Got a gas leak

[Fritz The Cat]

Gas is dribbling out of what appears to be a drain hose under the tank. Any idea what might be going on?

[Toledo Mark]

Did you overfill the tank?  On a hot day if I fill mine to the top it will sometime leak out the vent hose when the gas is in the sun.

[Fritz The Cat]

Nope, tank is less than half full. It's been sitting for awhile and I just tried for several minutes t5o crank it and she tries to fire but don't run. I fear I've screwed her up bad. 

[dan7uk]

Sounds like you have a float sticking.  You can try a can of Techron in the gas tank for a simple fix.  But be prepare to tear down carbs for a good cleaning and overhaul.  If carbs have never been touch it's time.  One downfall on Valkyrie is the carbs, must be ridden or carbs will gum up.  Good luck.

[Fritz The Cat]

Thanks. Waiting on the dribble to stop so I can roll her back into the garage. 

[Ricky-D]

It would be good to ascertain exactly where the gas is coming from.

A "drain hose" under the tank isn't very definitive.

It probably is a carburetor but you need to find which one is the culprit.

Be aware you are close to "HYDROLOCK" condition so proceed cautiously.

Usually a tap on the offending carburetor will free up a sticky float and

stop the gas dribble.

A strong dose of additive is strongly suggested.

***

[pancho]

What Ricky-D mentioned about the hydrolock...  Take precautions at this point... if it is coming from a float valve sticking in a carburetor, it is likely to be running into the cylinder also.  Turn the petcock off!!

[Fritz The Cat]

got her back in the garage. Gonna pull the left side plugs before I try to crank her over again. Do I need to pull the right side also? How hard is it to rebuild the carbs?

Thanx

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Stock petcock has a small vent hole on the bottom if gas leaks from there diaphragm in switch has a small hole in it and needs a cover set to repair.  OR you can make it a manual valve very easy.

[dan7uk]

got her back in the garage. Gonna pull the left side plugs before I try to crank her over again. Do I need to pull the right side also? How hard is it to rebuild the carbs?

Thanx

Good info on carb rebuild
https://www.google.com/#q=d+ray+valkyrie

[Fritz The Cat]

I can actually see the hose the gas was coming out of, it's not coming from the petcock.

Thanks for the youtube links. I stumbled upon one of those today gonna watch the rest of them.

If it's a stuck float, what's the best way to proceed? If I can avoid pulling the carbs that would be great.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I can actually see the hose the gas was coming out of, it's not coming from the petcock.

Thanks for the youtube links. I stumbled upon one of those today gonna watch the rest of them.

If it's a stuck float, what's the best way to proceed? If I can avoid pulling the carbs that would be great.

If it's a stuck float, try tapping on the float bowl with the handle end of a screwdriver . Works most of the time unless the float needle is screwed up.

[Fritz The Cat]

Do I have to pull the tank to get to the float bowls?

Sorry, I'm in uncharted territory.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Do I have to pull the tank to get to the float bowls?

Sorry, I'm in uncharted territory.

Not if you are going to tap them to get them to quit leaking. If you are taking them off yes. I'm no expert but what I have done before that worked is;
1 Turn on the gas
2 determine which carb float is leaking
3 tap repeatedly till leak stops
That said if the float needle is gummed up or damaged it won't work, but it's where I would start. Good luck

[Fritz The Cat]

Thanks 

[Brian]

I had the same thing once. Techron did not clear it up and could not find what carb was stuck. Tapping did not fix it. I pulled the carbs and cleaned the valve seats and float valves. You could pull the intakes off between the carbs and heads to see if any carb is leaking into the cylinder. I had three that were leaking through between the sides and replaced all the float valves. They are expensive but cheaper than a hydrolock repair. I now close the petcock after each rides as the POS OEM valve was leaking through too. I now have a manual Pingle.

[Fritz The Cat]

2 days later and it's still dripping gas. Just went out to the garage and almost passed out. There's a wet spot about the size of a saucer on  the floor. It's a slow drip but a drip none the less. I've never had a problem with the petcock before. Is it the petcock or something else?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Don't leave it leaking in an enclosed garage. Could be disaster! If its a stuck float turning off the petcock will eventually get it to stop leaking. But you still need to fix it or you could be in for a huge job with a hydro lock . If turning off the petcock doesn't stop it you've got 2 problems

[Fritz The Cat]

Is there an easy way to drain the gas tank? i guess that's the first thing I should do.

[Ricky-D]

Siphon first, then remove the tank and pour out the rest.

Sometimes the stopcock will say "Off" but not actually be "off".

Turning the dial back and forth you can feel the detent for

the "off" position.

No sweat!

***

[Fritz The Cat]

Thanks. There's gas pooled in the low spot of the right head. 

[BF]

Do you have any rust in the tank?

It's possible that the vent tube in the tank is beginning to rust through with a small pin hole in it and leaking via the vent hose. 

Where exactly is the gas leaking from?

[Fritz The Cat]

It's leaking from what looks like a drain tube under the air box. Can't see anything it would connect to so I'm guessing it's a carb overflow line.

I got the tank off. James, from next door, came over and told me the petcock would keep the gas in the tank. Duh! I should have thought of that. Anyway, the tank is off and I'm gonna take the carbs off and go through them.

Wish me luck. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

It's leaking from what looks like a drain tube under the air box. Can't see anything it would connect to so I'm guessing it's a carb overflow line.

I got the tank off. James, from next door, came over and told me the petcock would keep the gas in the tank. Duh! I should have thought of that. Anyway, the tank is off and I'm gonna take the carbs off and go through them.

Wish me luck. 

Be patient, working on one carb is tedious. Six can drive you drink.

[Fritz The Cat]

Hope I can giterdone so I can ride this summer. 

[cajundood]

got her back in the garage. Gonna pull the left side plugs before I try to crank her over again. Do I need to pull the right side also? How hard is it to rebuild the carbs?

Thanx

Good info on carb rebuild
https://www.google.com/#q=d+ray+valkyrie

good info on the pull as well as carb teardown......But...it doesn't deal with the fuel rail o-ring replacement or seperating the carbs.  The carbs would have to be pulled off of the bracket in order to get to the plastic tees in between. ANY SUGGESTIONS??  ???

[pancho]

It's leaking from what looks like a drain tube under the air box. Can't see anything it would connect to so I'm guessing it's a carb overflow line.

I got the tank off. James, from next door, came over and told me the petcock would keep the gas in the tank. Duh! I should have thought of that. Anyway, the tank is off and I'm gonna take the carbs off and go through them.

Wish me luck.  

Hey Fritz,, First I think you have to identify exactly where or what "leaking from what looks like a drain tube under the air box" hose the gas is coming from before you start tearing your bike apart.  Can you take a picture???   I mean NO disrespect, but if you didn't think to turn off the petcock to stop a gas leak, even after it had been suggested earlier in this post,, do you really want to be tearing the carbs out and apart??   I suggest that first we identify EXACTLY which hose the gas is coming from,, and find the likely culprit before proceeding,  you do want to ride this summer.........

Luck is not what is required here,,, it is a solid troubleshooting approach to the problem.

[Fritz The Cat]

When I pull the air box I'll take a pic of the hose.

The reason I want to tear down and rebuild the carbs is because the bike has never run right. I've had idle problems from day one. When I bought her she wouldn't idle at all but after spending a small fortune on Seafoam and other additives, I got her to idle but the idle speeds up when she warms up and if I idle her back down I back to having to hold the throttle to keep her running. I figure the carbs could use a good cleaning, just hope I don't open up a pandoras box.

[pancho]

Well, from what you are describing, it sounds like the carbs may need to be gone through and get cleaned up, but it is really best to pin things down and know exactly what you are looking at.......  it's the words like hope and luck that give me some concern Fritz........   have you checked out the YouTube videos of the Valkyrie carbs rebuild??  the link has been posted here a couple of times, they are pretty through, but still not to be undertaken unless you have confidence  in your wrenching skills.

First thing is to see exactly where the fuel is coming from..

[Ricky-D]

Removing the carburetors is not a regular maintenance procedure and can be perilous if you are

not fully capable in this type operation.

Just about every needed chore can be done without removing the carburetors.

Usually not every carburetor on the bike needs attention and time would be better

spent identifying exactly which carburetor is the offender and attend to that

specific carburetor.

***

[Fritz The Cat]

Thanks. I use the words hope and luck because I've never messed with the carbs before. I guess if worst comes to worst I can always pile the pieces into a cardboard box and take it to the Stealer. I did this once with a Toyota. Tried to change the head gasket, got it all tore down and decided I was in over my head. I called a wrecker and had it towed to the Toyota dealer and they put it back together for me.

[salty1]

If you take off your tank and air filter housing, it would be rather easy to see the leak. Obviously you would need a portable fuel vessel that would supply fuel as your looking for the leak. If you take off the carbs leave the bank in one piece if you can, this assumes the fuel rail Orings are not the problem. You might also want to flush some gas enriched with Chemtool through the float bowls and let it sit for a couple of days. FWIW

[salty1]

Fritz put a call out for local help.? I bet there's somebody that can give you hand. I certainly would if I were close enough.

[pancho]

Same here,,, hate to think of you going down a road by yourself that will cost you a bunch on unnecessarily spent money.   I don't think you will get in over your head if you go one step at a time and ask for advice, or get some help. I am starting to think from the info you provided, that the most straight forward approach to you problem is to remove the carbs as your thinking and clean them,, blow low out the jets and passages,,,  but first,, identify exactly where the gas is leaking from.

[Fritz The Cat]

Thanks all for the advice. As far as I know, I'm in no Valk land, nobody near me. 

I'll be asking lots of questions for sure. i also have a copy of the service manual to fall back on and like my neighbor said, take lots of pics as you go.

[cokebottle10]

Fritz where abouts are you located.

David in Fletcher NC

[Fritz The Cat]

I'm in SE Georgia close to Savannah. Wish I lived in Fletcher, that's God's country. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm in SE Georgia close to Savannah. Wish I lived in Fletcher, that's God's country. 

I'd say there is someone close that can help if you get in trouble. I would still recommend starting with the easy fixes before you tear into it. Good luck

[Fritz The Cat]

Thanks. Gonna get started this weekend. Gotta clear all the junk off the workbench before I can even start. Also gotta remember to pull the plugs before I crank her over again in case there's gas in the cylinders.

[Brian]

Fritz, sounds like you need to replace your jets and pull the pilot needles flushing out those passages and replace the 0-rings and washers. Redeye sells everything you need to do a complete carb rebuild but the jets. Rich gives good directions and use the shop manual. Doing all this smoothed out my idle. Have a well lit and clean area to work and do one carb at a time. Do not touch the synch screws and pay particular attention to how the linkages and the small springs are situated. Take a lot of before pictures to refer to. Take your time. It's not hard, just time consuming. Research this site can really be your friend. Read all you can here and the shop manual first.

Good luck. Keep us posted. I am in Monroe, NC.