Gas leaking from where? (SOLVED)

[Torstein]

I've noticed that when I park my bike there typically is a water spot below it, I can see it dripping from somewhere. Any ideas what may be causing this? I parked at work this morning and noticed the last 10 feet as I was coming to a stop had a pretty consistent water line. Well, I think it's water anyway. It evaporates and is gone, it's happened in my garage a few times and never stained or anything, so I figure it must be water. I don't think it is gas, as I have about 100 miles on the tank right now, so I don't think it's any overflow gas spilling out. Anyone seen this before? I searched and didn't come up with anything.

[Big Rich]

Assuming you haven't ridden thru water or parked the bike in the rain, there is really only one place water comes from on the bike - the engine breather on top of the cylinder head. It's not a lot of water, just steam from the engine, but it does collect in the airbox (assuming you have it) and drains out onto the ground.

That being said, you'll need to figure out if it is water or gas for certain. Next time it drips out, catch it on a clean rag and smell it. If it smells like watered down gas and oil, that's normal. If it smells like straight gasoline, you have a problem.

[The Buddha]

If it has whiteish powder it could be battery acid.
Otherwise, yea to what he said.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Big Rich]

Good catch Buddha. I saw the "lack of a stain" and dismissed battery acid. But it could be diluted or rinsed away.

[Torstein]

Thanks, I'll check on that. Sorry for my lack of investigation, usually when I have noticed the wet substance I am about to walk into work so I'm sort of in a hurry. I did get on my knees this morning and see that it was coming from a small black hose that is right in the bottom middle of the bike. I pulled my battery last night and checked it, it looks super clean, and I did not notice any possible leaks from it, so it must be either steam from the airbox, or gas. Is it normal to have a lot of this? There was a puddle under my bike this morning after I parked it. Only ran it for 15 minutes before I parked.

[The Buddha]

You have a puddle ? water ? You sure you have a GS500 ?

Ooooo your seat have a rip in it I've seen bikes take in water especially those with these huge buttons in their seat, the thing will soak up water and it will release it over time and with physical movement and weight and what not.

Or other things like gauge cluster or other things may be filling up with water during rain and releasing it over time.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Torstein]

You have a puddle ? water ? You sure you have a GS500 ?

Ooooo your seat have a rip in it I've seen bikes take in water especially those with these huge buttons in their seat, the thing will soak up water and it will release it over time and with physical movement and weight and what not.

Or other things like gauge cluster or other things may be filling up with water during rain and releasing it over time.

Cool.
Buddha.

No rip in the seat. I store it inside, I am pretty sure the PO stored it inside, so I am not sure that this bike has sat out in the rain ever. I have only owned it for a week though, so I can't be totally certain. The water comes out a little black hose in the bottom of the frame. A puddle may have been a small exaggeration, but it is definitely not a couple drops. I'll try to snap a pic when it happens again. This morning it was a 12-15" circumference puddle that was definitely not a couple drips. This was just after I warmed it up for 3-5 minutes in my driveway. I am not concerned as it runs great, but I am sort of curious as this seems unusual.

[rscottlow]

Isn't there a water drain hose that comes out of the bottom of the fuel tank as well? I'm not sure what would cause it to drain like that, as I've never seen anything drip from that hose on my bike...I just know it's there

[lucas]

A 12 - 15 inch circumference (around) circle is 4 - 5 inches in diameter (across).

Did you mean 12 inches across cause that sounds like a lot.  I suppose if you are parked on a smooth non-porous surface that is a lot different than if you were on rough asphalt.

This might be the gas tank drain hose.  When water goes around the gas cap bezel it drains down through a hole which is forward and to the left of the gas fill hole (I think.)  So maybe there is water condensing in that area, collecting, and then draining out through that hose when you park.  When you park at work do you maybe park with the front end pointing downhill?  Or some way that is different from how you park at home?

It's hard to imagine that really happening, but maybe that's because the desert weather here isn't conducive to moisture doing anything let alone condensing.

[sledge]

This small black hose that the mystery liquid is draining from??

Instead of guessing and speculating why not just follow it back and see what it connects to............or am I thinking too hard 

[Torstein]

This small black hose that the mystery liquid is draining from??

Instead of guessing and speculating why not just follow it back and see what it connects to............or am I thinking too hard 

Lol, no. You are right. I just thought if it was common I wouldn't look into it, hence the thread. Since it doesn't seem all that normal I will look into it further

[Alan_nc]

Is there a chance someone added a radiator to your bike?

Well somebody had to ask:

[Torstein]

It's gas, and it's getting worse. Crap. I'm at work right now and my bike is pouring gas when I start it. Any ideas what the heck this could be? Can I pinch the hose? It's literally pouring out. I'll upload a video. This is not good. I'm stuck at work right now unless I can get this fixed.

[Torstein]

Here are a couple pictures of after I pulled into work and my bike was off. You can see the stream of gas from when I pulled in and then backed it into where I parked.

http://imgur.com/a/BaUUM

Then here's a video taken right after these pictures, I was SHOCKED at how much gas is pouring out. It's gas. Any ideas on how to fix this? It's pouring out the little black hose that comes from the gas tank.

[Torstein]

Ok, upon further inspection and googling, it may be possible that I was running it on PRI, which from what it sounds like the gas leaking out could be quite normal in this position. Unfortunately, in my freaking out this morning, and from when I ran out of gas 2 days ago, I moved the fuel switch around quite a bit so I don't know where it was when the fuel was pouring out today. I am going to try to run it in "ON" and make it to a gas station that is like .5 miles down the road at lunch and then just cross my fingers it was me being a dumb newbie who doesn't know anything about this bike. Praying this is just something silly and the bike will be fine after I get a tankfull and run it in "ON"

[Big Rich]

If i'm not mistaken, there are 2 hoses that come from the tank: the main fuel line that goes to the frame mounted petcock, and a water drain hose.

If the main fuel line is leaking gas, it should be doing it all the time - not when starting / shutting off the bike. If the water drain hose is leaking gas..... well, that's a whole other problem.

The good news? Since you've been riding the bike with this problem already, it's pretty safe to say that you can ride home from work (at your own risk of course). The bad news is that you'll have to figure out exactly which hose is leaking and why.

For what it's worth - had you not said it was "a hose coming from the tank", I would tell you that your carbs are overflowing, and you need to check your float height & float needles. Keep that in mind.

[Big Rich]

You beat me to the "post" button.

Still, it's a good idea to check that all the fuel hoses are routed correctly from the tank / petcock / carbs. Check your float height with a clear tube, and inspect your float needles.

Even on prime, the float needles should shut off the fuel flow.

[Torstein]

Thanks Rich. I am hoping I can get 'er home today without too much of a problem. I appreciate your helpful posts!

[Torstein]

Made 'er home at lunch today. Topped it off at a gas station, still was leaking the whole time though. Dang thing. Wife's gonna be pissed, "you paid how much for that bike and now you have to fix it right away!" Hope it's an easy fix. Can't ride it anymore since it's spewing gas

[ShowBizWolf]

I am rooting for you Torstein... I too hope it's an easy fix... keep us posted !!