

You may also want to consider spicing some in-line filters into the fuel line(s). These will trap even smaller particles than the screen in the petcock. Most are clear plastic so you can see anything being "captured" on it way to your carbs.

[Lumbee]

...are you turning the gas off after u use the bike?  If not, do so...leaving the gas on can cause the bowls to fill up...

[Suke]

Yep, I am making sure to turn the gas off every time I get off the bike. It might've been that I flooded the engine by trying to start it too many times to fast, and I'll definitely check the bowls and if there is any sediment. I haven't done any work like this on the bike before so hopefully it's not too difficult. I know there is some info on this site on how to do that properly. I let you all know what I find. Thank you very much!

[Bob Wessner]

Browse the FAQ's and it would be worthwhile to pick-up a manual. Haynes, Clymers, or both if you like.

[Tim.]

And you shouldn't ride a bike that you haven't gone over at least briefly mechanically.  Are the nuts holding the front wheel on tight? 

[ol whitey]

FWIW my 77 750K leaks fuel out the gas cap when overfilled.  When the fuel gets warm/hot the fuel expands out the vent hole and down the drain pipe where it drips underneath. 95 degree weather in the sun will do that.

[GeoffT]

I found with my CB550 F that starting it took a bit of getting used to. Full choke and no throttle seems to work best then half choke as soon as engine starts to warm. I also flooded the carbs a few times when i first got the bike. Kick starting about a dozen times with the ignition off seems to clear it for me but maybe once you get used to how your bike likes to start then flooding will become less of an issue.

As for expanding fuel - It would be nice to have that kind of temperature. Not usually much above 70 degrees in the sun here in Orkney!

[TwoTired]

I also flooded the carbs a few times when i first got the bike. Kick starting about a dozen times with the ignition off seems to clear it for me but maybe once you get used to how your bike likes to start then flooding will become less of an issue.

To clear the flooding condition on your bike, take the choke off and open the throttle all the way.  Three or four kicks should clear it.

[Patrick]

Living in Chicago and all, those 95 degree days may seem too frequent to you, but from someone who lives with that kind of heat almost incessant, oe thing to try. On really hot days try starting the bike without the choke. You won't need it. I live in Cenral Texas and I try to use my choke on January 14th every year just to make sure it's still working. These old bikes are a lot of fun, both to work on and drive. We had the Republic of Texas Motorcycle rally here in town lst weekend. Forty thousand bikes of all types from all over the country. More people were walking around my bike - all the way around, than were stopping to pay a second glance at all the $35,000 Harleys. Met a lot of nice folks. Enjoy yours. Thet're getting rarer and attract more admiration, uh, I mean attention......