• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

fuel leak between t stem and carb body and choke issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter charbot
  • Start date Start date
C

charbot

Guest
hi everyone,

Im a new member, and id like to say that this site has been a huge help over the last month as ive been fixing up an abandoned '77 gs 400. I had to track down one dude to get the key, and another for the title, but with a little tlc, Ive got it running great (almost)

main problem is that I have a minor fuel leak (more of a weap, really) at the base of the carb t-stem, right where it meets the carb body. It has mikuni bs34 carbs and the tee fitting is on the right carb. Im pretty sure that this is not a removable part and there is a tiny crack where the stem is mounted into the carb body. How should I go about fixing this? JB seems an obvious quick-fix, but is there something a little nicer? Can aluminum be soldered or would it have to be welded?

Another problem: While the bike seems to idle well ( around 900- 1000)and starts with the first kick, it doesnt like having the choke "on". When I apply the choke, there is an initial surge in RPMs but after a few seconds it will die unless I give it a little throttle. turn off the choke- it idles fine again. Any ideas?

I think that Im safe in assuming that this is a carb/ fuel related issue.
I should also mention that this was someone else's "custom" job - 2 to one exhaust and 1 into 2 (?) pod air filter. not sure if it was ever properly adjusted, may or may not be relevant.

Thanks in advance
 
Flatout has an exploded diagram of your carbs, and plenty of replacement parts that seem to be in stock, although I don't see a fuel Tee. Your carbs should 'ungang' with little trouble, and you'll be able to get in there and see what gives.

The carbs look identical to the 80-82 450's, by the way. So there's hope out there...

That doesn't answer your question, though. I just think that unganging the carbs would make it easier to determine for sure what the source of the leak is.
 
Last edited:
I've had the carbs apart for cleaning. All the carb diagrams/ parts lists, including the one in my Clymer manual, show nothing about the t-stem or about it being removable. I think that the actual fitting is a seperate piece but permanently attached, like the brass float bowl drain nipples. Just the short length of fuel hose that connects the two carbs.
 
Welcome to the forums!

Just had a quick look at the fiche and those carbs definitely look different to my '82 450E's.

I had the same problem as yourself, but in my case there's a T piece where the fuel host connects and it plugs into both carbs. The left carb was leaking fuel quite drastically from where the T piece slid in, so I replaced it and now there's no leak.

Maybe post a pic so we can see what you're talking about?
 
here's a image of the bike after I cleaned it up a bit. I repaired the dents and painted the gas tank, made a new cafe seat (the old one was a misshapen amateur fiberglass job, literally duct taped together) and did a basic tune up.


gs400x by charleswesleyhobbs, on Flickr


And here's the leaky t-stem. The view is looking up at the carb from below and the air intake is at the top. the main fuel line (with the tiny hose clamp) comes in from the top of the pic and is attached to the tee stem. While there is gas all over the right carb, I am 99% sure that the fuel is leaking from the seam between t-stem and carb body, and not from a bad gasket, or loose fuel hose. When I clean it all off, the leak appears first on the top of the seam, above the gaskets. It doesnt really drip, just weeps a thin film of fuel,eventually spreading across and down the float bowl. what you see is about a week's worth of leak.


carb by charleswesleyhobbs, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
and here's a schematic of the carb. Note that it only shows the short length of hose(part #39) between the carbs as being a separate part. The fuel tee stem is not even shown as it is on the back side of the carb body.

m6021sch258034
SU0071_013.gif

m6021sch258034
 
Last edited:
Greetings and Salutations!!

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. charbot,

I know Z1Enterprises.com has a selection of fuel "T's" for different carburetors (just do a search for "fuel t" on their website). If you don't see what you're looking for, just give them a call. They are very helpful people.

Anyway, let me dump a TON of information on you and share some GS lovin'. :D

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.
big_hi.gif


If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....
hat1.gif


Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Cleanup Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. This is what NOT to do: Top 10 Newbie Mistakes. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

carpet.jpg


Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike! :D

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed. I will put you on my prayer list.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Ok I see what you're talking about!

The vacuum line on my carbs attaches to a nozzle on the left carb that is actually separate to the carb body and can be removed, yet isn't on the parts fiche as a separate item.

I suspect your T piece is a similar issue.

So, my suggestion at the moment would be to remove and ungang the carbs as suggested and see if you can remove it, and then hopefully you can see what's going on.

Try Z1 as BassCliff said as this might be something they've been asked for before.

I think you'll probably end up needing to put some sort of sealant in there and/or getting that crack repaired.
 
Bingo! you guys were dead on. it is, in fact, a separate piece. Seemed like it was in there pretty good. I was trying to be gentle and just as I was about to put it down, not wanting to damage it further, the tee slipped out. The tee is aluminum, but it has a smaller brass tip that fits into a cavity in the carb. Just a tension fitting, no sign of gasket or o-ring. I couldnt find any cracks or damage, i guess it was just loose enough to weep a few molecules of fuel. Im am applying some instant gasket compound now. When I get it all back together, probably tomorrow, Ill let you know how it works.

Any thoughts on the choke? Ive found lots of info for "runs only with choke" but not much for "runs only without choke." Fuel delivery? My petcock has some issues. BassCliff's list said "replace the petcock"- is that replace the petcock entirely, with a new " universal petcock? The stock one that bad?

Thanks for all the help so far!
 
Last edited:
Good stuff, hopefully the gasket stuff sorts that out for you.

As to the choke, it sounds like it might be running a bit rich as the choke is actually a fuel enrichment device, meaning it adds more fuel when it's on. If this causes your bike to stall I suspect it's too rich already.

Given what you say about the PO's modifications, I'd definitely be doing plug chops and working out what the go is.

You definitely want to determine what jets are in your carbs now and how they compare to stock etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top