Hello all! I'm a fairly new Drifter 800 owner and love this bike. I recently discovered fuel dripping off the exhaust clamp beneath the front of the muffler. I cannot see where its coming from! About a year ago, fuel just poured out of the vent tube from the tank after I parked it. I cleaned out the cap and that solved the issue.
Is this another clogged cap issue or is fuel running thru the exhaust??? Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Thnx, Pooh
off the top I would say float bowl issue first, in the carb.
Then if this happened before I would check the vent on the gas cap, and the gas cap its self.
can you find the hose or were it is dripping from?
No, it's not draining from a vent hose that I can see. the gas is just dripping off the bracket that's directly under the muffler where the two header pipes join. The bike has been parked for about a week. it fired right up and fumes began rising from that area of the bracket. No hissing from the cap like it did before. I reckon I will take the cap apart again and start there.
I'll look around that area and see what hoses are around but not sure then......
Check the position of the petcock. Mine did this when I might have accidentally kind of forgotten to move it off of prime... Or make sure that the petcock isn't bad. I can't remember what it causes, but you might make sure the vacuum lines are connected as well. If the gas is directly beneath the air filter, then it might be dripping out of the filter housing.
Yeah, checking the petcock is next on the list. I think the cap is good. Thnx
You sure it's not dripping from the bowl ? If you look from the left side with a light you may be able to see it dripping a little better .
No, I couldn't see it dripping from anywhere but the exhaust. Dunno, I've ridden it since and its fine. Was surprised at how many components were in the gas cap, tho!
Are you sure it's fuel? Was the tank VERY full? There is a phenomenon called hot soak. After an engine is shut down it continues to get hotter since the cooling system is no longer working. The temps can get quite high. If the tank gets heated up enough, the fuel will expand, and could vent out the cap pressure relief, and down the drain hose that ends in the back of the engine.....
Well, if you've seen it dripping, that eliminates my answer. I use to sneak around and pour about 2 tablespoons of old oil under my buddy's Harley Sportster just to mess with him. Usually one of the drivers would see it first and say something to him so I could just sit back and watch him crawl around looking for the source. I know that sounds mean...you just have to know the guy. It was all in good fun, but since I've moved to another job I guess I ought to call him and let him in on it. I remember one time getting down on the other side and "helping" him look for the source.
I hope you get yours figured out, but keep an eye on the a holes around your bike, just in case...
Yup, it was fuel. The tank was only half full at the time. Everything on, underneath and around the engine was dry. No idea. Its been runnin fine since. I'll just leave it as-is unless it happens again.