Fuel Leak
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 611
Likes: 329
From: Athens, Alabama
Fuel Leak
Installed a phone charger on Wifey's '16 Heritage. I lifted the tank to find a route for the chord and it's now leaking from the QD at back left of the tank. Thinking I cracked the fitting.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,156
Likes: 11,244
From: San Diego, CA
While it's possible that the fitting can crack, it's pretty stout and shouldn't be damaged just from removing/attaching the quick disconnect...
First... make sure the bottom fuel line fitting is pushed all the way up into the tank valve portion and the spring collar mechanism on the tank valve portion, the same collar you need to push up to remove the fuel line, has sprung back down fully. Sometimes you need to push up on the fuel line while pulling down on the valve collar. You'll hear/feel it click when the fuel line is properly fitted and locked in...
If the fuel line is properly inserted and the spring collar is fully in it's down position, I would next suspect it is more likely that one of the o-rings either was displaced or pinched causing the leak.
There are two o-rings in the tank portion of the valve. There is an upper and a lower o-ring. There is also a spring and small, removable valve piece inside that valve.
Here is a video by Fuel Tools... They are advertising how their tool can replace both o-rings, with the valve still installed in the tank. Part of the replacement process, removes all the internals of the valve. The video will give you a good idea of how that valve is assembled/works....
Good luck with the repair, but my best guess is that the fuel line is not fully seated/locked into the tank valve portion....
Last edited by hattitude; May 12, 2021 at 09:44 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 611
Likes: 329
From: Athens, Alabama
While it's possible that the fitting can crack, it's pretty stout and shouldn't be damaged just from removing/attaching the quick disconnect...
First... make sure the bottom fuel line fitting is pushed all the way up into the tank valve portion and the spring collar mechanism on the tank valve portion, the same collar you need to push up to remove the fuel line, has sprung back down fully. Sometimes you need to push up on the fuel line while pulling down on the valve collar. You'll hear/feel it click when the fuel line is properly fitted and locked in...
If the fuel line is properly inserted and the spring collar is fully in it's down position, I would suspect it is more likely that one of the o-rings either was displaced or pinched causing the leak.
There are two o-rings in the tank portion of the valve. There is an upper and a lower o-ring. There is also a spring and small, removable valve piece inside that valve.
Here is a video by Fuel Tools... They are advertising how their tool can replace both o-rings, with the valve still installed in the tank. Part of the replacement process, removes all the internals of the valve. The video will give you a good idea of how that valve is assembled/works....
Good luck with the repair...
First... make sure the bottom fuel line fitting is pushed all the way up into the tank valve portion and the spring collar mechanism on the tank valve portion, the same collar you need to push up to remove the fuel line, has sprung back down fully. Sometimes you need to push up on the fuel line while pulling down on the valve collar. You'll hear/feel it click when the fuel line is properly fitted and locked in...
If the fuel line is properly inserted and the spring collar is fully in it's down position, I would suspect it is more likely that one of the o-rings either was displaced or pinched causing the leak.
There are two o-rings in the tank portion of the valve. There is an upper and a lower o-ring. There is also a spring and small, removable valve piece inside that valve.
Here is a video by Fuel Tools... They are advertising how their tool can replace both o-rings, with the valve still installed in the tank. Part of the replacement process, removes all the internals of the valve. The video will give you a good idea of how that valve is assembled/works....
Good luck with the repair...
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 611
Likes: 329
From: Athens, Alabama
HELP!
Got the Fuel Tools kit and gonna rebuild the check valve. When I attempt to drain the tank internal fuel line as instructed I’m getting a constant trickle. Definitely more than the “small amount” as described in the instructions and shown in the video.
Is there a line from the pump to to the check valve?
Will I have to drain the tank?
Am I doing something wrong?
Got the Fuel Tools kit and gonna rebuild the check valve. When I attempt to drain the tank internal fuel line as instructed I’m getting a constant trickle. Definitely more than the “small amount” as described in the instructions and shown in the video.
Is there a line from the pump to to the check valve?
Will I have to drain the tank?
Am I doing something wrong?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 3,480
From: Arizona
It never hurts to drain your tank when working on or around it. I got a GasTapper kit that uses a bulb, valves, and small diameter hose. Just make sure you don't touch the filter pad
The pump runs to the valve. If you have a spare QD attachment you could just pump it out.
Mine leaked out a lot.
The pump runs to the valve. If you have a spare QD attachment you could just pump it out.
Mine leaked out a lot.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 611
Likes: 329
From: Athens, Alabama
It never hurts to drain your tank when working on or around it. I got a GasTapper kit that uses a bulb, valves, and small diameter hose. Just make sure you don't touch the filter pad
The pump runs to the valve. If you have a spare QD attachment you could just pump it out.
Mine leaked out a lot.
The pump runs to the valve. If you have a spare QD attachment you could just pump it out.
Mine leaked out a lot.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 3,480
From: Arizona
Well, I found the bottom o-ring to be brittle and damaged so that evidently was causing the intermittent leak. I resorted to replacing that one only and the leak is gone. However last time out it was intermittent missing at idle then shaking and sputtering at cruising speed. Did the same thing on test ride just now. Accelerates fine but I cant put wifey on this thing in its current condition. The gas in it was bought at the same time I filled my King and I havent had an issue on well over a thousand miles. Could a piece or pieces of the damaged o-ring be the culprit?
I had a problem with the filter pad falling apart and fuel pump failure long after my seperate O-ring QD leak.
It's not a big deal to dig around in that tank if you have do. Just don't expect your dealership to have any parts.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,232
Likes: 9,320
From: Georgia
Could be 2 things. Upper ring is bad also. Shouldn’t be on a 5 year old bike but possible. 2 Nd which I also question on a 5 year old bike is the line from fuel pump to the QD is cracked and sucking air. Possibly something else but those would be the first two things I would check.
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 611
Likes: 329
From: Athens, Alabama
Well evidently I have a bad line in the tank. Drained the suspect fuel and replaced the fuel filter only to have the same erratic missing. Thanks to google research and this forum having some experienced posters I removed the cap and looked in the tank only to see fuel spray inside which is a telltale sign of a damaged plastic flex line. I’ll be ordering parts tomorrow if the local dealership doesn’t have them in stock.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,156
Likes: 11,244
From: San Diego, CA
Well evidently I have a bad line in the tank. Drained the suspect fuel and replaced the fuel filter only to have the same erratic missing. Thanks to google research and this forum having some experienced posters I removed the cap and looked in the tank only to see fuel spray inside which is a telltale sign of a damaged plastic flex line. I’ll be ordering parts tomorrow if the local dealership doesn’t have them in stock.
Glad you found it...
Your bike is the newest bike I've heard/read about that flex line needing replacement... usually it's the early to about 2010 EFI Twin Cams that I've heard about with that problem...
Some people have replaced that flex hose section with a good quality, submersible fuel hose (like Gates #27097). I've not needed to do that repair yet, so not sure how easy the replacement is with the Gates hose, but have read about those who did it ...
Good luck with the repair...
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