How do I clean the charcoal canister?

[intotherain]

I overfilled the tank and since the CA models have the extra gas runoff go into the charcoal canister, I flooded it and probably destroyed it. I plugged the air intake hose and let the fuel drain hose dangle off for 2 weeks to let the charcoal canister evaporate out any gas it had in it. I plugged everything back together but the charcoal canister did not get fixed. How would I go about cleaning it? It's impossible to take off because it's in the middle of the bike and without taking the engine out it would nearly impossible to get the canister off.

How would I go about on fixing this?

[mydlyfkryzis]

The canister is just a tank with charcoal to absorb gas fumes. How is it destroyed? What is happening to make you think it isn't working?

You more likely damaged the vacuum activated valve that purges the tank.

But I would like to know what symptoms you have that make you think the tank itself is bad?

[intotherain]

Well I think it's not working because I unplugged all the hoses off the charcoal canister for two weeks. I thought it would work after but it didn't Right now the air intake hose is plugged and the drain hose is unplugged.

[mydlyfkryzis]

The canister doesn't affect performance when it is in operation. If you reconnect the hoses to the proper places, does anything noticeable happen?

The purge on the canister only works under specific conditions, so, most of the time it really doesn't do much. There is usually a low purge rate at idle and a higher one when the engine can handle the higher rate.

I am not sure why peple disconnect these as there is no performance hit for it. I could removing it for weight reasons on a race only bike, but for a street bike, the weight is negligible too.

When it doesn't work, it just doesn't collect vapors from the tank and you would smell gasoline fumes. Since you disconnected it, you are vented directly to atmosphere and will have the same fumes as if the tank was not operational.

Here's a write up from http://www.familycar.com/Classroom/emission.htm:

EVAPORATIVE CONTROLS

Gasoline evaporates quite easily. In the past, these evaporative emissions were vented into the atmosphere. 20% of all HC emissions from the automobile are from the gas tank. In 1970 legislation was passed, prohibiting venting of gas tank fumes into the atmosphere. An evaporative control system was developed to eliminate this source of pollution. The function of the fuel evaporative control system is to trap and store evaporative emissions from the gas tank and carburetor. A charcoal canister is used to trap the fuel vapors. The fuel vapors adhere to the charcoal, until the engine is started, and engine vacuum can be used to draw the vapors into the engine, so that they can be burned along with the fuel/air mixture. This system requires the use of a sealed gas tank filler cap. This cap is so important to the operation of the system, that a test of the cap is now being integrated into many state emission inspection programs. Pre-1970 cars released fuel vapors into the atmosphere through the use of a vented gas cap. Today with the use of sealed caps, redesigned gas tanks are used. The tank has to have the space for the vapors to collect so that they can then be vented to the charcoal canister. A purge valve is used to control the vapor flow into the engine. The purge valve is operated by engine vacuum. One common problem with this system is that the purge valve goes bad and engine vacuum draws fuel directly into the intake system. This enriches the fuel mixture and will foul the spark plugs. Most charcoal canisters have a filter that should be replaced periodically. This system should be checked when fuel mileage drops.

[mydlyfkryzis]

PS...

The canister, one saturated, is not "repairable, only replaceable.

I would check motorcycle "recyclers" and get a used one, as MC dealers tend to get quite a big bite for items like these.

[intotherain]

The canister doesn't affect performance when it is in operation. If you reconnect the hoses to the proper places, does anything noticeable happen?

When I reconnect the hoses the bike has MAJOR problems. It feels like it has a major venting problem and eventually ceases to work unless I open up the gas cap.

The purge on the canister only works under specific conditions, so, most of the time it really doesn't do much. There is usually a low purge rate at idle and a higher one when the engine can handle the higher rate.

I am not sure why peple disconnect these as there is no performance hit for it. I could removing it for weight reasons on a race only bike, but for a street bike, the weight is negligible too.

When it doesn't work, it just doesn't collect vapors from the tank and you would smell gasoline fumes. Since you disconnected it, you are vented directly to atmosphere and will have the same fumes as if the tank was not operational.

I don't need the canister. I can ride fine with the fuel drain hose disconnected and the intake valve plugged. So the only way I could fix this is by buying a new one? Because in that case I will just keep riding with the hoses unplugged.

Thanks much for the help!

[Sev]

Buy an aftermarket exhaust and ditch the whole assembly.

[mydlyfkryzis]

I don't need the canister. I can ride fine with the fuel drain hose disconnected and the intake valve plugged. So the only way I could fix this is by buying a new one? Because in that case I will just keep riding with the hoses unplugged.

Thanks much for the help!

True, the canister isn't needed to make the bike run. It has pretty much zero effect on the performance of the bike. But it sure helps the environment.

I am not a tree hugger, but it is a relatively painless way to reduce emissions.

If the canister is not working, ie: the charcoal is contaminated, the bike runs the same as if the canister is connected and working or disconnected as you have it.

My real question is, how do you know the canister doesn't work? Is the engine running different? There are thousands of cars running around with non-functioning canisters. The only way to know is theyt have a little raw gas smell when the gar is parked (as would a non-canister car would). The only real way to tell if the canister is working is to have it tested.

On the other hand, if the vacuum operated purge valve is leaking, it will cause engine operating problems because of the vacuum leak.

If you don't mind, I wanted to know for my own info. Not trying to beat you up or anything. So what led you to believe the canister is not functioning?

[intotherain]

I don't need the canister. I can ride fine with the fuel drain hose disconnected and the intake valve plugged. So the only way I could fix this is by buying a new one? Because in that case I will just keep riding with the hoses unplugged.

Thanks much for the help!

True, the canister isn't needed to make the bike run. It has pretty much zero effect on the performance of the bike. But it sure helps the environment.

I am not a tree hugger, but it is a relatively painless way to reduce emissions.

If the canister is not working, ie: the charcoal is contaminated, the bike runs the same as if the canister is connected and working or disconnected as you have it.

My real question is, how do you know the canister doesn't work? Is the engine running different? There are thousands of cars running around with non-functioning canisters. The only way to know is theyt have a little raw gas smell when the gar is parked (as would a non-canister car would). The only real way to tell if the canister is working is to have it tested.

On the other hand, if the vacuum operated purge valve is leaking, it will cause engine operating problems because of the vacuum leak.

If you don't mind, I wanted to know for my own info. Not trying to beat you up or anything. So what led you to believe the canister is not functioning?

Hehe, this post:
viewtopic.php?t=23235

The problem was fixed by disconnecting the gas drain hose and plugging the other hose.