Ok I know the Across is a thirsty little bike. But since I have had it I get a strong smell of fuel whenever I an around the bike. I can't see any leaks at all there is no stains under where it is parked. I put it down to the float bowls in the carby being full of fuel. But over the last few weeks it has been out of action first with a broken clutch handle then with a blown HID head light. Each time I did not ride it for nearly a week and each time I went back to the bike it has used fuel. This last time I put 8 litres of fuel for only 75k of riding. When I ride everyday I use around 7 litres for every 100 to 110k. So the fuel has obviously escaped when the bike was parked up. Is this normal? As I said there are no signs of a leak. But there is a smell of fuel which tells me it could be evaporating. Thanks in advance Tomt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hmm. I've heard of a problem like this before. Does the across have a vacuum fuel tap? The easiest way to tell is that there are two hose connections to the fuel tap - one for vacuum and one for fuel flow. You may have a faulty tap if this is the case, which is seeping into your carbies and into your engine.
From what I understand with the Across because the tank is under the seat fuel is not gravety fed from the tank through the tap. The tap feeds a pump which pumps fuel to the carbys. The bike runs really well the only problem I have had is starting moving off going up a steep hill. It fuels up and struggles to get going. I have suspected the mixtures might be a bit rich. But that is because of the pressence of a fuel smell around the bike. What I think it could be is somwhere there is a seal gone or a hose off or something that is causeing fuel to evaporate. Will it damage the fuel pump if I turned the tap off and let the bike run out if fuel at the carbys. The reason I want to do this is because I allways expected the smell was comming from the float bowls on the carby and if I do this and it remains I need to look deeper. Tomt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You should have drain points which will be a screw under each bowl to allow you to drain it out. I wouldn't be messing with the fuel pump the way you suggested in case it needs a fine balance of pressure to operate. You need to find where the fuel smell is coming from, if it is the carbies you may need to perform a float adjustment.
The other day I shut the fuel tap while the bike was idleing to run the carbys dry. After that I still had a fuel smell around the bike. So I must have a leak somewhere in the line. When I am not riding I estimate I am loosing around a litre of fuel per day with no signs under the bike of a puddle of fuel on the floor. I looked under the fuel tap to see if I could see anything. When I put my fingers under the tap My fingers got wet with a bit of fuel. So this hopefully is where the leak is occuring. Is it possible for such a small leak to loose so much fuel around a litre per day? The reason I am here asking is to try and save time looking for a problem. Someone may have experianced this themselves and can advise me what to do. Hopfully I get a chance to look into this aswell as fix my headlight on the weekend. If it is the fuel tap can it be bypassed temperarily until I get a replacement. I know if the tank was standard like most bikes you cannot because fuel will keep running into the carbies. But because the Across pumps fuel to the carbies this should not be an issue. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Makes sense to me. Maybe just a perished hose. A litre a day could easily evaporate without leaving a puddle.
That's a lot of fuel to evaporate while standing & worse when it's ridden. Is it pooling on the engine casing somewhere & not making it onto the floor ? Probably a good idea to find it asap or you might end up with a burnt leg or 2. Take the tank off & give all the fittings a good going over, unscrew & unbolt everything & replace all the O rings & seals that you find as well as the fuel lines. No doubt you'll find it once you get into it. There's a remote chance the fuel could be getting into the engine, but that doesn't really explain the high fuel consumption, anyway keep an eye on your oil level. If it increases then you know where it's going. Fuel in the oil will boil off at about 60 deg, out through the crankcase breather, if the breather is connected to the airbox it will end being breathed in & you'll get a very rich mixture, she'll run rough like the choke is on when hot & your plugs will be black & sooty obviously. How does she run? Let us know what you find.
Will it runs fine it starts first go every go. It does not blow smoke and is smooth throughout the rev range. My first thoughts was it might be running rich this is because of the fuel smell. But I believe this to be a leak now. I will be looking into it and I will let you know. Tomt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That is what it is meant to do my friend, it's a Suzuki. Feel certain you will find your leak soon, can't loose that much fuel without finding it's source.
Sounds like you've got a good bike. Just some maintenance in order to get it into shape again. I'd be looking at the fuel lines all the way from the tank through the pump & up to the carbies. Maybe perished at the connections around the clamps etc, replace them all with new good quality rubber from any auto shop, check all the internal hose sizes & re match them up, buy plenty of hose, cheaper in time & fuel to get an extra metre than having to go back. The factory lengths will be mm perfect, no waste, so cut your new ones 20 to 50mm longer & smooth sailing. Good on ya for having a go, you need to be going through your bike from time to time to catch issues before they grow into something that could throw you off. And it's good therapy if it's not what you do for a living.
Will part of the reason for buying an older bike was to give me something to tinker with in my free time. To be honest this one is giving me less trouble then I anticipated. Since I got it I have replaced the starter soliniod. The clutch handle broke and replaced a headlight globe. I hope I will get this fuel leak sorted soon. Then all should be good. Tomt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
