1981 KZ550A2 Update

Just to be clear...

If you park the bike and it's not leaking, but come back later and see gas on the floor that's a clear indication that the petcock is not stopping the flow of gas to the carbs.

Will look closer tonight, I do understand what you mean. Thanks R

I will put a fifth container under the petcock and verify as it never seems to leak when i stare at it. :whistle:

R

Even if the petcock is not leaking, a leaky carb can drop gas. The bowls are full when parked, and there is also fuel in the line (and filter if he has one).

Yeah, I understand Ed's point no vent, no flow. A bad petcock would vent the system and cause leake. But as we discussed it is not dumping the whole tank out, so my guess is still finicky fuel height levels. We'll see I will get some pics or vid so y'all have more to look at

R

I'll get some pics up. On the bike all levels were high. PIA to drop floats while installed. Gonna pull em. Petcock seems fine. R

Okay, so I did get an installed clear tube test done. Bike on center stand. All the levels were high. 1 and 2 were right at the bowl lip and three and four were a good 5mm above. I am perplexed as I did the clear tube on the bench and had em set well I thought. I do think this is the problem. I was able to shake the bike a bit and get the overflow to spill. It is a major PITA to do this with the carbs installed, but I want to get it set right so it won't leak. I aboirted doing it while installed after setting number 4 to a good level. I will approx with level so I can adjust my stand for the carbs. The petcock seems to be fine and there is no leaking from the spigot with the fuel line removed on RES or ON. PRI free flows. I am gonna pull the carbs tomorrow and will video the test. Hopefully someone can tell me if I am not doing it right. Here's a few pics, not the greatest angle. R

Also rode 60 miles or so tonight. Runs fantastic. I didn't remember wheelies being so easy on the one I had in the late 80s, but then again my ass is a little fatter now :woohoo: R

rrsmsw9999 wrote: Also rode 60 miles or so tonight. Runs fantastic. I didn't remember wheelies being so easy on the one I had in the late 80s, but then again my ass is a little fatter now :woohoo: R

haha! A few lbs certainly can make the difference in weight distribution!! :laugh:

I've picked up my front wheel a few times. Unintentionally of course. :whistle:
Steve

The bowls are vented all the time, so fuel can spill out of the bowl anytime, as long as there is a way out. I regularly drain the fuel out of a bowl, which then drains the fuel line and filter before I remove a tank. I get less fuel drips that way, when I remove the tank.

When I check the final fuel level, I usually do it while idling. This way there is a little vibration to make sure there is no sticking of the floats artificially giving a false level.

Your clear tube should have a 1/4" inside diameter. to prevent capillary action from affecting the reading. I just jam a short, like 2 inch long, small diameter, rubber tube into the end of a long, 1/4" ID vinyl tube. This gives the shortest possible length for bubbles to migrate through. (Air bubbles must not be in the tube as they throw the reading way off.)

EDIT: looking back, it looks like you might have the correct tube setup, but I can't tell the diameter.




The label is so it doesn't get thrown away again. :laugh:

Here's some video of the bench clear tube test. They all mark correctly. On the petcock I was able to over come the petcock with some vacuum, but still not sure it leaks. Set up some leak testing with contained for each bowl and the petcock. Take and look and let me know if I am not doing the test right. Video may need to perk a bit to come to resolution. R

Well I set up a leak test for all bowls and the petcock. We have a winner!

Bowl 1



Bowl 2



Bowl 3



Bowl 4



Petcock



WINNER