Problem with Starting - Gas leaking from Exhaust

[Brookwood Valk]

When starting the bike, I am getting a leak (sometimes it almost looks like a spray) of gas out of the spot where the pipes join.  The bike will run for a few seconds and then shut off.

Any ideas what might be happening?  Additionally, do any of you know of a decent mechanic in the Atlanta area?

Thanks in advance for your assistance? 

[Pete]

We are going to need more info to help you.

When was he last time it ran right?
Anything been done just before problem?
Is it really gas or water with a gas smell?

etc.

[Ricky-D]

Where the pipes join?

Valkyrie exhaust is a solid welded unit, tip to stern.

Any other modifications?

***

[9Ball]

sounds like the hole for condensation to drip out of the pipes.  Are you sure it's gas and not water (condensation) mixed with exhaust smell?

[hubcapsc]

That's exactly how my buddy Gary's valk acted. The petcock needed rebuilding, search the tech archives for "cover set"
to get the part number, and tons of rebuild instructions and pictures.

If gas is getting that far (to where it spews raw out of the weep hole in your pipes) you are in danger of "hydrolock"...
it could fill up a cylinder all the way - liquid doesn't compress - you could hit the starter and break internal engine
part$.

If you go to a mechanic, instead of fixing it yourself, you'll know you've found the right one when s/he knows
what a cover set is and where to get one...

You can feel good that your petcock has been rebuilt well enough to avoid hydrolock if reserve kicks in when you
think it should, and "off" makes your bike run out of gas in a mile or so. If you rebuild it yourself, there's a shop talk
article that describes an easy vacuum test you can do before you even put the petcock back on the tank.

Here's what the diaphragm inside of Gary's petcock looked like, and the little rubber... tittie... on the petcock
weep hole is the previous owner's insane attempt to fix the gas leak problem...



-Mike

[Brookwood Valk]

Thanks for everyone's replies.

I haven't ridden the bike since last fall - I have made no modifications in the last several years. 

The leak sure smells like gas and it doesn't feel like water.  However, it is not the same color as gas - it is dirtier.

When I said "where the pipes join", I meant the area where the three small pipes meet at the beginning of the muffler.

[roboto65]

Well I will say this DO NOT TRY and start you bike again till you either pull the plugs and get the gas out of the cylinder and check your petcock !!!!

You are on the verge of Hydrolock and you DO not want those headaches!!

[Brookwood Valk]

Thanks for your advice - that might be it.