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Fuel Smell

  • the_mongrel
    the_mongrel
    6 years ago
    Hey All,
    Long time no speak - I hope all is well.

    Anyways...

    So the last couple of rides I have noticed that when I got home my garage had a bit of smell of fuel to it.  I simply put this off as the bike being hot and the garage being locked up.  BUT.... now it seams there is a constant smell of petrol hanging around the bike.  There seems to be nothing leaking etc, but if I stick my head down near the cylinders, I can certainly smell it.

    The bike is an injected 2010 model Fat Boy.

    Anyone else had this.  It has me beat.  I have been over every inch of it (without pulling it down) and I can't work it out.

    Anyways... If you have any info you can share, that would be cool.

    Cheers
    J
  • Bonkerz
    Bonkerz
    6 years ago
    As always, no doubt better advice will be along shortly, but...

    When my bike was tuned wrong it would smell of unburnt fuel. 
    I'd also wipe on some powder (flour maybe?) on the fuel lines and see if any sticks.  Check near the tank where the lines connect.  I had a quick connect washer thingy go once - surprised I didn't head down the road in a ball o flame :)

  • the_mongrel
    the_mongrel
    6 years ago
    Thanks Bonks!
    I have been over this scoot and just can't find why I have this smell.  She is tuned perfectly, and is running beautifully - has me stuffed.

    I thought it might have been the tank breather, but I reckon it's way too strong for that.
  • Ferrett62
    Ferrett62
    6 years ago
    I  had the same problem but I found a small amount of fuel on the left side of the tank on top, I had slightly over filled it and while on the side stand it was seeping out of the fuel pump cover. I removed the ccentre cover off the tank and found the screws on the cover were only just finger tight, tightened them down firm but not over tight and no problem since. Don't know if they were already loose when I got the bike or if they backed themselves out with vibration. 
  • the_mongrel
    the_mongrel
    6 years ago
    Yeah, well thats going to be the next step!  To start stripping it down to find the source!
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    6 years ago
    My Street Glide does the same. Sometimes it spits back thru the air filter when you switch it off
  • the_mongrel
    the_mongrel
    6 years ago
    How strong is it Paul?  We had to open doors in the garage it was that strong!
  • imoo6170
    imoo6170
    6 years ago
    Is the o-ring seal on the fuel cap ok? I found on my Springer that it would leak a bit out of the fuel cap when it was hot and the tank was full. Also got the fuel smell in the garage when i got home.  New o-ring seal now no smell or leak?
  • robnicko
    robnicko
    6 years ago
    check that the fuel line quick connector has not come loose, . mine did it a while back and since re-connecting is all fine

    despite mine not being connected properly / loose the bike still ran although the smell was certainly there when I got home and I could feel the leaking fuel on the quick connect which then quickly evaporates but still smells
  • the_mongrel
    the_mongrel
    6 years ago
    Ok - So some info.
    After digging and rooting around with the tank, I think I nailed it down to the balance line (tube running between both sides of the tank at the front).

    So I took myself off to Enzed and had a chat to the guys. Very helpful, and when I explained my situation - they smiled and said... "yep.  We hear this all the time with rubber hoses" - and they showed me some info from the hose manufacturer about how they can now no longer guarantee rubber hoses for modern unleaded fuels.  It stated that "due to unknown additives" they can't guarantee it's life.    The only one they guarantee is Teflon - but of course, we can't use that on the tank, as it needs fittings and can't use crush clamps.

    SO... They gave me the highest rated hose we could find and I have replaced it.  I will monitor it over the coming weeks etc, but hopefully I have it now.

    Very interesting though, and I did find that the existing hose had become quite soft.

    Anyways...  Will let you know how it turns out
  • robnicko
    robnicko
    6 years ago
    its usually the ethanol blended fuels other than 91, 95 & 98 that deteriorate rubber
  • robnicko
    robnicko
    6 years ago
    At least you got to the bottom of your issue safely !
    Enzed, rightly so are covering themselves with the statement as they should. Fuels these days have lots of different recipes and catering for all must be a nightmare.
    How many people have just used whatever 'black' hose is lying round for a fuel line only to have it turn into a gooey firelighetr in a short matter of time
  • the_mongrel
    the_mongrel
    6 years ago
    Yeah man thanks!
    I have stuck my head in and around the bike again this morning - No smell whatsoever.  So I think I have nailed it.

    For the record, I put that hose on when we stripped her for paint, but I used (at the time) the hose recommended by Enzed back then.  So it lasted about 5 years!
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