Is leaking overnight normal? Update: With video.

[Raydr]

04 GS500.

I got the bike a few months ago and she'd normally start up with a few flicks of the starter.

Starting about 2 weeks ago, now I have to rock the throttle to get the bike to  start, but once it starts I can release the throttle and it runs fine. I'm not sure if the weather is relevant though, or the following:

I've noticed some fluids under my bike in mornings - it seems to be a mixture of gas, oil and battery acid. In the mornings when I come outside to warm up the bike, there's usually a few drops dripping from one of the rubber tubes on the right hand side of the bike (it smells like gas).

But the strange thing is, after the bike warms up, I drive to work and it's parked all day in the garage. At the end of the day, there's not a single drop of ANYTHING on the ground.

This has me confused, especially since I don't see any oil dripping from the bottom of the bike anywhere; the only thing I see dripping is the (gas?) from the rubber tube on the right side.

Any thoughts?

[3imo]

I had this issue once.  I believe it was a stuck float, a misadjusted float, or a gummed up float needle.

As I understand it, When there is no fuel in the float bowls the float will hang down, pulling the float needle down, allowing fuel to enter the float bowl.

When enough fuel has entered the float bowl, the float will ...eh..float. Raising the float needle and effectively blocking anymore fuel from entering the bowl.

If the float is stuck fuel will constantly flow into the bowls. When it overfills it will pour out of your carb and into the airbox, then out the airbox drain hose and ultimately end up underneath your bike.

Same thing will happen if the float hieght is misadjusted.

I think your float needle is gummed up, because a gummed float needle will try to close when the float rises but will not seal completely, allowing the fuel to slowly drip out. It will take time to fill the airbox enough then it will leak out slowly.

Which is why you don't see a puddle until the next morning.

The reason you see a mix of fuel and oil, is because the PCV (positive cranckcase ventilation) tube is routed to the airbox and oil residue is left in your airbox. the fuel mixes with the oil there before dripping out and under your bike.

Suggestions:

you could check you float hieght and simply drop the bowl cover,clean the float needle, readjust you float hieght and just ride the bike as is.

I recommend you buy carb rebuild kits and do a thorough rebuild, and readjustment of your carbs.  it is very simple and this site has a great how to, with pics. Plus alot of members with serious know-how.

anyway. good luck and keep us posted.   

[The Buddha]

Probably blow by ... check your oil level. Overfilling is one big reason why you get it. Of course float overflow as well. BTW you need to open the drain hoses in the bottom of air box once in a while. My honda nighthawk and shadows had a plug in that hose. You open it and it drains a little. Suzuki seems to have some sort of cap with a slit in it. It will drain by itself, unless its clogged up ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[scottpA_GS]

Dude... I dunno.. But I stoped leaking overnight when I was like 3  Hehe...

[TragicImage]

Dude... I dunno.. But I stoped leaking overnight when I was like 3  Hehe...

you beat me to it....

I was gonna make a "goodnites" or "depends" reference.

[Raydr]

3imo,

Thank you tons. This weekend I will work on it and hopefully get it taken care of.

This morning the bike was spilling out much more than usual, so I took a video of it (before start, after start, after warming up) and uploaded it for public opinion.

Any thoughts on this?

http://www.matosconsulting.com/gstwins/MotoLeak.wmv

[3imo]

My thoughts are that I was right.

I believe that it doesn't matter if the engine is cold, running or warm.

If I am correct, then it takes time for the slow leak to fill up inside your airbox.   And because of that hose cap with a thin slit, that you were shaking back and forth, the fuel is not allow to rush out all at once.

because it comes out slowly it makes it seem that starting the bike and letting it warm up made it go away, when it actually just took time to drain out of the airbox.

---------

Since it is an 04' I would just take out the carbs and do a quick cleaning.  I don't know your skill level, but this is a relatively simple thing to do.

If you are scared to take all that apart, you can just drop the bowls, clean the float needle and readjust your float hieght. All you would need to do is remove the fairings and each bowl has two screws. They are easy enough to get to.

keep us posted.

[TragicImage]

My thoughts are that I was right.

I believe that it doesn't matter if the engine is cold, running or warm.

If I am correct, then it takes time for the slow leak to fill up inside your airbox.   And because of that hose cap with a thin slit, that you were shaking back and forth, the fuel is not allow to rush out all at once.

because it comes out slowly it makes it seem that starting the bike and letting it warm up made it go away, when it actually just took time to drain out of the airbox.

---------

Since it is an 04' I would just take out the carbs and do a quick cleaning.  I don't know your skill level, but this is a relatively simple thing to do.

If you are scared to take all that apart, you can just drop the bowls, clean the float needle and readjust your float hieght. All you would need to do is remove the fairings and each bowl has two screws. They are easy enough to get to.

keep us posted.

each bowl has 4 screws I thought?

[3imo]

You are right, the 04' model carbs have four screws.

see here ---> http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0366/carburetor_model_k4/carburetor_model_k4.cfm?man=su&groupid=3210&parent=3200

My experience is with my 95', 99', and 01'
see here --> http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0284/carburetor/carburetor.cfm?man=su&groupid=3190&parent=3070

I believe my advise is still solid, but if anyone can correct me, by all means do so.

I mean no harm. 

[3imo]

Hey my 01' has four screws too. I guess 01' was the year they changed it.

[TragicImage]

I concur with your analysis of the situation.

[3imo]

 

BTW- I watched that video again and just wanted to add:

The reason (I think) that fuel begins to pour out of that hose when you start the bike, is that the airbox becomes pressurized to some degree forcing the fuel out under pressure.

It makes sense to me. 

[Raydr]

I'm working on this today, I've got the bike taken apart and I'm pretty nervous since this is my first time going this deep into the bike. So far I've done Oil, Spark Plugs, Sprockets, and Brakes.

Getting into the carb is a whole new thing to me. I honestly didn't even know how Carburaters worked until I did some research on the internet. I didn't understand the concept of float or float arm or anything like that until I stumbled across this picture:



I'm putting it here in hopes that it is useful to someone else.

Wish me luck as I learn more about how this beautiful piece of machinery works.

Worst case, I'll be back asking for help from someone in Miami.

The source of the above picture is this wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carburetor

Terrific read for those new to engines.

[Raydr]

Well, I got into the float bowl and the thing was SPOTLESS. While I was in there I checked out the jets and everything and the thing was super clean, everything looked brand new. I also though that maybe one of the floats developed a hole and maybe it wasn't floating enough, but I couldn't find anything wrong with the floats.

I don't see any way to "adjust" the float height though, it's all plastic and there's nothing to bend or adjust? Help?

[Raydr]

Alright, so I just gave a few things a minor cleaning and put it all back together. Then I realized I really screwed up by not marking hoses.

I was able to, with some luck and looking at the site, get all the hoses in place. One thing that really threw me off is that there's a smaller hose that goes from the fuel petcock that everyone said should be connected to the left carb. However, my bike isn't set up that way, instead, that tube actually seems to connect to a series of tubes on the right side of the bike with a T connector. I thought maybe I made a mistake and overlooked something but I could not find anywhere on the left carb to plug that damned tube into, and even if I could, I'd still have a T connector with an open port. They seemed to be a perfect match. I have an 04 (not Cali model) and that might have something to do with it.

I put the bike in PRI for a minute, switched it to ON, and the bike started right up without a problem. I don't know if I've fixed the leak by taking it apart and putting it together, but now I know how to dive into the bike quickly if it's still not fixed. I'll know tomorrow morning.

[Raydr]

Final Update:

It's the morning after. I ran outside anxious to see if the bike was still leaking. I was very happy to see that not a single drop of fuel was on the ground.

I was even happier when I hit the starter switch and the bike instantly started without touching the throttle or choke or anything. It also appears to be idling smoother from a cold start.

I have no idea what I did to fix it, but I guess sometimes just taking things apart and putting them back together helps.

Thanks!

[3imo]

I bet your float needle had a little gum on it. But since we will never know I'll just assume I was right.   

Like you said minor cleaning might have just done the trick.

Glad to see your up and running.

This site kicks ass!!!