Fuel leaking problem

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Jul 22, 2009 | 07:25 PM

DaytonaJoy

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6th Gear

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Fuel leaking problem

I am still learning the ins and outs of this beautiful machine but I have a problem, the manual is not helping and my friendly mechanic is not open.

I have a 93 Sporter, had it out all day, stopped for gas, came home and took a shower before going out tonight. Imagibne my surprise to find a puddle under the bike and fuel spurting out of this hose. One end is connected to the air filter but I can't figure out where the other end goes. I have it clamped and the fuel shut off but where should the other end be connected?

Any suggestions?

Jul 22, 2009 | 07:47 PM

cHarley

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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

From your description, my first guess is that the carb float is stuck. Ggive the float bowl a couple of taps with the butt end of a screw driver and see if that stops the flow.

Jul 22, 2009 | 07:52 PM

carlo

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From: 50 Miles North N.Y.C.

Is it a real small Diamater hose attached to the fuel bowl on the carb. If so its the overflow hose for the fule bowl if the carb floats stick. I you have sticky floats and you plug this hose and leave your pet **** (FUEL VALVE) open . GAS will fILL UP THE CARB And drain into the crank case not good thins out the oil and washes the rings. Ive heard of crank case explosion's on cars when the floats stick. And the oil pan is full of gas that leaked in the engine all night long. Holly Double pumper on a 67 VET parked on a very steep hill over night. But thats a cage story. I think you got a sticky float.

Jul 22, 2009 | 07:56 PM

DaytonaJoy

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Ok makes sense so do I have to plug the hose anywhere?

Jul 22, 2009 | 07:57 PM

DaytonaJoy

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cHarley

From your description, my first guess is that the carb float is stuck. Ggive the float bowl a couple of taps with the butt end of a screw driver and see if that stops the flow.

I will try that. what about the hose?

Jul 22, 2009 | 08:34 PM

cHarley

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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

Leave the hose alone, it's there for a purpose and doing just what it's suppose to do. Later model petcocks are vacuum operated and automatically shut off the fuel flow when the engine isn't running. I believe your earlier model bike does not have a vacuum controlled petcock, so the petcock should be turned off manually when ever you shut off the bike. That prevents having gas dumped all over the floor if/when the carb float sticks.

Jul 27, 2009 | 02:15 AM

Bentwrench

Cruiser

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Fuel Petcocks

cHarley is right, that 94 and earlier Sportsters had manual petcocks. Starting in 95 they had the vacuum petcocks that shut off fuel when there was no vacuum - when the engine was off, and sometimes when climbing a long grade.