The Wanderer - Part 2

[made2care]

I think i'm running into a strange situation here. I filled up my gas tank yesterday and did not ride the bike. this morning i checked the tank and the level had dropped about 1/4. i have a single carb. could fuel be leaking into the engine? this would explain it running so poorly now.

 

[slabghost]

Possible with the heat we've had lately. Expansion could have pushed fuel through.

 

[joedrum]

Hmmmmm.a 1/4 down sounds like a lot ....best check and make sure float is shutting fuel off good....that's the one thing good about fuel shut off solenoid ..it stops fuel in the idle circuit from siphoning down to where it feeds in bowl.....so if bowl is not shut off completely from the float and you have a full tank in bike it can dump a lot of fuel in the manifold on it way to motor ...I really have my float lower than what the car set up is .....but mines a deft carb not soled not sure if this applies to that carb.....

 

[slabghost]

Solex is actually very easy to lower the float height. Simply remove the valve assembly and add another washer then reinstall.

 

[made2care]

How can fuel be siphoned if the petcock is off?
I understand the float issue, but way more gas is getting in, so maybe i need to check the petcock.

 

[slabghost]

Is the fuel line near level or does it reach the engine before going up to the carb? Straight shot to carb may indeed induce siphoning.

 

[mcgovern61]

made2care » Thu Aug 03, 2017 1:38 pm[/url]":s04rbycl]
How can fuel be siphoned if the petcock is off?
I understand the float issue, but way more gas is getting in, so maybe i need to check the petcock.

Indeed.........

Read this thread:

viewtopic.php?p=2784#p2784

 

[made2care]

slabghost » Yesterday, 6:47 pm[/url]":1edyvwae]
Is the fuel line near level or does it reach the engine before going up to the carb? Straight shot to carb may indeed induce siphoning.

I will get you a pic

 

[made2care]

mcgovern61 » Yesterday, 8:42 pm[/url]":11q8rbxd]

made2care » Thu Aug 03, 2017 1:38 pm[/url]":11q8rbxd]
How can fuel be siphoned if the petcock is off?
I understand the float issue, but way more gas is getting in, so maybe i need to check the petcock.

Indeed.........

Read this thread:

viewtopic.php?p=2784#p2784

Very confusing! I guess i can put a shutoff valve between the exit fuel pump port and carb . this is nuts !

 

[made2care]

slabghost » Yesterday, 6:47 pm[/url]":38e2twiv]
Is the fuel line near level or does it reach the engine before going up to the carb? Straight shot to carb may indeed induce siphoning.

Okay, the gas in tank is leveling with the carb but whats weird is i pulled the dipstick and no smell of gas. The fuel hose going from pump to carb is level maybe 2 inches then goes straight up to carb. Should i get a longer hose , run across engine (say 5 inches) then go up to carb? Maybe install an anti-siphon valve.

 

[Denver]

Pull the fuel line loose with petcock turned off to see if it leaks. My guess is it does, leave it hang with a container to catch any fuel that might leak out to see if it stays empty & dry.

 

[slabghost]

Where then is the fuel pump? Fuel line should go to the right head and feed the fuel pump then back up to the carb.

 

[made2care]

slabghost » Today, 1:28 pm[/url]":kj48yj9f]
Where then is the fuel pump? Fuel line should go to the right head and feed the fuel pump then back up to the carb.

it does. From the petcock, the line goes to a fuel filter, then feeds right connector on fuel pump, then left feed line from pump goes horizontal about 2 inches, from there it goes up to fuel pump.

 

[made2care]

Denver » Yesterday, 7:17 am[/url]":1btdzkgx]
Pull the fuel line loose with petcock turned off to see if it leaks. My guess is it does, leave it hang with a container to catch any fuel that might leak out to see if it stays empty & dry.

tested petcock and no leaks when in off position. but, when i turned it to open position, no gas came out. I then opened the gas cap and then gas came out. I then closed petcock , put gas cap back on, again opened petcock and gas did come out that time.

 

[joedrum]

The vent is pluged up on cap ....loosen cap to halfway on and ride it ...it should do fine now

 

[made2care]

joedrum » Today, 7:40 am[/url]":1rikpkxc]
The vent is pluged up on cap ....loosen cap to halfway on and ride it ...it should do fine now

Well, that's one problem solved. The fuel pump is spewing fuel, if i remember a while back, it was doing that and i forgot about it. I will pull the pump off of my other bike and take it from there.
will also soak the gas cap too.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[made2care]

Changed fuel pump and its working great! No leaks. So far I have salvaged engine guards, brake caliper and now a fuel pump from my other bike . Found #1 cylinder cold and plug was fouled. Cleaned plug and she's running great again. Leaving gas tank cap halfway on until I get the donor cap cleaned. Have to figure out what's fouling #1 now.

 

[Denver]

That's the ticket, step after step till it's sorted out. :good:

 

[made2care]

Okay, latest update and I'm not going to mention that I'm still waiting on the seat :beg:

I finally have the bike running great again :clapping: . Took it out for a 10 mile ride and she purred perfectly all the way. Once I cleaned #1 plug and fixed the gas cap , she's perfect. If #1 fouls again, I'm thinking of investing in some ACCEL coils which hopefully would cure that.
Brakes are all working, no leaks :rocks:

So what is left?
Rear shocks need rebuild and of course I'm still waiting on the ........................................... :help:

Oh, I forgot to mention, I did install an inline shut-off valve between the fuel pump and carb. Tank is full , so I will check the level in the morning.

 

[slabghost]

Good news! If it's any consolation I'm still waiting on batteries I bought around the same time.