I have an R80 G/S that has suffered from fuel leaking from the carburettors. There are many possible causes of this, some have been treated else where but not all of them brought together. So here it is - all of them, seven in total. If you have a cause that is not listed here then I want to know about it!
OK - possible causes
I Think this is the most frequent cause. OK - the source for the dirty fuel is your fuel tank. Either that or the fuel hose is deteriating or if equiped the fuel filter/s then they are. Simply cleaning out the fuel in the float bowels may finish this trip, but you need to clean out the system. If the source is the fuel hose or filters then replace them. If not then I hopefull your fuel tank is not rusting. Remove all the fuel from the tank, you need somewhere to put it, and it may come out dirty, filter it in some way. I let it settle in an ice cream container, the dirt goes to the bottom. Empty the clean fuel into a jerry can and repeat untill you have only half a container full and nothing in the bikes fuel tank. Now remove the fuel petcocks. There should be fine copper screens on top of the petcocks, if not take a look at the tank and see if you can find them. Clean the petcocks and screens in the petrol. Done? Well you will still have dirt in the tank! You need to poor the clean petrol into the tank and let that drain out into another container, it will come out dirty! Repeat this untill it comes out clean. Take a look as to why all this dirt was inside, fuel tank not rusting? Paint not seperating from the inside of the tank? If it is rusting or the paint eperating then you need something like "Kreem", a fuel tank inner paint. Go see your local expert, or do a web search. Reassemble, you might like to include an external fuel filter in your system to stop the dirty fuel getting to the carbys. Note that the 'dirt' could come from some petrol station. Take a look at the petrol you get when filling your bike.
Well you only use one petcock at a time, or one side of the tank is dirty, the other clean.
The dirt is heavy and flows downwards, so a "T" piece may send the petrol in 2 directions
but the dirt will go to the lower side. So only one carby will tend to collect the dirt.
However if you do find dirt in one side, clean both sides to avoid doing the second side later.
Most of my leaks have been dirty petrol, but then mine is a G/S travelling in remote places
where fuel can come out of a 44 gallon drum by hand pump.
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Back to my home page Dated 30 March 2002