NEED HELP Leaking fuel

[mncruiser]

I filled up my new to me bike for the first time the other day right up to this plate thing that is at the top of the inside of the tank. Today I went out for a short ride and fuel was steaming down the tank from the gas cap. I got home and more fuel was leaking under the bike about the center. It made a small puddle then stopped. Is this a case of over filling or do I have a larger problem??

[gshep]

Sounds like over-filling to me. Not familiar with the 2001

Shep

[flightdoc]

that plate is the stop point for filling purposes but I've filled mine over that point many times without lossing a drop. I wonder if it has something to do with the cap? This should be a BD's garage subject

vin

Jeff, does you bike have a carb or F.I.?

If it has F.I. it's most likely overfilled, but if a carb then it may just have a gummed up float valve from sitting in the garage all winter.

That's a common problem in the Great Frozen Northland.

Originally Posted by mncruiser

....fuel was steaming down the tank from the gas cap....

This could be a rotten gasket on the fuel cap. Open it up and take a look. Also I suppose pressure might be building up in the tank due to a pinched vent hose. (Black hose with blue stripe, runs under the seat from rear of tank.) I kinda doubt that though. On a carbed bike it'll usually stall out after a while if the vent's pinched shut.

But if the tank is really full and it sits in the hot sun, I suppose it might build up some pressure. Mine does, but I can hear it whistle out through the keyhole if the tank is hot and I park the bike.

But mine's F.I. and it's never spewed fuel unless I overfilled it.

[mncruiser]

The bike is FI'd. I let it sit and came back a couple hours later and ran it around the block a couple times. I pulled into the garage and it leaked a puddle (4" diameter) again on garage floor then promptly quit. I ran it a couple more times around the garage but no leaks. If a pattern is emerging it would be that when the bike sits and you run it, it leaks but if shut off and restarted, it doesn't? I am worried I have a problem developing slowly here.

I posted this to the bd forum.

Dude, mine done the same thing last summer. I overfilled the thing and it ran and ran and ran for 30 miles. It finally quit and was just from being overfilled. Haven't had the problem since!!

[davidjones1]

I had the problem with it coming out of the tank and found that I had to give the cap a little smack to lock it all the way shut. I have never had the problem with the over flow. I would take a little out of the tank and run it and see if the leak is still there ...just my 2c
ride safe.

[rewindgy]

Check the o-rings under the two bolts / screws that hold the gas cap assembly to the tank. The screws / bolts actually go thru into the tank. My 06 started to puke gas out just after the winter was over ( mind you it's still not over here!!!!!) and I tried everything. Had done the black rubber flap removal and thought that was the problem - Not! One of the o-rings had split over the winter and every time the bike would run gas would leak pass the o-ring an puke over the tank! Just have a look - it may not be it - but if it is - it's not a hard fix!!

[ringadingh]

Mine has done the same after filling right up to the top, especially in warmer weather.

My 06 has leaked at the cap ever since day one. Leaks all over the tank. Never leaks underneath though. I don't ever get a whistling sound so I don't know if its a venting issue or not.. I just keep a rag handy and wipe the tank until it get down to about 3/4 then its fine.

[socwkbiker]

Sounds like overfilling to me.

[mncruiser]

This morning I went out and followed the vent hose as far as you can, it disappears in no mans land under the tank. I made sure it was not being pinched. I then opened the gas cap and used the air compressor to blow it out real good. Took several rides this morning and not a drop leaked out anywhere?

I have seen it said that I overfilled it and perhaps I did. It was my first fill up on this bike and the first thing I saw when I opened the cap was that metal plate thing just inside. My immediate thought was that must be an indicator on how high to fill the tank and so I was careful to fill to where the fuel just touched the bottom. I did not allow the fuel to rise over it. Is this overfilling? Should I fill a certain distance beneath this plate?

On the cap. do you have to use the key to close it? It seemed to resist when I tried that so I used the key to allow it to close without resistance? Can you just give it a rap to close?

[cactusjack]

FWIW, I routinely fill to a little bit above that plate and it doesn't leak a drop.

[dogdoc]

sounds like over filling to me too, wait till you have to polish all that gas that gets burned onto the pipes,LOL,,,happy rubbing.