Just got my first bike and after one day I already made a mistake (nicolas)

[nicolas]

Hi everyone. So I just got bought my first bike a 1980 Kawasaki Kz200, looks to be in good condition.

Sadly I've already made a mistake on the second day of riding it,
I rode off with the fuel switch 'off' and yes it died on me about 2 minutes after that occuring.

The weird thing is when I turn the fuel 'on' petrol drips out of a tube as a steady rate. When I turn the fuel 'off' the leakage stops.

There was a local bike shop just around the corner and sought some advice.
He advised me to try get it started with the fuel off, and once it is going turn the fuel to on.
So I did that, got the bike started and then turned the fuel to on and the bike got about 500m and then died.
I then waited a little but and got it starting again, this time with the fuel 'on' and it only got me another 500m or so.

I went back into the shop and he told me that potentially there is dirt or something in the carb, blocking flow. Also potentially with the age of the bike, maybe rust from inside the tank has blocked up the carb or something.

I went online and had a look around and other people have done the same things and had similar problems.

But i am still puzzled to why petrol leaks out of this random little tube when the fuel was turned on and continued to do so while I rode it those few short times.

The tube is connected to something on one side but not connected to something on another and it hangs there, i looked around and couldn't see anything that it could potentially be attached to.

Attached are photos of the bike and zooming in on the tube that seems to be hanging there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Nic

[Bren]

I cannot answer your question, but will say that it's great to see an old Z200 on the road. The Z200 was my first motorbike way back in '86. I loved it to pieces and found it very reliable...until I wrote it off, and wrote off a sheep at the same time!

Mine was olive green with lovely lime green pinstripes...lol

[Big Dog]

Hi everyone. So I just got bought my first bike a 1980 Kawasaki Kz200, looks to be in good condition.

Sadly I've already made a mistake on the second day of riding it,
I rode off with the fuel switch 'off' and yes it died on me about 2 minutes after that occuring.

The weird thing is when I turn the fuel 'on' petrol drips out of a tube as a steady rate. When I turn the fuel 'off' the leakage stops.

There was a local bike shop just around the corner and sought some advice.
He advised me to try get it started with the fuel off, and once it is going turn the fuel to on.
So I did that, got the bike started and then turned the fuel to on and the bike got about 500m and then died.
I then waited a little but and got it starting again, this time with the fuel 'on' and it only got me another 500m or so.

I went back into the shop and he told me that potentially there is dirt or something in the carb, blocking flow. Also potentially with the age of the bike, maybe rust from inside the tank has blocked up the carb or something.

I went online and had a look around and other people have done the same things and had similar problems.

But i am still puzzled to why petrol leaks out of this random little tube when the fuel was turned on and continued to do so while I rode it those few short times.

The tube is connected to something on one side but not connected to something on another and it hangs there, i looked around and couldn't see anything that it could potentially be attached to.

Attached are photos of the bike and zooming in on the tube that seems to be hanging there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Nic

Odds would be pretty good your float is not floating. This can be because of water, rust or other contaminants but the problem is your float is not slowing the flow when the carb is full causing it to overflow. Good carb clean is on order. Carb cleaner may help but only temporarily. Long term carb needs to come off. It may need some gaskets and springs or just a good clean.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

Ps you have not made a mistake. Welcome to the joys of carbs with modern fuel.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Maha]

'maybe rust from inside the tank' = a real possibility. My wife had the same issues as you are having with an older bike and she ended up rust proofing the tank using a Por 15 kit http://www.por15.com/POR-15-Fuel-Tank-Repair-Kit_p_62.html

Thread here --->>http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/110215-Mom-gives-the-Blue-Lovely-a-Blow-Job

[FJRider]

The "Random tube" will be an overflow tube. Either the float in the carb is sticking or shit in the carb is blocking the float action.

Try ... turning the fuel off at the tank ... remove the drain plug at the bottom of the carb bowel .. let the fuel drain out to the ground ... then flush for a few seconds by opening the fuel tap at the tank for a few seconds. If it still sticks ... tap on the fuel bowel with a screwdriver (or similar) a few times.

[Asher]

Without knowing much about the carb on your bike i will try my best to explain whats happening.

The bottom part of the carb is called the bowl, thats full of ready to be sucked through the jets and into the engine.
What regulates how much fuel is in the bowl is a float, much like a ball cock.
As the engine runs the fuel level drops the float drops opening a valve letting in more fuel from the tank.
If a piece of dirt/rust gets stuck in that valve jamming it open the carb will continue to fill until it overflows out that rubber tube.

[*Boot's*]

You need to replace the tube thats dripping…. take the old tube off careful, go to a fuel line shop (repco appco etc etc) and ask for the exact same tube. When you get home replace the old tube with the new 3 meter long one…. find a comfortable spot where you can sit on the ground and the tube will reach you while your leaning back on your bike. Now trim the tube to suit your application. the tube should be able to reach your jaw plus 400mm. Make sure your comfortable sitting where you are before you trim the tube. Now after that has been measured, take the petrol tank off and rinse it with 100percent alcohol. Make sure you get all the petrol out. Now fit the tank back to the bike and make sure everything is still in the "correct" position for leaning back on it while the stand is down. (you want to rest against it pushing on the stand not pushing "away" from the stand or the bike will fall over. Last but not least… make sure the 100 percent alcohol has been emptied and swish beer or vodka around the tank then empty that too now load the tank with whatever your favorite drink is….. wait until the sun comes out and you now have your very own stash of booze the ms won't find!!!!! and what better place to get trashed than with the one you love!

If you hate the taste of rubber in your mouth, just make up a stainless steel or brass bit/mouth piece…. DO NOT try running the bike on beer… the sugar will fuck the engine.

[ellipsis]

...take the pills *bootsy*...

[AllanB]

FJRider has posted a good idea - that flush may do the trick.

If not it should be a easy task to drop the bottom off the carb as there may be years of accumulated crap in there that needs a clean out.

Good bikes the Z200 - it will be little more than simple maintenance or a replacement part.

Can't remember if it has a 'prime' setting on the fuel tap - if so when on that it flows fuel - used to oddly enough prime the carb if it has been sitting for a while - don't leave it on this setting as it will drain the fuel tank.

[Murray]

...take the pills *bootsy*...

Yeah and take the waikato part off your adress

Your an embarrassment to waikato and thats saying something.

[ellipsis]

...take the risk of learning how easy it is to take the carb off, pull it apart, check out how it works and adjust the float height and replace the fuel supply needle valve to the bowl...the carb is a very simple and easily maintained part...the specs for float height will be easily found on the web or in the manual, which if you haven't got, you should have...it is probably a mixture of shit in the bowls, under the fuel supply needle valve and in the jets too...all a piece of piss, unless you don't want it to be...

[pete376403]

Have a read - should get some useful information
http://www.bikebandit.com/community/guides/how-to-clean-out-or-rebuild-your-motorcycles-carburetor

Take your time and take pictures as you go

[leathel]

Drop the tank off, and give it a good rinse around and drain the fuel to see if you get much shit out

Clean the carb, float valves and jets and reassemble

Install an inline filter

and should be all good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMAKyTvjqaQ

that is for a CV carb, some have the throttle cable lifting the center needle & piston