Honda Fireblade - do I have water in the tank?

**IronPawz** · 13th August 2016, 23:19

I'd say this one is easy. My 2015 Blade (53,000kms) gets ridden rain, hail and shin to work and is showing issues that would seem water in tank to me.

Flutters at times particularly when coming out of a good lean (not many on my ride but one particular good spot after a hard lean it really fluttered for a bit) or at times having sat at constant speed then accelerated.

I was thinking I bet that is water in the float bowls, then I realized it is fuel injected so does that even apply? Surely a blade at a skant 53k would not have any real issues? I've filled it up on rainy days where water might get in during the fueling. Always been serviced at City Honda (Palmy great shop always liked them).

Then on the ride home Friday just gone I got pulled over because my main headlight was out (grateful to be pulled over good on you officer). It was gone for high and low beam so I am yet to look at that. It has fluttered a bit steadily worse over a week or two (hard to tell initially - was that a miss... no cannot be we are barely run in).

Can I add kero to my RR like I did to my F650 ages back? I kind of thing NO NOT THE RR drain the... no carbies! Shizer what do you do with fuel injection bikes, just drain the tank only?

Cheers any with comments.

**Laava** · 13th August 2016, 23:44

Take the tank off, drain it then rinse with a cup of meths and dry. Done

**MrMarko** · 13th August 2016, 23:47

No need to drain just throw one capful of meths in the tank and the water will mix through with the fuel.

Whats the service history like, coming off lean and getting on the power being such a new bike you've really put some k's on her well done... but shes definately needing some new plugs by now if you havnt lately.

**MrMarko** · 13th August 2016, 23:59

Is 53,000km accurate or a typo, you also said barely run in?

In regards to filling in rain that typically isnt how the tanks get water in them, quite often it comes in with the fuel from the gas stations tanks.

Seems very strange for such a new bike... with the headlight going out and the accelerating after holding speed it makes me think it could be as simple as a loose battery connection causing spikes in the system... worth checking.

**jasonu** · 14th August 2016, 04:09

Give it a full tune up.

**nzspokes** · 14th August 2016, 06:59

Originally Posted by MrMarko

Is 53,000km accurate or a typo, you also said barely run in?

In regards to filling in rain that typically isnt how the tanks get water in them, quite often it comes in with the fuel from the gas stations tanks.

Seems very strange for such a new bike... with the headlight going out and the accelerating after holding speed it makes me think it could be as simple as a loose battery connection causing spikes in the system... worth checking.

To be fair its sounding like a rectifier fault. Being a Honda and all.....

**OddDuck** · 14th August 2016, 08:23

Another possibility is an earthing fault. Metal to metal connections, water getting in... most of the system is 12V (nominal) and it won't take much corrosion to interrupt or reduce that, particularly at high currents.

**hayd3n** · 14th August 2016, 16:27

cleaned out my tank with MEK it worked a treat, you can actually see the mek mixing with water,,
also look for the in tank filter could be full of crap,
when were the plugs last changed?

**Metastable** · 14th August 2016, 16:31

I don't think it's water in the tank. Fuel floats on top of water. You would have gone through the water by now, the water level wouldn't have kept increasing (you mention the bike is getting worse). Also, at a lean, the water would swoosh further away, so it should be better coming out of a corner. You can check the battery connection, but IMO if it were loose, you would have a hard time starting the bike every once in a while (it would feel like if you're trying to start it with the ignition off) ..... so I don't think it's that either.

Is the front headlight in any way related to something in the ignition? I.e. -> do they share a relay or something along those lines? It could be unrelated. Take a look at the wiring diagram and think about it for a bit.

How is your air filter? How are your spark plugs looking? Is the bike running a touch rich? Too much fuel, not enough air? Have you done a valve clearance check recently?

Not sure about the rectifier - maybe, I don't have much experience with them.

I hope you get it sorted.

**actungbaby** · 14th August 2016, 18:05

Originally Posted by IronPawz

I'd say this one is easy. My 2015 Blade (53,000kms) gets ridden rain, hail and shin to work and is showing issues that would seem water in tank to me.

Flutters at times particularly when coming out of a good lean (not many on my ride but one particular good spot after a hard lean it really fluttered for a bit) or at times having sat at constant speed then accelerated.

I was thinking I bet that is water in the float bowls, then I realized it is fuel injected so does that even apply? Surely a blade at a skant 53k would not have any real issues? I've filled it up on rainy days where water might get in during the fueling. Always been serviced at City Honda (Palmy great shop always liked them).

Then on the ride home Friday just gone I got pulled over because my main headlight was out (grateful to be pulled over good on you officer). It was gone for high and low beam so I am yet to look at that. It has fluttered a bit steadily worse over a week or two (hard to tell initially - was that a miss... no cannot be we are barely run in).

Can I add kero to my RR like I did to my F650 ages back? I kind of thing NO NOT THE RR drain the... no carbies! Shizer what do you do with fuel injection bikes, just drain the tank only?

Cheers any with comments.

you want a hand with it pm me i live in palmerston north too am just expericed ametuer good to know have another local on here

need hand with any maintence ditto the guys and girls at city honda are good so you chould just ring them and ask. or drop in.

doesint sound like recifer i had thse go on my old vfr 1990 and my cbr 900rr 1997 it starts as not wanting to start .

when gets real bad the battery gets low its like cuts out or stops at idle till it be to dangerous to ride. oh wait on thats the stator.

but yeah i give the air fliter a clean with air i have a comprssor but the spark plugs check whould be good.

I dont have any long spark plug spockets . i never check my bikes for that reson and being lazy ;-)

I have my cbr 900 rr engine out the bike if you want a look and can show you few ideas how bikes work.

**Drew** · 14th August 2016, 18:16

I'm gonna bet a chocolate fish that it's rust in the tank.

Empty the tank completely by taking off the fuel pump. Put it back on then fill it with white vinegar. Leave that for a day or two. Drain that the same as the fuel. Mix some baking soda and water, wash the vinegar out with that. Drain , let it dry, and you're off.

**actungbaby** · 14th August 2016, 18:22

Originally Posted by Drew

I'm gonna bet a chocolate fish that it's rust in the tank.

Empty the tank completely by taking off the fuel pump. Put it back on then fill it with white vinegar. Leave that for a day or two. Drain that the same as the fuel. Mix some baking soda and water, wash the vinegar out with that. Drain , let it dry, and you're off.

All i know drew choclate fish cant swim ;-) learnt alot in this thread if you got real old bike they say get fish tank gravel swish that around.

all i know guys at my job in chch treated inside my tank on my old dunger xl 100 k2 which was dire for rust flakes and had similar

smytoms and still good 3 0 plus years later rest bike knacked but the tank great ;-) bit like me

**Drew** · 14th August 2016, 19:14

Originally Posted by actungbaby

All i know drew choclate fish cant swim ;-) learnt alot in this thread if you got real old bike they say get fish tank gravel swish that around.

all i know guys at my job in chch treated inside my tank on my old dunger xl 100 k2 which was dire for rust flakes and had similar

smytoms and still good 3 0 plus years later rest bike knacked but the tank great ;-) bit like me

The vinegar trick works, I've done it a couple times. And ya don't end up with dirt in your tank.

**AllanB** · 14th August 2016, 19:16

I don't see why a 2015 blade with 53,000 kms would have rust in the tank. Generally this takes some years to form.

If you post on kms is correct you've run up a Hitcher impressive mileage since purchase - maybe due to the high number of refuels you have done it has accumulated some water in the bottom of the tank? pop in a cup of meths (not kero!). This should clear any water.

I suspect it is not water as noted earlier you'd have cleared it. Check servicing records - plugs on the Hondas are due when? every 24,000? If so has it had a recent set?

**Drew** · 14th August 2016, 19:17

Originally Posted by AllanB

I don't see why a 2015 blade with 53,000 kms would have rust in the tank. Generally this takes some years to form.

If you post on kms is correct you've run up a Hitcher impressive mileage since purchase - maybe due to the high number of refuels you have done it has accumulated some water in the bottom of the tank? pop in a cup of meths (not kero!). This should clear any water.

I suspect it is not water as noted earlier you'd have cleared it. Check servicing records - plugs on the Hondas are due when? every 24,000? If so has it had a recent set?

I had to replace the pump and remove a lot of rust from a mate's blade tank. That's why I'm betting the fish.