Re: It's A Gas <burp!>

[Mick <bmwmick@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:40 PM 4/15/2011, you wrote:
> 2010 was my lowest-mileage year in recent memory, and my poor old 
> 2002 r1150r spent most of its time in the barn.  Last weekend was 
> the annual Airhead Tech Day at Darryl Richman's place in Santa Cruz, 
> CA, and it was all but unthinkable not to ride there, so I started 
> the bike up and took it out for a wash -- and smelled 
> gasoline.  Fairly strongly.  As it's never been a major ambition of 
> mine to become a fireball sailing down the Interstate, and as I 
> didn't have the time to sort it out, I ended up driving down, and 
> got back to the issue today.
>
> My working hypothesis was that it was some sort of issue involving 
> the O-rings in the quick disconnect fittings for the fuel tank, and 
> when the fuel pressure reached running levels there was some kind of 
> small leak, so I removed the fuel line cover and started the 
> engine.  Again I smelled gas, but couldn't see nor feel any sign of 
> a leak, and after the engine ran for a while I could no longer smell it.
>
> I'm now going to suit up and go for a ride to see if that brings it 
> back, but it occurs to me to wonder if this isn't the sort of thing 
> that can happen if the O-rings dry out from inactivity, and the cure 
> is to just ride the damn thing.  Any wisdom to offer?


Martin,
  More than likely it's your hose clamps on the pressure side of the 
fuel lines.
They tend to lose tension after a few years and they need tightened.  If they
are the factor clamps (oetiker) you'll need the tool or a good pair of dykes.
http://www.oetiker.us/

Mick