Topic: gas vapors again!

[cappy]

Good Morning,
Installed new petcock (Honda brand).  Rode 45 miles.  Ran bike with petcock OFF until she stalled.  Parked in garage on center stand.  Woke this morning, and the wife is still complaining about the gas vapors in the garage.  Either I park it out outside, sell it, or get rid of my wife?  What to do?
I guess I will be trying to track down the source of the leak.

[Burnboy]

The gas smell is part of the charm. Tell her to quit complaining and make you a sandwich!

[JZEROE]

A hardened fuel tank cap gasket can vent more gas than an old man at a bean-eating contest. Have you replaced that? What about carb gaskets and fuel hoses? If they are old and cracked, they can emit quite a bit as well. But even with an all-new fuel system, you're still going to get gas vaopr: Carbs are essentially open to the world, and, even when you run 'em dry, they'll still have residue coating their insides.

One possible solution is an activated charcoal air filter to trap the fumes. They're easy to buy... but this is a tinkerers' forum. You should build one:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Activated-Carbon-Air-Filter/

[flybox1]

i dont think there is a day where my garage DOESNT smell like gas or exhaust fumes.  told my wife i'd do my best to minimize the smell.....then proceeded to put away a pulled pork sandie 

vapors can also come from your carb overflow tubes.

[laser145]

Depends on how badly you'll miss the wife...

My garage would get super hot and the gas would vent out and smell...but it's not that time of year yet.

I second the fuel lines... and they're cheap to replace.

I feel your pain on the smell though...I rent a garage that's underneath two apartments.  The garage isn't well sealed and if I have the smallest leak, it smells inside...then I get a call from the landlord/feel guilty/apologize to tenants etc...

I can't wait to have my own space!

[cappy]

Yeah, I hear all your comments.  I have even tried to explain it could be one of the following:

3 weedeaters, 1 chainsaw, edger, walk behind mower, small push mower, snow blower, two cars, my Yz250, T500 suzuki, 4 gas cans for all the lawn equiptment, the list goes on.

Anyway.  The carbs were rebuild 2 years ago with Keyster crap kits.  Gas cap seal could use attention, so I'll look at that.  I have new fuel lines, new t-fitting o'rings.

I thought of maybe parking the CB outside and blindfolding my wife.  Lead her to the garage and have her tell me she still smells gas.  I know gas vapors are no laughing matter, but geez.

Thanks again for all your replies.

[Gordon]

How much time is she spending out in the garage?  With all the gas powered motors you have in there it's going to smell like gas.  Just tell her she's lucky she gets to park her car in the garage.  I'm sure that will go over well.   My garage is motorcycles only! 

[eurban]

Obviously you should make sure that you are not unnecessarily leaking fuel or fumes from the bike and equipment.  However, as has already been said, you will never completely eliminate the fumes.  With the fumes minimized you should probably put your energies into sealing the rest of your house from the garage and figuring out a way to ventilate the garage.  If the fumes are getting inside the house then improve any sealing on the garage to house door and use insulating foam etc to seal any penetrations from garage to the rest of the house.  If you have open roof over your garage consider installing a convection spinner to draw out heat and fumes. Passive vents on the garage door or side walls with cross flow might be another option.  You could engineer covers for your vents if you want to reduce heat loss in the winter.  An electric exhaust fan is a risky business in a garage with significant fumes but there might be some specialty items designed to self start when gas vapors are adequately present.  Overall passive / convection venting is probably the way to go. 

[Brian G]

Funny thing about fumes and/or the scent of power 

When I park my 550 or the CBX in the garage after a spirited run, they smell of hot metal and rubber along with a slight tang of gasoline. The BSA, on the other hand, smells totally different after a hard run - enough that my wife will make disparaging comments (and she 'owns' the 550). I find the scent quite pleasing; She Who Must Be Obeyed, not so much... 

But why do they smell different when they're hot? I use the same brand/weight of oil in all three, fill up at the same service station, use the same wax and chrome polish on all three, but there is a marked difference. Oh, well..., Vive le difference 

Regards,
Brian

[TwoTired]

Are the long vent lines and carb drain hoses still on the bike?

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Either I park it out outside, sell it, or get rid of my wife?  What to do?

Send picture of wife.

[cappy]

Bike was outside last night.  Wife did not know I put it out and said the gas vapors were gone.  I guess I still have work to do.

Is it possible the OEM petcock has been “on the shelf” so long that the seal wave spring behind the face plate has relaxed and is not sealing properly.

Obviously a simple check by pulling the gas lines can verify this.  I moved the bike last night off the center stand and got a steady stream of fuel out of the overflow tubes and then stopped. (1 oz.)

This was after I shut the petcock OFF Sunday night while running the engine until it stalled.  I think my new petcock is at fault still.  I believe if the petcock is working correctly there not be
Any fuel higher than any one of the float bowl levels, so once a little spills in the overflow tubes (brass) that is all the gas that should continue to leak??

Or maybe the brass tubes have mirco cracks along the length of them.  I have read this on SOHC.

TT - The drain lines are indeed in place, everything on the bike is stock.

Could my float level be too high and as i rock the bike or move it the fuel drains out of the overflows?  I am oing to check the seal on the cap it looks done to me.

My wife has the nose of a blood hound.

[TwoTired]

Do you park on the center stand or the side stand?  Does the "vapor" issue change with the park position?
If only on side stand, you may need to polish the float pivots and sides where the float rubs.

Also, drain and catch the contents of the float bowls.  Check for fine dust/silt that may stop full float valve closure.

Are the float needles and seats still matched sets that are married together for optimum seal?

Have you looked at the drain and vent lines (six of them) to see if they are wet inside them?

[cappy]

I like to park it on the center stand almost always.  Religious about switching the gas off when parked.  Have not checked for lines being wet.  I was mainly focused on the four down tubes (vents)  but not the two pointing up over the airbox.  Carb kits were new and I did not mix float needles and seats.

i will try some of your suggestions.  I have heard about fine lapping of the needles to the seats to help them seal from a Harley dude here at work.  I hope some of this helps, and Thanks for all of you posting on this topic. 

[strynboen]

when i startet my IH-1455 you cant  even see that garage,,it smoke in 15 minuts,,untill the turbo can blow some air in engine,,and it can get hot inof to burn that diesel,,insted to blov it up in exhost..vhen engine are hor it runs like a seving mashine...but vife are craizaty vhen everything smells  like a lokomotive has exploed in garage..

[Hinomaru]

Good Morning,
Installed new petcock (Honda brand).  Rode 45 miles.  Ran bike with petcock OFF until she stalled.  Parked in garage on center stand.  Woke this morning, and the wife is still complaining about the gas vapors in the garage.  Either I park it out outside, sell it, or get rid of my wife?  What to do?
I guess I will be trying to track down the source of the leak.

Did this problem start since you replaced your petcock or has it been ongoing?

(Refer to the attached diagram below)

Sounds to me like your new petcock is passing fuel in the off position. This can happen if the sealing washers (#25) are leaking or missing as it allows fuel to fill the sediment bowl (#2) and continue on down the fuel lines to the carbs. This can be easily checked by shutting the petcock to the off position and removing the sediment bowl (#2) and screen (#5) and wipe the petcock dry. Watch and see if fuel drips or collects on the heads of petcock mounting screws (#31).

If its leaking, tighten the screws (#31) and / or replace the sealing washers (#25) and re-check for leaks. Of course it could be a faulty diaphragm (#4) but I never seen one leak on a new OE petcock. Once your petcock is confirmed leak free then you can troubleshoot your float levels, needles, seats, etc. as suggested by the other members.   

[cappy]

Gents,

Update.....Just removed the petcock sediment bowl and checked with petcock in OFF pos.  Leakage!!!

I get several drips every 5 secs.   Gaskets under petcock mounting bolts are junk.  New seal washers I will pick up tomorrow along with gas cap gasket because it is shot too.  Plan is to install new seal washers and cap gasket tomorrow night.

Does anyone recommend anything else on the o'ring between the petcock seal face and gas tank.  Yamabond #4 or any other sealing goo?

Thanks again for all your help.
Greg.