Gasoline smell

[bgross]

The other morning I rode home and parked in the garage. Got off the bike and smelled gasoline.

(Bike had not been sitting in sun; ride home was 20 miles/freeway; tank 5/6 full; air temps high 50s.)

No signs of leaking fuel. I left the garage open, and within a couple hours the smell had dissipated.

Two days later I was pushing the bikes around the garage. No smell. A couple hours later I turned the key on (did not hit starter) when unlocking forks: gasoline smell as system went through the usual hum.

Any suggestions before I start pulling Tupperware?

 

[FJRay]

My first thought is it's something Skooter did while Don owned it.

I believe you can see the whole fuel system by lifting the tank. check to make sure the venting system is not clogged or pinched somwhere.

 

[ionbeam]

Yes, open the gas cap on the tank. Oh, while you are there check to see if the orange doohickey is present and in place. If it is I would suggest checking the vent hoses and taking the cap apart and cleaning it (there are good instructions here on the Forum, I'll link later if needed). My (often wrong) reasoning is that a tank that doesn't vent will build pressure until it does vent a lot or deforms. We have seen deformed tanks. A normally venting tank vents so little fumes that it would normally be unnoticeable.

If your motorcycle has been ridden in the desert for years and maintained by an Arizonian that only knows how to operate a bottle cap

then the vent in the lid probably needs cleaning.

Edit: Cross posted the same info with Ray.

 

[Fred W]

Since the smell subsided overnight until you re-pressurized the Fuel Injection by turning the key on, I would suspect some leakage in the supply (or return) hoses from the tank. Should be pretty obvious when you jack the tank up and have a good look around under it.

 

[bgross]

Thanks, gentlemen!

(For the tips AND the humor.)

 

[Denver_FJR]

I'm probably the slow dude in the audience here, but what Ionbeam is inferring is to check for a pressure/vacuum when opening the cap. If a pressure/vacuum is detected it's an indication one of you tank vents has become blocked. If no pressure is detected it's time to take Fred's advice and pop the tank and check the lines. There's a quick disconnect fitting that I'm always surprised seems to make a complete seal.

 

[creg-ny-baa]

Any suggestions before I start pulling Tupperware?

Thanks, gentlemen!(For the tips AND the humor.)

Well, I was going to suggest that you not smoke... Too late for advice or humor?

 

[wfooshee]

The fact that you smelled it as soon as you hit the key says "not a vent problem" to me. I don't see how starting the pump would pressurize the venting system.

On lifting the tank you'll find the line down to the fuel rail, which runs to the left side, and the return line which comes up from the right side, and the rail itself, all need to be looked at for seepage. The rail is a solid tube with no joints, so it BETTER not be leaking! The injectors fit into it with O-rings. The only joints are each end of the down hose, the injector tops, and each end of the up hose. That fitting on the down hose is my candidate for the most likely culprit.

For the vent system, that's the two hoses under the left side of the tank. Those don't carry any pressure so I can't see how they would be the source of a sudden fuel smell just from starting the pump.

 

[Constant Mesh]

Does a 2003 California model have a fumes canister?

 

[beemerdons]

Does a 2003 California model have a fumes canister?

Constant Mesh, Miss Lucy Liu (nee Lucille) is a 49 state model purchased new in Chandler, Arizona. "I believe you can see the whole fuel system by lifting the tank. check to make sure the venting system is not clogged or pinched somewhere." My bet is that Raymond is 100% correct, check the hoses and vents and I'll bet that is the problem!

"If your motorcycle has been ridden in the desert for years and maintained by an Arizonian that only knows how to operate a bottle cap

then the vent in the lid probably needs cleaning." ******** Alan, I can also operate a cork screw! But, I am certain that Professor Ionbeam in spot on with this analysis!

 

[bgross]

Again, thanks gents.

In the words of Rosanne Rosanadana, "It's always something."

The water heater quit yesterday.

Since my bride is visiting her family in Phoenix/Chandler/Gilbert for Christmas, I can shower at the gym - and work on Lucille first!

Naturally, if I need to order parts, my Christmas morning ride will have to be on Rose the Hondapotamus (or, as Lucille calls her, "that bitch").

Merry Christmas!

 

[TomInPA]

With the wife out of town, that cold shower might be beneficial!

Good luck with the fuel issue. BTW I just changed out my old air filter last night. It only took about 15 minutes, but the old filter was really grungy and smelled of fuel. Might be worth a look-see into the intake.

 

[bgross]

With the wife out of town, that cold shower might be beneficial!
Good luck with the fuel issue. BTW I just changed out my old air filter last night. It only took about 15 minutes, but the old filter was really grungy and smelled of fuel. Might be worth a look-see into the intake.

Another item added to the list, thanks!

Naturally, when you said 'air filter' I pictured the Wingabago's air filter - deep within, beneath the mountains of Tupperware & radio controls.

Gotta love the simplicity of the FJR.

 

[Bogus]

Again, thanks gents.
In the words of Rosanne Rosanadana, "It's always something."

The water heater quit yesterday.

Since my bride is visiting her family in Phoenix/Chandler/Gilbert for Christmas, I can shower at the gym - and work on Lucille first!

Naturally, if I need to order parts, my Christmas morning ride will have to be on Rose the Hondapotamus (or, as Lucille calls her, "that bitch").

Merry Christmas!

Completely off topic, but sooooo glad you didn't say "hot water heater"!!

 

[Queensland Ken]

Does a 2003 California model have a fumes canister?

Yep, it does.

My mate had a bad venting problem on his Gen1, an import into Australia from California.

Fixed it for him, had to remove the valve near the canister, but has the occasional petrol vapor leak now.

 

[dcarver]

I blame the lawn mower.

 

[bgross]

Again, thanks gents.In the words of Rosanne Rosanadana, "It's always something."

The water heater quit yesterday.

Since my bride is visiting her family in Phoenix/Chandler/Gilbert for Christmas, I can shower at the gym - and work on Lucille first!

Naturally, if I need to order parts, my Christmas morning ride will have to be on Rose the Hondapotamus (or, as Lucille calls her, "that bitch").

Merry Christmas!

Completely off topic, but sooooo glad you didn't say "hot water heater"!!

= )

Seriously - if I had hot water, I wouldn't need the heater!

I re-thought my priorities yesterday after my workout & shower at the gym.

After about an hour of tinkering and only ONE trip tho the hardware store (inconceivable!), I installed a new thermocouple.

I MADE FIRE!

My water heater now produces HOT water again.

What better way to spend Christmas than with the bikes?!

 

[bgross]

Mission Accomplished.

Don't ask me how.

I fiddled around with the fuel lid a bit, but decided to save R&R for later.

I removed the seats and necessary plastic, loosened the pivot bolt at the back of the tank, and removed the front bolts.

I tried to raise the tank, but the two vent hoses were binding. So I crawled under and released the bottom ends from the clamp by the kickstand and backed the hoses up to release the tension.

Then I propped up the tank and began the process of locating, inspecting and photographing the various fuel line connections. No apparent signs of wear nor evidence of prior leakage.

Finally I turned on the key. After waiting half a minute and not detecting the gasoline odor, I re-inspected all the lines.

Nuttin'.

I hit the starter and re-re-inspected everything as the bike warmed up to two bars.

No leaks, no odor, no nothing.

After using a damp rag to tidy a few dusty spots, I reassembled everything and went for a ride, including a nice cobweb-blowing-high-revving freeway entrance. She runs as well as ever.

Got home and made a point of sniffing around as I was taking off my riding gear: still nothing.

Thanks to all of you who suggested stuff to check! (If I had a Carbtune, I'd have done TBS while I was under there.)

All's well that ends well. Merry Christmas to all.

 

[wfooshee]

Those hoses should allow the tank to be raised, so something had a hold of them somewhere. I still find it odd that the vent hoses can produce the smell after running the pump when turning on the bike, especially if you've never had issues with pressure in the tank, like air hissing when you open the filler.

OTOH, I think one of those hoses is a drain from the cap for over fills, and if that was bound up, maybe there was gas being trapped in that somehow.