Fuel leak, any ideas?

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paganman · #1 Post by **paganman** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:49 pm

Hi, my bikes been smelling strongly of fuel the last couple of days, but no obvious leak. Just got her out of the garage today and when I put the sidestand down there was a drip of fuel coming off the sidestand pivot every 30 seconds or so. I lifted the tank to have a look around the fuel pump area, and all the pipes were damp with fuel. I dried off the pipes to see if i could see where the leak was coming from, but now no sign of the leak. I blew through the breather pipes as I'd overfilled her by accident about a week ago and wondered if that might be the root cause of the problem? Cleaned off all the fuel spill with bike cleaner, and put the tank down again, fired her up and ran 'til warm, then back in the garage. Just checked now and not dripping fuel, but smells very strongly of fuel. Anybody got any ideas?

Aladinsaneuk · #2 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:24 pm

seal around the fuel filter

where it goes into the tank - large rubber grommit/ring

mine did the same - took the ring out and cleaned everything in sight and used some compound that is impervious to petrol into the recess to raise it slightly

hope that helps

pete

Fausto · #3 Post by **Fausto** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:33 pm

I think you already checked this but...

Sometimes mine drips fuel out of a breather pipe when it's full and it's in the sun or just hot. Any chance the breather is badly connected or leaking?

Falcopops · #4 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:26 pm

There have been issues, in older models, with the brethers inside the tank breaking up, have a search on the AF1 site, it's been thoroughly covered.

you can see the internal pipes through the filler neck (just), might need to take the fuel cap off, do the easy stuff 1st.

Aladinsane's diagnosis seems the most likely to though.

Good luck.

paganman · #5 Post by **paganman** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:41 pm

Thanks for all the input, just checked again and it looks like it is leaking from the fuel pump seal, so just ordered a new seal for the pump and some loctite 518 in preperation for lots of shouting and swearing at the fuel tank this saturday! Need it fixed for Sunday as off to Scarborough for the road races.

Aladinsaneuk · #6 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:06 pm

really really clean the recess well - use an airline or similar