Help! Leaking fuel and it won't run...

[Pooh]

The odd thing is I ride year round. No winter storage in Tx. Bike slowly accumulated a red, gritty substance over time. I use the same gas stations but my Valkyrie, HD and Triumph are all clear. Maybe cuz it's the wife's bike???

[CDNRatMan]

  Since I have had this bike, prior to parking for the winter, I add Seafoam to the tank and let it run for a bit, then drain and change the oil and filter so the bike will have all fresh stuff inside over the winter. Then when I park it in the living room I remove the tank and drain it. I then add a bit of seafoam to the first tank of gas in the spring, I have not had any issues yet.

[Tfrank59]

I like option three – ride all winter!  Man Troll you're old – I've only been riding since '74, but I've never had this carb problem either, except on bikes I inherited from other people.

[Troll]

Ya know, there are really a couple of ways to avoid this kind of issue with a carb, and they are pretty easy to do...When you store for the winter, you add fuel stabilizer to the tank, but that's where most people stop....There is a drain screw on the float bowl...you can either drain out the fuel and put the valve on PRI so treated fuel fills the bowl, or run/ride it for a while after you dose the tank to be sure the stabilizer is actually IN the bowl, or....you can RIDE THE BIKE MORE OFTEN!!!! In over 50 years on 2 wheels, I have NEVER had this problem...ever!

[Pooh]

Petcock was fine. The carb was gunked-up and the float was stuck solid. Cleaned it all out and added an inline fuel filter. Also flushed the tank. Runs great again, thanks for the help!

[dkeshish]

Thanks, I'll check both. So if the petcock is in the "on" position, it should not let fuel pass unless the bike is running?

the petcock issue is a quick check.  Just know that almost certainly once you correct the problem you need to change your oil. 

[CDNRatMan]

 GreenBarn you are right and I understand Old Drifter, because my Harley if you left the petcock in the on it would drain overnight. I'll say Troll is correct and that the float is, or was stuck. I have never had any issues with my petcock (touch wood)

[greenbarn]

I don't think there is an "OFF" position on the petcock. Only "on", "res" and "pri".   The  on and reserve positions both rely on engine vacuum to open the petcock---  it should not flow any fuel in these 2 positions unless the bike is running.   the "PRI" position just dumps fuel  straight through in order to prime the carb, in a situation such as running out of gas, etc.

Often times, though, they leak fuel through when they are in the "on" position.  This floods the carb and runs gas through the motor and exhaust.

[Old Drifter]

  that is because you ride a 1500.....lol and don't have a carb on yours....

Correct, plus being an Ex-Harley rider I'm used to the "old style" petcocks.   

[CDNRatMan]

   that is because you ride a 1500.....lol and don't have a carb on yours....

[Old Drifter]

Sorry, I was unaware that there wasn't an actual "off" position.

[CDNRatMan]

  The first winter I had my bike I took the petcock out and cleaned it because I thought the strainer screen inside was plugged, but took it apart and cleaned it and replaced it. I have never had any issues with the petcock and I leave it on, because there is no real off on the bike for this, it is Prime, On or Reserve, this is not like the old Harley's if you did not turn off the petcock you might return to ind an empty tank. So if you have the petcock and the float bowls working properly then you should not have any problems.

[Old Drifter]

Thanks, I'll check both. So if the petcock is in the "on" position, it should not let fuel pass unless the bike is running?

It's always a good idea to turn it off (manually) anyway...IMHO.

[Pooh]

Thanks, I'll check both. So if the petcock is in the "on" position, it should not let fuel pass unless the bike is running?

[dkeshish]

I posted a while back that when I parked my bike I would smell gas the following day.  After 1 day there would be a puddle below the exhaust.  I removed the main line hose leading out from the petcock just to see if it was leaking and it turns out it was the petcock.

My 04 ran great last week. Parked it in the garage and the next day saw fuel dripping from the exhaust pipe,just before the muffler. Bike was hard to start then while running, fuel poured out from that spot. ran terribly before stalling. After it quit, fuel dripped from the vent hose, too. I opened the fuel cap while it was running but no change. Any ideas? Thnx

[greenbarn]

Yep, what Troll said.

You might check the vacuum controlled petcock as well.  Mine stopped working a couple years ago.  If you are getting that much fuel through there, I'd guess both are bad.  My petcock went bad a couple years ago, I noticed it when I had the fuel line off.  It is supposed to automatically close when the bike is off, and only opens when vacuum is applied (bike running).

[Troll]

Stuck float...crap under the needle. Just like when the toilet won't stop filling...

[Pooh]

My 04 ran great last week. Parked it in the garage and the next day saw fuel dripping from the exhaust pipe,just before the muffler. Bike was hard to start then while running, fuel poured out from that spot. ran terribly before stalling. After it quit, fuel dripped from the vent hose, too. I opened the fuel cap while it was running but no change. Any ideas? Thnx