Topic: Sudden fuel dump!

[Spear]

Hey troopers. I bet you thought I had died and gone to bikers' heaven. (Yeah I know some want to know why I didn't!) To tell you the truth I've been so damned busy with my other hobby - photography - and it has been so damned cold down under, that the old K2 has been under wraps for about a month. Decided yesterday, because it warmed up to a nice 12degC, to crank the old girl over and give her a run down the driveway to the front gate (that's half a kilometre away) and back a couple of times. Turned the fuel on half an hour before I kicked her over. Went I went to the workshop to fire her up, there's this gawd-almight stench of liquid gold - unleaded fuel at $1.12 a litre - slowly spreading across the floor. "Sh!t", he says. Rolled her off the stand, backed her out of the workshop and kicked her over [for kicked her over, read "pushed starter button a few times with full choke"]. Fired up okay, but I'm a bit stumped as to why the sudded fuel loss. I'm always in the habit of turning the fuel tap off after riding and don't get any leaks at all. If I'm on a ride anywhere and doing frequent stops of no more than an hour then I leave the fuel on and have no problems. Just wondering if anyone else has strudk this at all.  Is it a sticking float due to inactivity - or wot?

[mutters]

Spear ,I suspect the cold could have some effect on the metal parts involved in keeping the fuel in where it s'posed to be. I've had a similar problem when I left the bike out in the cold .
However it could be a bit of gummy residue on a float valve , did the short run cure the leak?

[Bob Wessner]

Might be worthwhile to run some carb cleaner that can be mixed with fuel for a tank or two.

[eldar]

I would also have to agree on the possible cold influence. While it would not affect gas, it could affect the float valves or there could also be some gumming but I would not thing so. Did you put some kind of fuel stabilizer in your gas? That could possibly have some affect. Do you know where the fuel leaked from? That would maybe help.

[kghost]

the old K2 has been under wraps for about a month. Decided yesterday, because it warmed up to a nice 12degC, to crank the old girl over and give her a run down the driveway to the front gate (that's half a kilometre away) and back a couple of times. Turned the fuel on half an hour before I kicked her over. Went I went to the workshop to fire her up, there's this gawd-almight stench of liquid gold - unleaded fuel at $1.12 a litre - slowly spreading across the floor.

Bear in mind this is just my experience..................

A month sitting with the fuel off is plenty long enough for the bowls to be completely dry. The fuel evaporates you know.

When this happens the floats are full down (wide open fuel valve). There is usually enough residue left after all the fuel dries out to cause the float pivot pins to get a tad sticky. Don't believe? wash parts with gas and look at the residue left after the part drys.

Now when you turn on the fuel it flows into the bowls, there just isn't any motion or vibration to unstick the float pins. Then the gas just dribbles out the overflow vents.

When you fire it up theres enough vibration and such to get those pivot pins moving. The residue goes back into suspension and the problem goes away.

I have never seen cold make carbs overflow. Perhaps the cold parts have less clearance coupled with the above.
Generally I see a hot day expanding the fuel in the bowls and tank, Making the overflow leak.

[Spear]

Thank you all. I tend to think the empty bowls, the lowered floats sticking etc etc were the problem. Having the thing on the side stand would also make it harder for the floats to 'float' again if they were stuck on the pins. And yes - crap in the needle seats wouldn't help either. Once I was on the move things were fine. I suppose there's a lesson in this - keep your machines well-oiled by running them at least once a month. Actually I'm surprised that the battery was still in reasonable condition to fire her up. My workshop gets pretty cold (uninsulated - 10m x 13m steel frame, corrugated steel on a concrete slab) and we get down to zero some nights. Bit of a contrast to the 40+degC we had in January, I can tell you. It was so hot then you couldn't ride. Too hot for a jacket, and if you rode in a short sleeved shirt your arms would burn in 10 minutes. Thank goodness for autumn and spring. Stay safe. I think I'm gonna go for another ride. It's been raining all night,the driveway is muddy, it's overcast threatening more rain, and the temperature has 'soared' to 10degC. (Yeah right Spear - and have to wash and polish the bike AGAIN? Nuh, just gave that idea the big flick!)   

[eldar]

Just stick the rear tire in the mud and hit the gas! Do some mud slinging! You still get some thrill but dont have to clean the WHOLE bike

[Spear]

Jeezuz Eldar! Have you no respect for my driveway?   

[eldar]

Who cares about a driveway! Rain washes that off! No cleaning involved. But if you are concerned about it, aim at the neighbors driveway!

[Spear]

Well - I care for my driveway. It's all dirt (when it's dry) and all mud when it rains. I wish I could aim for my neighbour's driveway - it's all blue metal but there's a 6 strand barbed wire fence between us and I don't fancy taking that on as well.   

[Dennis]

I wish I could aim for my neighbour's driveway - it's all blue metal but there's a 6 strand barbed wire fence between us and I don't fancy taking that on as well.   

Which begs the question ..... why is that 6 strand barbed wire fence there between you and the neighbor's driveway?   

[Bob Wessner]

Good fences make good neighbors.

-- Robert Frost 

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

Well - I care for my driveway. It's all dirt (when it's dry) and all mud when it rains. I wish I could aim for my neighbour's driveway - it's all blue metal but there's a 6 strand barbed wire fence between us and I don't fancy taking that on as well.

I would not be offended unless it was a 6 strand 220 volt electric fence.