Flaming Suzu-ki-bob

Almost.

I'm going to post an interesting dilemma for the techies before I
<grumble> go take the truck to work. The Tempter is running ok, but
there's a problem. There's a port for engine fumes at the top of the
valve cover, and it is spitting gas like crazy when the bike is running.
Mixture too high is what I'm hoping, but I wonder if it could be
something more insidious. Luckily I spotted the problem within a tenth
of a mile from home; I suppose I should have noticed the problem
yesterday, but there was a bit of gas spilled about because of cleaning
the carb. Dang. If it ain't one thing, it's another.

 

Is the oil level in the sight glass on the clutch cover too high?
You may have a mixture of gasoline and oil in your crankcase and that
is BAD NEWS...

Maybe one of the carb floats is stuck. Maybe the vacuum-operated
petcock leaks, or you left the petcock in PRIME over night...

If you remove the oil filler plug from the side of the engine and sniff
at that hole and smell gasoline, don't ride the bike until you change
the oil...

You could possibly have a crankcase explosion if you run the engine
with gasoline in the oil. The fumes can ignite, and the power of the
explosion can at least blow those rubber plugs on the ends of the
camshafts out of place...

I know a guy who had that happen on his VTR-1000 when he started the
engine after gassing up the bike at a service station...

 

It was dripping on the ground, through the airbox connection. I found
out later today that the air filter was soaked through, it's toast. I'm
heading out now to check some of the stuff krusty kritter mentioned.

 

I took the filler plug off. "Sniff" is not the word for it, I about
passed out from the fumes. I immediately drained the crankcase - it was
at least 2/3 gasoline. All I can figure is I had a float stick and it
leaked into the case over the course of the winter. A new petcock is
imperative, the one on the bike is, as you say, vacuum, and does not
have an "off" position. This could be the result of a combination of
leaky petcock and stuck float. ****, I coulda blowed myself up, real
good. God must be on my side, even tho' I pick on RGD sometimes. ;-)

 

Dayummm...
you almost had an external single combustion engine.

 

of the winter. A new petcock is imperative, the one on the

This could be the result of a combination of leaky petcock and

Back in the mid-1970's, I knew a hippy-type who owned an old van
similar to the ones UPS drivers use. It was all painted up with Marvel
Comics figures, like Captain America, etc., with stars and stripes...

One morning I saw the hippy dude laying underneath his Captain America
van and asked what he was doing. His oil pan was laying beside the van,
it was all bent and mangled. He told me that the carburetor float valve
had stuck and filled up the crankcase with gasoline and when he tried
to start it, the explosion blew the oil pan off the bottom of the
engine, shearing all the bolts. He was struggling to remove the broken
off bolts from the engine block...

 

An excellent argument for fuel injection.

 

Maybe. But Murphy had a LAW, you see...

My 1987 T-Bird had EFI. An in-tank electric fuel pump pressurized the
fuel rail, returning excess pressure to the tank. I didn't understand
what the humming noise was, coming from the 'Bird when I would park it
and walk away. I thought it was an electric fan that would
automatically shut off when some time or temperature contact opened...

None of the above. The fuel pump was running all the time, due to a
stuck relay contact. It would drain the expen$ive high cranking amp
battery. I had to replace two $150 batteries. Then , one day I took the
car to a mechanic to have the fuel filter replaced. He pulled the fuel
filter off, without doing what any safety-minded mechanic would do,
i.e., disconnect the battery cable...

He got squirted in the face with gasoline and it just kept coming...

If one of my fuel injectors had leaked, the intake manifold would have
filled up with gasoline...

I replaced the fuel pump relay. But the second relay went bad, too...

Then I had to buy yet another battery. And, after a few years of
running continuously, the $300 fuel pump finally gave up the ghost...

The total charges for a new fuel pump, relay, and labor came to $700...

If I had my druthers, I'druther have a gravity-fed carburetor system...

 

"krusty kritter"

That's what you get for buying one of those shitty
"Fords"[1] I dislike driving cages but even I know
better than to buy one of those...

[1]I have hated fords for over 25 years and have
yet to meet one I'd own longer than it'd take to
sell to a chump.

--
Keith Schiffner
History does not record anywhere at any time a
religion that has any rational basis. Religion is
a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up
to the unknown without help. But, like dandruff,
most people do have a religion and spend time and
money on it and seem to derive considerable
pleasure from fiddling with it.
Robert Heinlein

 

Ah yes. I have owned two T-Birds, one an 83 with a 302 and throttle
body fuel injection. I also had an '89 with the V6. The '89 had the
same fuel pump, and soon after I bought it some passengers pointed out
that the buzzing coming from my rear quarter panel was the sound of a
fuel pump going bad. I suppose if I hadn't caught it then, it might
have entered that same failure mode. The volatility of modern life!

 

I was surprised, but not too very much, to see the '04 Cobra listed as the
most reliable US made automobile last year. Dissing Ford quality hasn't been
fashionable for over 10 years. Chump.

 

Actually if you had paid anything resembling
attention...I haven't liked them for over 25
years. Anyway who would want a POS mustang. Real,
pretty no get up and go without doubling the value
in parts.
But then again I wont bring up the most recalled
car ever...Focus, Made by Ford....sold 'em
wouldn't have one if you gave me a works SVT
version.

 

Who gives a shit what you like? The 2004 Ford Mustang Cobra was listed as
the most reliable US made automobile that year. Period. It has nothing to do
with "like" or "dislike". It is in direct counterpoint to your
characterization of "shitty Fords", and your clumsy attempt to connect brand
ownership with chumps. Chump.

 

"Boat"

SNIP typical ford lover whine.

I've YET to have good experiences with owning
Ford's EVER. So from my data point they are not
worth anything...okay I might trade a set of lucas
electrics for a Mustang II. But only so I could
rip the front off for a trike. I wont mention what
a recall nightmare the Focus was and is...and they
STILL make the most flammable car money can buy.

--
Keith Schiffner
History does not record anywhere at any time a
religion that has any rational basis. Religion is
a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up
to the unknown without help. But, like dandruff,
most people do have a religion and spend time and
money on it and seem to derive considerable
pleasure from fiddling with it.
Robert Heinlein

 

I think that, some day, you'll have to explain to me how - when you
trip over your dick and make a fool out of yourself arguing with me -
it is *you* picking on *me*. I find that technique kinda interesting.


And, if you soon need to rebuild your engine, you know who to ask for
advice, right?

--
Instead of swerving, I should have been reloading
(remove _NO_SPAM_ to reply)

98 FLTRI
83 Nighthawk

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Well, it's like this. One of us is all pissed off.

I wouldn't have any problem if you cared to offer me some advice about
my bike. You've been real good about that in the past, and have helped
me enormously. If you cared not to share 'cause we're having a little
spat, that would be ok too.

 

Who did the ranking? I believe you, but I'd like to see what criteria
they used, how big their sample was, and where the Cobra ranked when
foreign cars were included.

 

the only org which would so rate is the Cobra Club of the US. What a
silly post.

 

I figured it out. He means 2004 Cobra golf clubs. Google: 2004 Cobra
"most reliable" and it will pop right up.

 

OK, not kidding this time, it was apparently Consumer Reports:

http://www.gtamc.com/forums/article.php?a=64