Son of a Biscuit!

Chilly Willy · October 19, 2006, 08:10:52 PM

I just finished wiring up my horns and was about to put the bike back together. I popped upstairs to write a quick e-mail asking about waterproofing a relay. When I came back downstairs, I noticed the smell of gasoline. I stepped into the garage to find the floor covered in gas and gasoline spraying out of a cracked fuel line (I had shifted the tank slightly to run wires along the frame).

I've just spend the past two hours doing a major cleanup of my garage. My bike's engine was absolutely flooded with gas (boy is it sparkly clean now though!).

I'm going to drain the oil tomorrow and change it out. Anything else I should do (besides replace the frickin' ancient fuel lines)?

Chilly

CirclesCenter · October 19, 2006, 08:23:43 PM

While changing oil is always a good idea if you just cracked a fuel line that doesn't mean it got into the motor...

makenzie71 · October 19, 2006, 08:24:29 PM

Quote from: Chilly Willy on October 19, 2006, 08:10:52 PM
I just finished wiring up my horns and was about to put the bike back together. I pooped upstairs to write a quick e-mail asking about waterproofing a relay. When I came back downstairs, I noticed the smell of gasoline. I stepped into the garage to find the floor covered in gas and gasoline spraying out of a cracked fuel line (I had shifted the tank slightly to run wires along the frame).

I've just spend the past two hours doing a major cleanup of my garage. My bike's engine was absolutely flooded with gas (boy is it sparkly clean now though!).

I'm going to drain the oil tomorrow and change it out. Anything else I should do (besides replace the frickin' ancient fuel lines)?

Chilly

It's great how one letter can skew the whole post lol

Nah just change the line...that alone won't have hurt anything. At least your floor's clean.

ducati_nolan · October 19, 2006, 11:20:36 PM

It probally didn't get into the crankcase, just on it. If you check your oil and it isn't too high and dosn't smell like gas you're fine.

Jarrett · October 20, 2006, 01:14:48 AM

How do those horns sound, did you get them online, and if so where at?

Chilly Willy · October 20, 2006, 08:45:30 AM

Thanks everyone! I soaked up all the gas with kitty litter, scraped it all up, put down enzymatic cleaner, and then scrubbed the floor with Simple Green--and it still reeks of gas!. I'm going to change hoses and oil today, then scrub the bike itself. That and throw away some plywood that was soaked by the gas.

The horns--eh, not terribly impressed compared to the stock ones. Not sure they're really worth the money. I wish I had a digital recorder so that I could have created a before and after link. I bought mine through ebay--they were a little hard to find. I think I've seen them on Amazon too.

Chilly

Trwhouse · October 20, 2006, 11:52:12 AM

Hey there Chilly,
I think there may be a problem with your horn install because I have these horns and they SCREAM!
I have bought a set for every bike I've owned.
They make car drivers STOP in their tracks and look for the tractor-trailers that they think is about to ram them.
If yours are not SUPER LOUD, then something is wrong somewhere.
These horns are the HOT setup.
Let's try to figure out what is wrong there.
Maybe a wiring glitch?
Perhaps you need a better ground.
Try running a wire directly from the mounting bolts of the horns (where they attach to their mounting brackets) straight to a frame bolt and see if the sound improves.
On my bike, I didn't need a separate ground wire, but on other bikes I've owned, I needed to install one.
Perhaps your bike needs a separate ground to make it completely right.
Try that and let us know.
These horns should break your eardrums man!

Yours,
Todd

Chilly Willy · October 20, 2006, 12:45:51 PM

Thanks Todd, I'll give it a try. The horns are louder than stock, but not the LOUD I'd always heard they were.

I checked the oil during my lunch break today (I live next door to where I work), and while the crankcase wasn't filled, the oil was definitely "soupy."

So, it looks like I get to do my first oil change after school today.

Any tips on replacing the fuel lines? I noticed one seems to have an outer cover to it that makes it "thicker" somehow. Is this standard or something the PO did on my bike? They're tucked pretty snugly in there--anything I should consider?

Thanks,

Chilly

Chilly Willy · October 20, 2006, 05:50:36 PM

What do ya know? Regular automotive 5/16 fuel line won't work. It's nearly triple the thickness of the stock fuel line. I guess it's off to the motorcycle shop tomorrow.

Thanks for the tip.

Chilly

tussey · October 20, 2006, 07:08:28 PM

Quote from: Chilly Willy on October 20, 2006, 12:45:51 PM
Thanks Todd, I'll give it a try. The horns are louder than stock, but not the LOUD I'd always heard they were.

I checked the oil during my lunch break today (I live next door to where I work), and while the crankcase wasn't filled, the oil was definitely "soupy."

So, it looks like I get to do my first oil change after school today.

Any tips on replacing the fuel lines? I noticed one seems to have an outer cover to it that makes it "thicker" somehow. Is this standard or something the PO did on my bike? They're tucked pretty snugly in there--anything I should consider?

Thanks,

Chilly

What kind of horn?

Egaeus · October 20, 2006, 07:46:41 PM

I put crappy goodyear 5/16 fuel line on mine with no problems. You can't get the reserve line all the way to the petcock, but you can get it far enough that a clamp will work.

CirclesCenter · October 20, 2006, 07:54:17 PM

Quote from: Chilly Willy on October 20, 2006, 05:50:36 PM
What do ya know? Regular automotive 5/16 fuel line won't work. It's nearly triple the thickness of the stock fuel line. I guess it's off to the motorcycle shop tomorrow.

Thanks for the tip.

Chilly

Get the stuff for fuel injected engines (rated to 100psi) and shave just a hair off and you'll be fine.

If it can handle 100psi at stock thickness losing 1mm shouldn't hurt with gravity feed.

Chilly Willy · October 20, 2006, 08:55:14 PM

The line that they carry at Napa is for non-fuel injected engines only and is seriously thick. I'll check around locally before heading over to the bike shop tomorrow.

Chilly

ducati_nolan · October 20, 2006, 09:02:37 PM

Ace might have Tygon lines. They're clear, fuel proof, and thinner than automotive lines. It may save you a trip to Bremerton.

Chilly Willy · October 20, 2006, 09:08:54 PM

Thanks Nolan,

I'll ask them about the Tygon lines. The only stuff I saw in the automotive section was similar to what I bought at Napa, but I didn't look very thoroughly. After cleaning up the gas spill last night, I was up until 2:30 with my youngest son who couldn't fall asleep. As a result, I was dead tired today--not a good frame of mind to try to work on a bike.

Chilly

ducati_nolan · October 20, 2006, 09:16:48 PM

Check the lawnmower section too. I doubt they have it but it's closer than bremerton. Actually, Burton motorsports would be worth a call, they're in Saquamish.

Chilly Willy · October 20, 2006, 09:25:33 PM

Oh yeah! I always forget about them (him, really)--I'll swing by tomorrow--thanks!

Chilly

tussey · October 21, 2006, 06:29:05 AM

Quote from: Chilly Willy on October 20, 2006, 09:25:33 PM
Oh yeah! I always forget about them (him, really)--I'll swing by tomorrow--thanks!

Chilly

yo chilly willy, what kind of horn?

Chilly Willy · October 21, 2006, 09:48:33 PM

Today I went to three different bike shops to find some 5/16th fuel line. I finally found some and picked up a couple of shorter front turn signals.

I then replaced the cracked line as well as the other line leading to the petcock, changed the oil, swapped out the front turn signals, finished mounting the Fiamm El Grandes (horns), and installed a (used) Plexi3 windshield.

The bike is running again and I can't wait to go for a ride tomorrow!

Chilly

Toledo Jim · October 21, 2006, 11:38:25 PM

What did you get for front turn signals?

I had clearance probs with them and the Plexi-3. Wondering how you solved that?

News:

Son of a Biscuit!