Fuel Leak

[Poseidon]

Now then folks. Had my Trident at home for just over a week (she's something of a project) and everytime I spent any time with her I could smell petrol. At first I thought it might be fuel leaking into the carbs but after removing the fairings and lifting the tank up, I've found the leak. It's only a slow steady drip, but it obviously needs sorting. It's allegedly had a new fuel tap on it (I'm a bit concerned about the state of the bolts holding it on... yellow circle in pic) but the leak is from where the tap meets the tank (red circle in pic shows a drop of petrol). I would've thought it would have had a new gasket with the new tap, but as I'm yet to get the tap of the tank, I can't confirm this. To make matters worse, I cant get the other fuel hose off (got the first fuel hose off and it pissed fuel everywhere, it was then I reaslise that whilst I was pulling the fuel hose off, I'd managed to turn the tap from "on" to "prime" with my wrist ... vacuum hose came off okay too). There's no retainer clip on any of the hoses either!

So folks, my questions are;
If the gasket is fine, could I use silicon sealant to stop the leak... and any tips for getting stuck hoses off? (i've tried pulling, twisting ect and am seriously thinking of just cutting it off as there is plenty of hose to re-connect)

I've run out of light today for working so left it for the night, I wanted to spend a good day on her tomorrow anyways so Intend to get this little problem sorted.I've attatched two pics, one of the leak and partialy stripped bolt and one of the stuck hose... Let me know your opinions folks!
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[inchi55]

Try using a hair dryer to warm up the pipe it should soften it and you will be able to get it off.
As for the leak make sure the surfaces are flat and clean or even put an extra gasket on.
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past bikes-gt185, gsx250, gsx600f, gsx750f and now rf900/
yea suzuki man all the way.

[Poseidon]

[inchi55]

[Poseidon]

to make matters worse, all the wine glasses seem to have disappeared... I'm having to drink pinot noir out of a champagne flute

If all else fails with the seal... the silicone would do the trick though, wouldn't it?
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[inchi55]

[Poseidon]

It's ok with oil... otherwise you couldn't use it with the valve cover, would've thought it'd be okay with petrol. Hopefully getting the surfaces properly clean will do it though.

Edit: Petrol desolves silicone... may have to resort to plan B... hmmm... whats plan B???
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[The Artist]

[Poseidon]

[ms51ves3]

[Poseidon]

[ms51ves3]

[Poseidon]

Surely it would have to be a non-pourous material, wouldn't the petrol soak straight through it?
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[ms51ves3]

[Poseidon]

I'm still not overly convinced... however, as the price is right for this repair... I'll give it a go. If it works, I'll buy you a bacon buttie and a cuppa (once she's road worthy!)
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[ms51ves3]

[Poseidon]

[spanner-zn]

There is normally a rubber o-ring in-between the tap and the tank. You cannot use silicon where there is petrol around. Just buy a standard o-ring from your local car dealer of the correct size and if the two surfaces are smooth and clean it shouldn't leak. You can replace the bolts with stainless steel cap screws which won't corrode and will look a lot neater.

[Poseidon]

It definately looks more like a gasket than an O-ring, and I'm definately not putting silicon any where near it!
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[Kickstart]

Hi

Silicon sealeant is petrol soluable as far as I know.

The bikes I have taken the tap off which are that style of attactment have been Yamahas which have had a rubber seal. Lozenge shape with a couple of cross pieces. The is exactly what it appears to be on the parts list link posted above.

Could be that someone has fitted a new tap and just used a piece of cardboard as a make do gasket (that tap looks new to me). Could also be there there is some corrosion to the outside of the tank resulting in a poor seal to the tap (looks like someone has tried to clean up the mating surface).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Poseidon]

[reckless_b]

I recently had a very old very tightly stuck clear reinforced plastic petrol pipe to remove, after struggling for a while I got the wifes little steam cleaner, about the size of a kettle, two little blasts of steam and the pipe almost fell off it really made a difference.On the subject of the gasket,a thin smear of red hermatite should do the trick.
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40 years on the road on and sometimes off bikes with a very recent OFF

[Poseidon]