Bike dripping fuel

[rat840771]

My bike is sitting outside my work dripping fuel out of the overflow/breather pipe under the bike?

The tank isn't full, why is this happening, i can only assume that it is caused by the heat from the Sun that is causing pressure. Do i have anything to worry about?

You can see the fumes evaporating, good job there are no naked flames about!

[Fleegle]

Try opening and closing the fuel cap. It may have just built a whole lot of pressure. Had this once on my TT600 and seemed to solve it

[Biker's Nemesis]

Open the cap to release the pressure as grumpy grandad says above.

Failing that, throw a match at it if it's a Honda.

[rat840771]

Opened cap and it did stop, but now its closed again its dripping. Can't afford to throw away fuel!

It's a Suzuki so worth saving

[xstian]

Its probable the carb float valve. Either worn or there is dirt in the float bowls.

Its a very cheap fix if you are capable of doing it yourself.

[hman]

if the float valve is stuck it can be sometimes be un-stuck by tapping the body of the carb with the handle of a screwdriver.

If the float valve seal has gone then its time to order a new valve, remove the carb, take the float owl off and and change the valve out.

In the meantime just turn the fuel tap off when the engines off.

[Biker's Nemesis]

What kind of Suzuki is it? Is it an injection model.

[Dakkon]

They all do that sir....;)

[rat840771]

The dripping has subsided for now. I think the bike was in deep shock due to the heat!

its 1000 k7 so i presume no carbs, no floats!

I am just relieved that it's dripping from a breather pipe and not a crack somewhere!

[Mr2Mike]

There will be a drain pipe that runs from the fuel cap recess out to the bottom of the tank to prevent water collecting around the filler cap. It's not unheard of for the internal pipe to crack or rust (on bikes kept outside especially) which then causes a fuel leak.

[Biker 1]

I've had that happen on a couple of bikes - almost certainly heat expansion from leaving it in the sun. Not much you can do, apart from parking it in the shade....

[Biker's Nemesis]

rat840771 said:

I am just relieved that it's dripping from a breather pipe and not a crack somewhere!

Usually fluid dripping from a crack means you have had a successfull evening.

[E36GUY]

rat840771 said:

Opened cap and it did stop, but now its closed again its dripping. Can't afford to throw away fuel!

It's a Suzuki so worth saving

Count yourself lucky. Fuel burst through the side of the fuel tank a couple of weeks ago and was pouring out!!

Seems the tank was dented in it's former life and repaired using filler and painted over. Seems there was a little pinprick hole not addressed and simply covered by filler. Over time, the fuel under pressure has been pushing on the underside of the filler and eventually, in the sun that day burst its way out.

Stripped away some filler and found the hole which I have sealed with a very stong resin bonding agent (thankfully at work so access to lots of this stuff immediately!) which is doing the trick but a new tank needed at some point.

[cmaguire]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Usually fluid dripping from a crack means you have had a successfull evening.

Depends on whose crack it is.

[Mr2Mike]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Usually fluid dripping from a crack means you have had a successfull evening.

Or a really hot curry.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Mr2Mike said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

Usually fluid dripping from a crack means you have had a successfull evening.

Or a really hot curry.

That would still be a good night for me.