Help with a leak!

Message

Decoy · #1 Unread post by **Decoy** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:33 am

Noticed last night that the garage smelled and saw a small puddle under my bike, it's a 2004 Suzuki Bandit 1200S. I'm going to try and include a picture (not my bike but an attempt at finding out where the leak is coming from). I have close up pictures that I can try and include this evening. Any help would be appreciated. The arrow in the pic indicates where the leak is coming from. My question is what is this and what can be done to fix it. My ameteur guess is something to do with the crankcase and hopefully a gasket/seal issue. (The leak is actually on the left side of the bike)

#2 Unread post by **Sev** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:22 am

Looks like crankshaft access to me. But the picture isn't all that good. What does the garage smell like?

Decoy · #3 Unread post by **Decoy** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:50 am

I have close-ups at home that I'll post tonight. Smells like fuel, it's a clear/yellowish fluid.

niterider · #4 Unread post by **niterider** » Fri May 04, 2007 3:55 am

Is your bike water cooled? It could be anti-freeze. It it were fuel it will not puddle, it will evaperate too quick. Anti-freeze will puddle, and has variuos colors. Also taste it, if it has a sweet taste it is anti-freeze. Just bearly dip you finger in the fluid and just touch the tip of the tounge.
If it were oil it would be dark. Hope this helps you.

Sicko · #5 Unread post by **Sicko** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:09 am

niterider wrote:Is your bike water cooled? It could be anti-freeze. It it were fuel it will not puddle, it will evaperate too quick. Anti-freeze will puddle, and has variuos colors. Also taste it, if it has a sweet taste it is anti-freeze. Just bearly dip you finger in the fluid and just touch the tip of the tounge.
If it were oil it would be dark. Hope this helps you.

Don't think I'd taste antifreeze. It's poison and has been used as a murder weapon on more than one occasion.

#6 Unread post by **Sev** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:42 pm

I'm at a loss for how you could be leaking fuel out of the engine case.

A small taste of antifreeze won't kill you anymore then a drop of arsenic.

BuzZz · #7 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:42 pm

Your Bandit does not use coolant. You need to start looking for a fuel leak.

Start at the petcock and work your way down to the carbs. If you have fuel coming out of your crankcases, you have bigger problems than just the leak. I think you will find the leak coming from the carbs, dripping down onto the cases and from there to the ground.

Decoy · #8 Unread post by **Decoy** » Sun May 06, 2007 5:47 am

BuzZz, you were right on, see attached pics. What's my next course of action? I think it's strange the leak could be at the top of carb?

Thanks again for your input and let me know if you have any ideas.

BuzZz · #9 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Sun May 06, 2007 12:12 pm

Cool, you got the leak narrowed down some.

Now you got to take stuff off to get a better look. Stuff like the tank and seat, any side panels that block the view of the carbs... junk like that. You can probably leave the airbox in place, that's a P.I.A. to remove on alot of bikes. What you want is a clear view of the leak where it appears in the carbs. It could be a leaky fuel hose or fitting.... if your lucky and have been living right.

If you're like me, there will be a large junk of the casting busted out, evidence of flames shooting out, and the carb will be ruined. Chances are, you're someplace in between.

You might have a leaking gasket or diaphragm in an accelerator pump or something, but you need to see where the fuel is coming out to start looking effectively.

As a consolation, if it is a bad gasket, etc. you need to remove the stuff you already have to get the bank of carbs out anyways.....

Decoy · #10 Unread post by **Decoy** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:59 am

Actually got REALLY lucky, I removed the adjustment screw where the leak appeared on the carb and the o-ring on top of the spring looked bad. Changed it out and looks like that was it! Thanks for the help.