Smelling gas at red lights

[recman25]

 So, not every time, but enough to take notice. After coming to red lights, stop signs,etc. I get a strong whiff of gas. I've looked admiitedly half hearted for leaks, stains and anything else that would jump out at me with no luck. I'm trying to figure out if this is because I'm sitting next to a gas tank, which is half full, or because theres six thirsty carbs drinking between my legs. Any idea if this is normal? By the way the bike idles fine at around 900rpms and seems to run well at speed

[97BLKVALK]

Are you using a OEM peacock?

Fuel could be dripping from petcock  or possible leaking from orings that connect the carbs.

Any fuel stains around the intake where they meet the heads?

[recman25]

Just replaced O-rings because of staining. Havent noticed any drips from petcock, although i was playing with it the other day. Trying to figure out how long it would take the bike to run out of gas

[Pete]

Gas cap seal or gas cap keyhole?

[Jess from VA]

Given your reported facts, I would bet the smell you are getting is from the gas cap (even locked down). It's not that uncommon.

The rubber gasket material under the cap gets old and shrinks.

Guys have cut up some old innertube and glued it on top the old, but the best solution I saw was was a single big O-ring dropped in there.  There's a thread on here about it somewhere.  The Oring is like an inch and 1/2 to 2".  Home Depot or auto parts or someplace like that.

The pictures have disappeared, but here's the thread.  http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,57951.0.html 

[recman25]

Given your reported facts, I would bet the smell you are getting is from the gas cap (even locked down). It's not that uncommon.

The rubber gasket material under the cap gets old and shrinks.

Guys have cut up some old innertube and glued it on top the old, but the best solution I saw was was a single big O-ring dropped in there.  There's a thread on here about it somewhere.  The Oring is like an inch and 1/2 to 2".  Home Depot or auto parts or someplace like that.

  Aha! That sounds like a possibility.  Will also look closer at petcock. Seems theres a lot of discussion on that

[Jess from VA]

See the link in my edited post (at bottom).

If you aren't finding gas under or on the bottom of the petcock, that's not likely it.

[recman25]

See the link in my edited post (at bottom).

If you aren't finding gas under or on the bottom of the petcock, that's not likely it.

Thats awesome, thanks. Gonna do it just because

[Bighead]

Given your reported facts, I would bet the smell you are getting is from the gas cap (even locked down). It's not that uncommon.

The rubber gasket material under the cap gets old and shrinks.

Guys have cut up some old innertube and glued it on top the old, but the best solution I saw was was a single big O-ring dropped in there.  There's a thread on here about it somewhere.  The Oring is like an inch and 1/2 to 2".  Home Depot or auto parts or someplace like that.

The pictures have disappeared, but here's the thread.  http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,57951.0.html  

This x 10
Running fine = keep riding ...

[Tfrank59]

You know these girls run pretty rich kind of goes to what you were saying about 6 hungry carburetors. Some guys have also just smelled a rich mixture along with some exhaust fumes in the dead space behind the windshield and concluded that it was leaking gas they smelled.   so if you don't find any actual gas leaking anywhere it's a possibility that it's just rich mixture.

[Jack B]

Given your reported facts, I would bet the smell you are getting is from the gas cap (even locked down). It's not that uncommon.

The rubber gasket material under the cap gets old and shrinks.

Guys have cut up some old innertube and glued it on top the old, but the best solution I saw was was a single big O-ring dropped in there.  There's a thread on here about it somewhere.  The Oring is like an inch and 1/2 to 2".  Home Depot or auto parts or someplace like that.

The pictures have disappeared, but here's the thread.  http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,57951.0.html 

I have the same problem and the extra gasket worked.

[Ramie]

Also might want to check all your carb boots they do come loose.

[JC19]

When I was experiencing the same thing I took the advice of someone else on this forum and took a drop of oil from the dipstick periodically and rubbed it on the gasket around the cap. Problem solved.

[Bagger John - #3785]

You know these girls run pretty rich kind of goes to what you were saying about 6 hungry carburetors. Some guys have also just smelled a rich mixture along with some exhaust fumes in the dead space behind the windshield and concluded that it was leaking gas they smelled.   so if you don't find any actual gas leaking anywhere it's a possibility that it's just rich mixture.

If the bike is running that fat, a plug read should indicate such.

I'd definitely be verifying things. Enrichener circuit partially engaged, possibly?

[Leathel]

On my bike it was the float level that caused the fuel smell from the exhaust (riders behind me commented on it more than me smelling it) but if I sat at idle too long it would stumble/ bogg on take of for a little while it cleared itself of excess fuel, when running at open road speeds its ran well.

On stripping and measuring the floats had distorted a little but the slightly longer K&L float valves sorted that.

I dont think its your issue though as you say its running well.... just putting it out there.

[Pete]

When I was experiencing the same thing I took the advice of someone else on this forum and took a drop of oil from the dipstick periodically and rubbed it on the gasket around the cap. Problem solved.

Silicone works better and longer as it swells the seal.

[Grandpot]

I came up with this cheap fix years ago for a leaking gas cap.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,57951.0.html

[Jess from VA]

There's an echo in here.

[recman25]

   Hahaha

[Grandpot]

There's an echo in here.

I didn't intend to be an echo,  I just didn't read all the posts to see that someone already posted my idea.

[Jess from VA]

It's quite alright sir.

It was after all your original post.

I was just funnin'. 

[recman25]

  A couple of weeks ago I asked about smelling gas, well today I pulled the tank to replace the air filter.  And I discovered the fuel line on the petcock had a nice crack in it! Needless to say, I replaced all the lines and the smell is gone. One thing I'm  realizing is, theres no fuel filter. Just seems a little strange. Is it possible the previous owner removed it.?

[The emperor has no clothes]

  A couple of weeks ago I asked about smelling gas, well today I pulled the tank to replace the air filter.  And I discovered the fuel line on the petcock had a nice crack in it! Needless to say, I replaced all the lines and the smell is gone. One thing I'm  realizing is, theres no fuel filter. Just seems a little strange. Is it possible the previous owner removed it.?

The filter is on the petcock inside the tank. 

[recman25]

 

[baldo]

I put a less than pristine I\S tank on my Standard and the vent tube is compromised. I had to go with a vented cap and I smell gas quite often, much to my dismay.

Someday I'll replace the tank....

[Tfrank59]

  A couple of weeks ago I asked about smelling gas, well today I pulled the tank to replace the air filter.  And I discovered the fuel line on the petcock had a nice crack in it! Needless to say, I replaced all the lines and the smell is gone. One thing I'm  realizing is, theres no fuel filter. Just seems a little strange. Is it possible the previous owner removed it.?

The filter is on the petcock inside the tank. 

I totally did not know that thanks. That seems pretty lame though, so is it like just one of the little screens on top of the tubes inside which you're not supposed to touch much less replace, or how does that work?

[The emperor has no clothes]

  A couple of weeks ago I asked about smelling gas, well today I pulled the tank to replace the air filter.  And I discovered the fuel line on the petcock had a nice crack in it! Needless to say, I replaced all the lines and the smell is gone. One thing I'm  realizing is, theres no fuel filter. Just seems a little strange. Is it possible the previous owner removed it.?

The filter is on the petcock inside the tank. 

I totally did not know that thanks. That seems pretty lame though, so is it like just one of the little screens on top of the tubes inside which you're not supposed to touch much less replace, or how does that work?

No, it's replaceable. And probably should be replaced from time to time. I'm probably not describing it well, but it's a fine mesh plastic tube that fits over the petcock tube. Many times it gets stuck in the rant when you remove the petcock.

[Tfrank59]

OK because I have seen those fine mesh screens over the petcock tubes inside the gas tank and I probably cleaned them on other bikes, but I didn't really consider that a replaceable fuel filter.  So you're saying basically that's the only fuel filter on a Valkyrie.

[The emperor has no clothes]

OK because I have seen those fine mesh screens over the petcock tubes inside the gas tank and I probably cleaned them on other bikes, but I didn't really consider that a replaceable fuel filter.  So you're saying basically that's the only fuel filter on a Valkyrie.

yes. Some have added external filters. But a lot of the time they starve the engine because they are designed with fuel pumps in mind. When getting on the Valkyrie it requires a fair amount of fuel.