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Author Topic: Raw fuel odor, but not finding a leak.... Your first experienced guess please  (Read 1264 times)
afishinado
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Posts: 25


Stuart FL & Rapid City SD


« on: January 13, 2019, 05:54:50 AM »

Opened the shed door and smelled raw gas.  (Note: I leave the valve on all the time.  Have two other bikes and some lawn tools in the shed)  Floor is dry, didn't see anything wet on the bike.  Went for a ride, and a couple times I caught a whiff of gas while riding..  So it is the Valkyrie....  No noticeable smell when I got home and parked it in the carport.  Tried to get my tech on the phone, he just rebuilt the carbs about 1000 miles ago, no answer.  Had to decide where to park it, so thought I'd shut the fuel off, put it in the shed until the tech opens on Tuesday.  When I turned the fuel switch, I immediately smelled it..  Hmmm...  Ran it until it died, put it away.  This morning I could smell it again when I went in the shed.  This morning I wheeled it into the carport, turned on the fuel, no smell, cranked it up, no smell...  Ran it a few minutes and got a whiff of fuel, but can't see or feel anything wet.  Trying to decide whether to take off the tank or leave it be until I can trailer it up to the tech...
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Mike
Stuart, FL & Black Hills, SD
98 Tourer.  Wife 15 Suzuki Blvd 650 (Florida bikes)
17 HD Road Glide.  Wife 2018 HD Heritage 114
recman25
Member
*****
Posts: 58

Tucson, AZ


« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2019, 06:17:30 AM »

  I'm  gonna be watching this! I just bought mine last year and had the same problem! Sometimes I would smell gas while waiting at a light, especially after filling up, sometimes not. I asked the same question. Someone suggested an O ring to be added on the gas cap. I eventually replaced the fuel lines. At the connection to the fuel petcock the line had a small crack in it, just enough for gas to seep out. I still smell gas occasionally and Im just chalking it up to its just the nature of the beast, as uncomfortable as that may be
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Dan
  1999 Valkyrie Interstate
  Tucson, AZ  formerly Jersey Shore
Chrisj CMA
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Posts: 14779


Crestview (Panhandle) Florida


« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2019, 06:24:50 AM »

Gas cap
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Jersey
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Posts: 545


VRCC #37540

Southern Maryland


« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2019, 07:11:52 AM »

The leak could easily be in a place where you can't see it. 

First check might be of all the hoses that can POSSIBLY interact with fuel.  Include the overflow hoses from each carb.  If fuel is coming through that, then you'll want to have your tech look at which carb is overflowing and re-check the float.

This happened to me after I installed the DanMarc fuel cutoff and I needed to tighten the hose clamp just a pinch.  The leak was actually on the blindside of the hose.  I didn't discover it until I pulled the tank and airbox again to inspect it.

If the petcock hoses are dried, that's another common culprit.  The inside of the hose hardens just enough to the shape of the nipple and looses its ability to seal. 

Let us know when you find out what it is!

Jersey
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Jersey
Moonshot_1
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Posts: 5112


Me and my Valk at Freedom Rock


« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2019, 07:36:48 AM »

You immediately smelled gas when you turned on the petcock valve. I'd start there. Don't know the history of the bike but a bad petcock could be the culprit, a cracked hose, or a loose hose. Doesn't take much gas to smell up a place. A drop or two and you can smell it so you may not be looking for gas to pool up somewhere.
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Mike Luken 
 

Cherokee, Ia.
Former Iowa Patriot Guard Ride Captain
Jess from VA
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Posts: 30456


No VA


« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2019, 07:51:13 AM »

Simple stuff first.  It's somewhat common for the gasket material on the gas cap to degrade (after 20 years), and shrink with cold weather too.

I tried to search but could not find a thread here where someone stuck a skinny but large diameter (like 2.5" or so) Oring on the inside of the opened gas cap to stop the fuel smell.





I think some guys cut a wider one out of an old inner-tube and sistered it on top the existing gasket. 
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indybobm
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Posts: 1601

Franklin, Indiana VRCC # 5258


« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2019, 08:08:36 AM »

The rubber seal on the cap can be lifted up and another gasket placed underneath. Easy to get the original piece back in position. Did mine last summer. Be aware that if you use cork gasket material it can get wet with gas and continue to smell. It is better to use something like an inner tube that is gas resistant.
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So many roads, so little time
VRCC # 5258
recman25
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Posts: 58

Tucson, AZ


« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2019, 08:17:17 AM »

 Go to the search engine and type  Smelling gas at red lights. Thats my conversation from april of last year
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Dan
  1999 Valkyrie Interstate
  Tucson, AZ  formerly Jersey Shore
da prez
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Posts: 4359

. Rhinelander Wi. Island Lake Il.


« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2019, 08:19:47 AM »

 Did you smell the raw fuel before the rebuild. If no , then did the tech replace all the fuel lines.
 If yes , then the problem was carried over to the rebuild. I have seen many short cuts taken and found out after the fact.
 What was the reason for the rebuild. If not done , I personally would recommend a de-smog. A fuel line may be seeping , but not leaking (yet). The fuel lines must be of the proper length to work correctly.

                                              da prez
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Ken aka Oil Burner
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Mendon, MA


WWW
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2019, 10:16:18 AM »

Simple stuff first.  It's somewhat common for the gasket material on the gas cap to degrade (after 20 years), and shrink with cold weather too.

I tried to search but could not find a thread here where someone stuck a skinny but large diameter (like 2.5" or so) Oring on the inside of the opened gas cap to stop the fuel smell.




Here's that thread: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,57951.0.html
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afishinado
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Posts: 25


Stuart FL & Rapid City SD


« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2019, 05:20:33 AM »

Yesterday, wife, a good friend and I sniffed all over and the only area seemed to be the gas filler..  Cleaned it up using 1500 grit , ditto cap and applied a little grease..  Opened shed door this morning, no help...

Simple stuff first.  It's somewhat common for the gasket material on the gas cap to degrade (after 20 years), and shrink with cold weather too.

I tried to search but could not find a thread here where someone stuck a skinny but large diameter (like 2.5" or so) Oring on the inside of the opened gas cap to stop the fuel smell.




Here's that thread: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,57951.0.html


Thanks...  Trying that now.  Off to the local NAPA store for a 1-1/2" x 1/8" O-ring

Edit:...  If it works, it will be the best 27 cents I spend today!
« Last Edit: January 14, 2019, 06:14:21 AM by afishinado » Logged

Mike
Stuart, FL & Black Hills, SD
98 Tourer.  Wife 15 Suzuki Blvd 650 (Florida bikes)
17 HD Road Glide.  Wife 2018 HD Heritage 114
Pete
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Posts: 2673


Frasier in Southeast Tennessee


« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2019, 10:27:09 AM »

Gas vapors can come up thru the key hole, test it by taping it shut.
Silicone on the seal surface of the gas cap will plump it up and help it seal.Use it liberally.

There is a drain hole in the petcock that will seep gas if the inner diaphram has a hole in it.
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afishinado
Member
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Posts: 25


Stuart FL & Rapid City SD


« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2019, 04:32:40 AM »

I think the O-Ring fixed the issue.  I open the shed and can still get a little odor, but I may be imagining it as there are other items in there with gas in them.  But for sure there's less than before.

THANK YOU for the replies!
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Mike
Stuart, FL & Black Hills, SD
98 Tourer.  Wife 15 Suzuki Blvd 650 (Florida bikes)
17 HD Road Glide.  Wife 2018 HD Heritage 114
john_berry
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Posts: 33


« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2019, 05:12:08 AM »

If think the fuel tank and the carbs both have vent lines. There's always going to be a little bit of vapor getting out.
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da prez
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Posts: 4359

. Rhinelander Wi. Island Lake Il.


« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2019, 05:44:16 AM »

   Be sure to have some form of ventilation in the shed. Gas fumes will cause damage to plastic and synthetic surfaces.

                                              da prez
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signart
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Posts: 2095


Crossville, Tennessee


« Reply #15 on: January 16, 2019, 07:23:25 AM »

Could very well be fuel rail o rings. They often times swell during use and seal, when everything cools down, start seaping a little or sometimes a lot.
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