Sudden plenum seal leak

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mfnheff
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Sudden plenum seal leak

#1

Post by mfnheff »

I was so excited...after many hours of work, i was about to ride this wing for the first time. But...it started running weird...idle all over the place, bogging, and finally...nothing. I have very good spark. I just timed the bike, and set the the new tec points plate assembly that came with a free parts bike. So I pull the air cleaner lid and filter...and see fuel sitting in the plenum. The bike was running fine prior to this, even tho i didnt get to ride it, I have been starting it as I've tested things, and just to hear it run. And this issue never came up. Until today. So I let the bike run itself out of fuel. The plenum dried up. Petcock on...ignition, it fires up. As soon as it's running, i see fuel coming from one spot in the center of the plenum, and what looks to be air coming in and blowing the fuel at the same spot.
What would cause this to happen all of a sudden? I rebuilt the carbs...cleabed the tank. New fuel lines. Filter. Hoses. Pump. But i didn't change the plenum gasket, and it bit me. The weird thing is i dont see fuel leaking from *under* the carbs, only inside. The leak is between the rear two carbs.
1976 gl1000
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Whiskerfish
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Re: Sudden plenum seal leak

#2

Post by Whiskerfish »

Are you certain it is not coming out of one of the carbs? If you replaced the plenum seal and did not pinch it then odds are high the leak could be from a stuck float or float valve
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Oldewing
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Re: Sudden plenum seal leak

#3

Post by Oldewing »

mfnheff wrote: But i didn't change the plenum gasket, and it bit me.

either or, it could be...
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ericheath
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Re: Sudden plenum seal leak

#4

Post by ericheath »

Save yourself a teardown and after clean and dry, put a piece of paper towel/ napkin in the plenum floor that will show where it gets wet first. If the carb-to-plenum orings fail they back up into the plenum. Brown paper towel that will quickly turn color to reveal the source is best. If the plenum gasket is leaking it should show without starting it up. You can also route the fuel line from the petcock so it bypasses the pump direct to the carbs.

Any carb rebuild should get a bench check of a liter of fuel hanging six feet above the rack.
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robin1731
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Re: Sudden plenum seal leak

#5

Post by robin1731 »

ericheath wrote:snip...…...
Any carb rebuild should get a bench check of a liter of fuel hanging six feet above the rack.
And a new plenum seal. It isn't a complete rebuild without it. And you are so close to splitting the plenum anyway it adds very little time. IMO

What kits did you use? I'm guessing maybe OEM or maybe K & L? If Randakk the kit would have come with the plenum seal, that's why I'm wondering. ;)
.
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mfnheff
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Re: Sudden plenum seal leak

#6

Post by mfnheff »

I'm ordering a randakk kit later today. I'm tired of playing around with junk that doesn't work. Should have done that in the first place
1976 gl1000
heraldhamster
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Re: Sudden plenum seal leak

#7

Post by heraldhamster »

mfnheff wrote:I'm ordering a randakk kit later today. I'm tired of playing around with junk that doesn't work. Should have done that in the first place
aah, wisdom. been there, done that. good on ya!
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