Fuel tap

[wanda101]

My VTR is 2000 reg. Fuel tap leaked and failed last summer. Got one on ebay, tap with filter, and there is another leak this year. Bike was off road for 3 months over winter and she is kept outside. My mechanic feels I need to replace the fuel tap again. I have ordered a repair kit to see if this will solve the problem. After asking around another thought is that it could be the carbs need balancing and that is causing fuel to leak. The leak has certainly not got any worse while she has been waiting to be looked at. Does this back up that theory? When the tap failed last year fuel leaked whether she was running or not. I am gutted as she has been off the road another 3 weeks with all the bank holidays lol. Gnash! Gnash! Also my guy suggested I nneeded to replace the rocker cover as fuel has leaked opnto it. Only looks cosmetic to me. Is matt black anyway on my model.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Oh yes....she has been reluctant to start so may have rectifier/regulator issue as well? Or just a poor battery due to sitting. Have a friend with a meter to test charge on battery at relavent idle and rev range so will see. Apart form that .... she is grand!

[Stratman]

Carbs out of balance won't make fuel leak!

[AMCQ46]

agree that carb balance wont cause fuel leak.


The main bit of rubber in the tap is the vacumn diaphram, and if that fails it is not a leak, it just stops the fuel flow to the carbs.
Also is it worth checking the hoses are OK and it is not perished rubber that is causing the problem there?

[benny hedges]

if you have replaced the fuel tap 99.9% the leak will be from the o ring seal underneath it.
(assuming it is a 16L tank?)
you can either order up a replacement from honda or do what i did and make a gasket out of a square of fuel proof rubber.

[tony.mon]

Long shot, but check the vacuum hose fittings at the engine end.
Fuels sometimes drains into the hose, so when you pull it off there can be a little fuel in it.
But also if the hose is perished it could leak out, and that might also explain poor starting, due to allowing air in and leaning off the mixture.

And no, the cam cover gaskets seldom give a problem, and the cover should be unaffected by any fuel dripping onto it, unless any paint is coming off, in which case down to you whether the cosmetics are visible or important.

[wanda101]

Thanks very much everyone for input. Always interesting to get others thoughts. My mechanic has jumped to advising replacing the whole tap and the rocker cover without really looking closely at the problem. He does know my bike really well but is still a bit assumption. I know the tap i bought last year did not come with an O ring and so I can possibly assume it was not replaced with the tap. I am going to get a second opinion and will report back. Want to get back on the road asap. H

[benny hedges]

I know the tap i bought last year did not come with an O ring and so I can possibly assume it was not replaced with the tap.

that will defo be the problem.
you may be able to fix it without buying a new one by removing the old seal, boiling it in water to clean and soften it, then seal round it with blue hylomar.
either that or cut a rubber gasket to fil.
dead easy.

where are you from btw????
if you're near someone they will help you out rather than pay a mechanic who seems keen to rip you off.
is the 'yous' a scouse thing, if so ride it down here at wkend... im in warrington

[tony.mon]

I have some spare rocker covers, but your mechanic doesn't seem up to much, TBH.

[wanda101]

Thanks for the offer of a look see Benny Hedges...very kind! Unfortunately I am in Hampshire. All advice has been taken on board. I had already got to the stage where I was thinking of looking elsewhere to get work on bike done.I would have been happier being asked to buy another fuel tap if he had taken a good look at her first. He is just round the corner so I can push her round there...yes a girl that can push her bike lol... and get her looked at for cash lol. Disadvantage has been no list of works done and the works done are reactionary rather than diagnostic. To be fair to him he did rebuild half the engine last year. Chain tensioner failed and caused significant but not irreversable damage to one cylinder. Got off lightly I think. I am getting her looked at by a guy in Portsmouth on the 25th. He will give her a thorough look over and get to the root of the problem. Hopefully. Has been recommended to me by a friend who does most of his own work on his bike and takes the big/really dirty/really tricky stuff to this guy. He sounded like he knew his stuff on the phone. Heres hoping it is just a leaky pipe or connection somewhere...or the O ring is the other likely ...and cheaper contender lol. Will keep you posted. Many thanks. Helen.

[wanda101]

Hello everyone. Yes it has taken his long to get her fixed!!! Not duration of work, rather ability to get her to and me back from mechanic lol. The O ring seal had lost its memory and the carbs needed balancing. That, we hpe, will solve the problem or poor tick over and fuel leak. She is also having some other works done relating to a major service. Should have a brand new bike (well will feel like a new bike I am sure) by the end of the week! Horray! Thanks again for everyones input. Helen. x