Nightster leak help
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Nightster leak help
Hello
New to motorcycles and harleys
I just bought a used 2011 nightster with about 3000 miles.
After I brought the bike home I noticed it was really low on gas( not enough to ride to a gas station) so I went and bought gas and filled it
up in my garage. It was dark at the time and I am sure that I overfilled
the tank a bit.
The next morning I saw that there was a pretty large puddle(?) below the engine, it was mostly dried. I checked the engine oil and it is about half way to full on the dipstick, and i can not find any on going leaks.
I read on the forum that if you overfill the gas tank it will leak out through the overflow valve so I am guessing that is what the problem is, but wanted to make sure.
Are there anything I can check or look for to avoid damage to the bike?
Thank you in advance!
New to motorcycles and harleys
I just bought a used 2011 nightster with about 3000 miles.
After I brought the bike home I noticed it was really low on gas( not enough to ride to a gas station) so I went and bought gas and filled it
up in my garage. It was dark at the time and I am sure that I overfilled
the tank a bit.
The next morning I saw that there was a pretty large puddle(?) below the engine, it was mostly dried. I checked the engine oil and it is about half way to full on the dipstick, and i can not find any on going leaks.
I read on the forum that if you overfill the gas tank it will leak out through the overflow valve so I am guessing that is what the problem is, but wanted to make sure.
Are there anything I can check or look for to avoid damage to the bike?
Thank you in advance!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 11
From: Central Illinois
Siphon some fuel out of the tank.
Let it sit for a day, check it frequently...if the leak is gone, wash any remaining gas off the bike and go enjoy your new bike.
Lesson of the day: Never fill your gas tank in the dark.
I assume the puddle you talked about is not oil, since oil does not evaporate...I'm guessing its gas, please confirm.
Let it sit for a day, check it frequently...if the leak is gone, wash any remaining gas off the bike and go enjoy your new bike.
Lesson of the day: Never fill your gas tank in the dark.
I assume the puddle you talked about is not oil, since oil does not evaporate...I'm guessing its gas, please confirm.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Thank you for your input.
It has evaporated but left a dark stain on the floor, i don't believe it is oil because when I rub my fingers in it it just seems like dirt, its not oily. I've been checking the
engine oil and the transmission fluid frequently and the levels have not gone down.
Thank you again and I will keep checking!
It has evaporated but left a dark stain on the floor, i don't believe it is oil because when I rub my fingers in it it just seems like dirt, its not oily. I've been checking the
engine oil and the transmission fluid frequently and the levels have not gone down.
Thank you again and I will keep checking!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 11
From: Central Illinois
Thank you for your input.
It has evaporated but left a dark stain on the floor, i don't believe it is oil because when I rub my fingers in it it just seems like dirt, its not oily. I've been checking the
engine oil and the transmission fluid frequently and the levels have not gone down.
Thank you again and I will keep checking!
It has evaporated but left a dark stain on the floor, i don't believe it is oil because when I rub my fingers in it it just seems like dirt, its not oily. I've been checking the
engine oil and the transmission fluid frequently and the levels have not gone down.
Thank you again and I will keep checking!
Oil would take weeks to soak into your floor, it was gas.
Here is what probably happened: You overfilled your tank at night in Arizona, temps were low. As the sun rose, the temps in your garage rose by 20 or so degrees, and the expanding gas and air in the tank forced the overfilled amount through the breather hose onto your floor.
Remove some gas with a siphon, give it one more day, and you should be good to go.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 362
From: Mansfield Texas
It is coming out of your vent hose , look at the left rear bottom of the tank and you will see a black rubber elbow and a plastic tube. Follow that to your leak. Remove your gas cap and in the filler neck you will see a little tube sticking up, that is where the vent starts. You over filled it or you got some gas in the vent tube while filling.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 362
From: Mansfield Texas
Parabellum is correct , oil would not be a dry spot. Look under the left center on the bottom of the tank, that plate bolted on the bottom is your fuel pump access and see if you see fuel there, doubt you will...I still say it came out of the vent and that is normal.
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