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Anyone ever had this leak? Fixed?

open1mind

open1mind

Forum Apprentice
Past Site Supporter
I dont see this specific example in searches, so here goes:

With the bike running, a significant gas leak that drips between carbs 2-3. It comes out about the pace of 1 shot glass full after about 1-2 minutes of running. The problem is, I can not identify exactly where it is coming from. Some background;;;

- 1979 GS 1000e, stock carbs, and well, stock just about everything.
- Had some starting problems in the final ride of the fall season, and I tried to troubleshoot it with some good help from GSers over the winter. My focus was that the choke (ie- enricher) cable was too loose, and I adjusted it when we had 5' of snow.
- just got to fire up the bike today- after using a well charged battery, and bump starting with OFF on kill switch (always heard that helped get the oil moving before putting under load), used PRI position on petcock (1 year old)-- low and behold it fired up strong. NOt just a little strong, but with full choke it started at about 1800 rpm and w/in a minute it was well over 2k. Had not run since Oct 2013.
- Bike was given a healthy does of STABIL before being put to bed, and carbs were drained.
- Noticed the leak after running for about 1-2 minutes, and petcock had been moved first to PRI, and then to RUN before start up

After pulling the tank and trying to find the leak, I started it up and it ran great well, no visible leak with tank off. I tried tapping the float bowls thinking that might be part of the prob. Replaced the tank, and it leaked again- but I still could not see where from. It dripped around those two carbs, and the idle set screw. So, I parked it an came back about 2 hours later.
MAGIC--- WHEN I TRIED AGAIN, NO LEAK! AS IN, I LET IT IDLE, USED WITH AND W/OUT CHOKE, AND RAN IT UP AND DOWN THE BLOCK- not another drop. ??? It is running great, no leak, no stumble, starts on first crank. Where could that gas have been coming from???? other than checking it when warming up and occasionally during a ride, how worried should i be?
 
Fuel tee orings are leaking. At this point they all need replaced ..along with the transfer tube orings. In reality, it sounds like time to tear them down and do a full cleaning and replace ALL the orings and gaskets.
 
The rubber on the fuel tees swells up after being in gasoline for a while. It probably won't leak anymore.

It would be good to replace all of that old crappy rubber though.
 
Wow- you guys seem to speak from experience. Have you seen that scenario happen?

I dont doubt the answer. It just surprises me that they could swell enough to plug that leak so completely. I hope to pull the carbs and get them rebuilt over next winter. I suppose for now I will just watch it carefully. the bike is only used for the occasional sunday ride, so hopefully it is not a continuing problem.
 
It will leak every time those seals dry out, I see it all the time on bikes that have sat forever. Ride it more often, keep the seals wet and it won't leak at all. Or replace the rubber and it won't ever leak. Rebuilding the carbs isn't an over the winter thing, it doesn't take that long and it's pretty easy.
 
tkent02 said:
It will leak every time those seals dry out, I see it all the time on bikes that have sat forever. Ride it more often, keep the seals wet and it won't leak at all. Or replace the rubber and it won't ever leak. Rebuilding the carbs isn't an over the winter thing, it doesn't take that long and it's pretty easy.
Click to expand...

You must live somewhere that gives you more than a 2 day riding season. After the winter that I just had, summer is for riding, not wrenching. I am also skills and space challenged, so I will really need to prepare and take my time with a rebuild project.
 
open1mind said:
You must live somewhere that gives you more than a 2 day riding season. After the winter that I just had, summer is for riding, not wrenching. I am also skills and space challenged, so I will really need to prepare and take my time with a rebuild project.
Click to expand...
Yes, he lives in Colorado. I live in oHIo, but have spent some time in "upstate NY" (Glens Falls, Saranac Lake, Potsdam), I know your riding season is longer than 2 days.

Even if you are SLOW and methodical, a full carb rebuild only takes a week. If you bite the bullet and send the carbs to one of us that offers a rebuild service (Look in the GS Parts and Services forum for chef1366, chuck hahn, nastyjones or me), you will be without your carbs for about two weeks, including shipping time both ways. I happen to know that your riding season is even longer than that. :p

Besides, with a leak like that, I would be scared to ride it home, let alone all summer long. :eek:

.
 
open1mind said:
You must live somewhere that gives you more than a 2 day riding season. After the winter that I just had, summer is for riding, not wrenching. I am also skills and space challenged, so I will really need to prepare and take my time with a rebuild project.
Click to expand...

Yep, we have 12 month riding season here. Just not every single day of any of them.

This is today:

20140403_084157.jpg




Send Steve your carbs on Monday, you will be riding by next Sunday for sure. With no fuel leaks.
 
I will keep a close eye on it, and thankfully I have a few bikes (sadly, most are newer), so I only use the GS for shorter sunday drives. If the problem reappears, then I will likley try to take a day this summer to pull the carbs and send them to one of the zen (vm?) masters here. I am also considering buying a FULL carb set on ebay if I can find one. That way I could have a full set rebuilt, and then swap them out and have some spares around. Since the bike is not going to be sold while I am vertical, it couldnt hurt. Anyone have a full set for sale that are 100% stock?
 
I probably might have a complete set or two around here… Finding the time to put them together wil be a problem.
 
Yup they dry out. For over winter storage put stabilizer in the gas in don't drain the carbs. If the carbs are apart for any length of time I put the tees in a zip lock with a coating of fork oil because it is rubber friendly. Mine leaked after my bike was stored for an extended period and once they swelled back up they have never leaked again. That was about 10 years ago.
 
On a 79 it may not have the O rings on the fuel T. It is the same problem. You can squeeze an o ring on to the fuel T to prevent leaks
 
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