gas evaporating from float bowls?

After about a week of cold weather, I went to the barn to start up the beast again, and I could not get any tickle action. Looked in the tank and it was just about empty. I remember I had almost filled it the last time I used it last week so something is amiss. I drained the sump and the oil looks fine. New gasket in cap. Could I have a real slow leak through my petcocks and the fuel is evaporating from the float bowls? I need to get this sorted before I start again and it looks like this week is going to be the end of any good weather. Will I be able to see if the oil (50W Honey) has been contaminated by the fuel? I've got the tank in the garage and I'm going to put some fuel in it and see if I get any drips out of the petcocks while they are closed.

I set up the new stay up floats by the new Amal instructions, 0.08" below the top of the float bowl, but wasn't getting any action, so I put them back up to just below the top of the float where the old plastic ones were. When it ran it seemed to run fine, except when the wire was off one of the coils. I wonder if the viton tipped valves are not seating?

Dave
69S

I'm getting 1 drip out of each petcock every 25 seconds. I would think that is enough to drain the tank in a week. But I'm wondering if I have contaminated my oil or would it just evaporate out of the float bowl? One drip every 25 seconds is enough to evaporate each drip before the next one comes on the floor.

Guess it's new petcock time.

Dave
69S

Nope its not evaporating off float surface in covered up float bowl in cold season so it dripping out on bowl or below to evaporate unseen or dribbling into sump unseen. Taps need renewing to solve &/or new float needle seals.

I have new needle viton tips, but I wonder if I have the floats too high. I'll mess with it. Couldn't see any sign of gas in oil.

Dave
69S

I dilute old oil with old gas all the time to use up starting big fires and you will be hard pressed to see any difference in oil appearance till too late, just sloshes a bit easier if you are calibrated to notice that as I am mixing it up to pour out.
Seems like unusual amount of gas to go away in tank, hope we learn something new on your discovery and solution. Its a brit bike and a Commando at that so who knows where more than one leak at once might occur. Could be taps to hose then cradle with only a bit left over to show out the carbs.

I took the petcocks apart and lapped the seats in with some J-B bore cleaning compound. It seems to have done the trick so far, no drips, but maybe I need a longer test.

The oil still looked like when I put it in, honey, but I'm going to change it soon anyhow. Plus I'm going to put the bike away this week.

Dave
69S

Sometimes you get a weep from where the petcock goes into the tank, this is not easy to see but will evaporate a lot of fuel over time. Run you r finger around the sealing ring area and see if it gets wet.

Dave,
Yes, I have the stat-o-seals (?) on the petcocks to the tank, so I think that is pretty good. I think I need to either get new petcocks or make mine work right.

It's too bad I was so late this fall getting this brute running, I'm out of time now, the weather has turned and it's time to put it away. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get it started up and around my neighbors and into the garage so it will go in the house for the winter.

Dave
69S

Whether you have the seals fitted or not they can still weep out of the threads due to a slightly loose fit. I have been chasing just such a leak on my Roadster. Don't worry about putting your bike away for the Winter unridden, my S-type is rapidly reaching a road-going condition and I will think of you, so you can enjoy the riding vicariously as I use it during these ideal cooler months here in Asia!

Leave tank out to dry before bringing it into a sealed heated home eh.
Hair dryer on low in filler with or w/o taps removed speeds that up.
But inside is about only place it won't decay over cold season. I too got a late start on Trixie Combat, but a whole bunch of other needed things done finally. Would of even got Trixie going a month ago, but screwed up on lifters sent and didn't realize re-newed head had no rockers installed. She'll get done before winter storage too, but only in day time temp highs in between work calls, catch as can. I'm still in Dixieland so a fair number of grace days during winter, if I dare anymore.

I won't be lonely with Trixie in shed, Peel's form sits in front of my recliner near fire place.

Dave,
Yes, but not unridden. It has been up and down the driveway, and feels strong. Just need some good weather which will happen in March or April.

Hobot,
Tank will be dried out, Avgas seems to evaporate quickly even with a blue stain. I'll keep it in the garage until the gas is gone and then into the heated space and use it as "functional sculpture". Everyone can try to push the kick-start lever over and not do it. He he. At least it will keep oil flowing.

I do want to start it again when it rolls over helping me through the kick for the last time this season tomorrow. It felt sooo good the first time it rolled over!!!

Dave
69S

Keep the kickers delights on center stand not wimpy side stand and realize some women will want to lay down on it naked and some have some heft to em.
No not any woman that would marry you or me, so be extra alert : )

You could do some burn outs on grass or cement, helps to wet cement and definitely a good brake or something to nose into or even brave soul holding. Once familiar with how much rpm it takes you can make art work with it walking it around in circles or making smiley face arc's for beginners play. It should make enough noise and smoke and flying grit, to last most of winter or a life time remembering as you detail the grime off so more inviting to lovely woman gracing it.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I1ksEz6oSI[/video]

here is a gizmo I cobbled together to see what was actually happening inside the float chambers.
I know it looks like I have a lot of time on my hands, not the case, I am inquisitive to a fault.
What I did find was that one of the seats did not seal, the fuel level kept slowly increasing.
This was with new unused viton tipped needles too.
The increase was so slight that during a run it would'nt be a real noticible factor but sitting off with leaky taps would be.
I used some diamond polishing compound on a dremel mounted q-tip to polish the brass seat. Worked a charm.
It's also handy for confirming fuel level correctness.
LISTEN TO ME...playing with any flammable is always dangerous, do so at your own risk.
http://s1134.photobucket.com/albums/m60 ... %20gizmos/

Dave,
I ride mine regularily too.
I did not want to mess w/ worn out shut offs.
I replaced mine w/ a BAP set of taps.
I can't say enough how happy I am with them.
They look retro enough to a lay person yet seal well.
The old taps are well just old technology.
I contemplated what would constitute ok to deviate from originality.
Safety first fuel tank changed to metal and taps that close.
Safe tires and brakes.
As for the rest go nostalgic.
Waldridge Motors is having their Fall sale again and the tops are like $17.00 each.
Not bad as I remember seeing some vendors on ebay trying to fetch around $49.00 a piece for them in the past.
Just 2 pence to an old problem :wink:
Marshal

I'll look into those BAP taps. I did lap the seats in the old valves and put them back on, filled the tank and so far no leaks, or it is leaking so slowly it evaporates off the bottom of the tap that I can't tell. I guess I could put some mineral spirits in the tank and see if that leaks, at least it doesn't evaporate as fast as gas. Anyhow, I'm putting it up tomorrow, so I have all winter to think about it. All I need to do is get it started up enough to get it over to my neighbors and through the woods to my garage, then I may need some help to get it on the downstairs patio and into my workroom or the family room.

Dave
69S

Bap - not a drip or a dribble - love em.

And yes AntrimMan, you do have too much time on your hands! :mrgreen: well done.

David,
maybe Santa can bring you a set of BAP taps for christmas?
Have you been a good boy to MRs Clause this year?
:lol: :lol:
I'm sneaking out for one last ride today as the weather liars are predicting 61 in Penna?
We will see how 61 it feels at 50 mph.
Hurry up Spring Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marshal

Yeah, they're talking about 60-61 here until Sunday. I may take it back out on the driveway for a last fling, at least the taps aren't leaking enough to flood the carbs while running, just lets the gas drip out when turned off, so I have to drain the tank. It's starting real easy now. Only trouble is I have to go through my neighbors yard to get on the drive without going off a cliff and the leaves make it real bad on the grass. She's OK with it, but I don't want to make it a habit or wear a path through her yard.

Dave
69S