Bike leaking fuel when tipped at tight angle?

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by Ajsblake, May 17, 2016.

  1. Ajsblake

    Ajsblake New Member

    May 17, 2016
    0
    1
    London
    Firstly "Hello"
    New on here and new to triumphs...

    now straight into it (with no doubts a newbie question)...

    I have a 2001 Bonneville... recently filled it up today and whilst getting it through a rather tight gate it started spewing fuel from the bottom of the tank over the right hand of the engine?!?
    Investigated the source and there's a little pipe that comes out of the base of the tank (on the right hand side) which is where i'm guessing the fuel was coming from... I'm guessing this is an overflow pipe for the fuel as there is a small pipe in the top of the petrol tank (when the cap is off) and I was leaning the bike rather heavily to the right hand side (I did say it was a tight gate).

    Obviously I'd like to know if this is normal? as I was under the impression the overflow for the fuel had a pipe that went to the base of the bike (not spew it onto the engine) as there are two small tubes right at the bottom of the bike that I was told are for this.

    Any pointers info would be appreciated.
    Cheers.
     
  2. GaryM

    GaryM It's him, you know who. Him from you know ....

    Apr 28, 2016
    862
    500
    Patna , Ayrshire
    You are right it is an overflow pipe. Usually you would have to lean it an a quite large angle for it to overflow.
    If you have carbs as well ( not sure if a 2001 would be efi or carbed) then you would have an overflow for them as well.
    Bikes are meant to lean so wondering what sort of angle you were leaning it to?
     
  3. Ajsblake

    Ajsblake New Member

    May 17, 2016
    0
    1
    London
    Hey Gary,

    The 2001 model does have carbs...

    Initially I thought it was leaking when it was at a 45 degree angle or more... But whilst tilting it this morning the angle is actually a lot less than that... 15-20 degrees and it starts to spill... Needless to say this is likely to be because I filled the tank to the top like a donkey... Planning on siphoning out some fuel tonight.

    On further investigation the overflow pipe was not actually attached to the vent coming from the tank so got some fiddly fixing to do and hopefully can find a small enough jubilee clip to keep it in place with.
     
  4. steve lovatt

    steve lovatt Something else

    May 12, 2014
    9,218
    1,000
    North Yorkshire
    Hi and welcome to the forum - still not sure it should leak as much as you say even if it is filled to the brim.
     
  5. GaryM

    GaryM It's him, you know who. Him from you know ....

    Apr 28, 2016
    862
    500
    Patna , Ayrshire
    Shouldn't really leak at that angle. Might be worth giving the carbs a clean make sure nothing is sticking in there.
    Is it happen just leant over or was it just a one off?
     
  6. Ajsblake

    Ajsblake New Member

    May 17, 2016
    0
    1
    London
    HeyO,

    I'm hoping it's just a once off... managed to siphon out about a litre of fuel last night (not the nicest thing to do)... I now have to put the bike at a rather tight angle (over 45 degrees) to cause it to spill...
    Won't be filling the tank to the brim again...
     
  7. Ajsblake

    Ajsblake New Member

    May 17, 2016
    0
    1
    London
    Thanks for your concerns and pointers... Hoping the carbs are alright as don't leave the fuel on when it's parked/off and there's no fuel coming out of their overflow valve.
     
  8. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
    2,034
    1,000
    High Wycombe
    Please do check the seal of your fuel cap.
    On my Speed triple the cap has a rubber seal which mates up to the 'inner tank' port. The fuel overflow hole is above this.
    If the seal has failed or non-existant, the fuel may well be finding its way to the overflow hole easier than it should.
    Fuel should not vent from the tank ever, the overflow hole is just that, so if you overfill it, the excess can drain away safely through a pipe to the bottom near the road.

    I can only apply what I have said to my bike but it may be relevant to the you too.
     
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