If you store any motorcycle long enough, you will end up with a leaky fuel valve. Maybe a drop. Maybe more. You are therefore buying a second-hand faucet from a spare parts depot. You install it on your motorcycle and it leaks too. In this article, you will find out why your motorcycle's fuel valve is leaking and how can you fix it?
Why is your motorcycle's fuel tap leaking?
When motorcycles or quads are disassembled for storage, the fluids must be emptied from the tanks, carburetors, etc. Not only for safety, but also because old fuel breaks down and can gum up moving parts. Mechanics will tell you that it turns into shellac. That's probably not quite right, but anyone who's put their snow thrower away for a year or two and had to clean the carburetor in order to use it, knows what I'm talking about.
The motorcycle was therefore taken apart and the gasoline or gas valve remained on a shelf for a few years until it was sold. You buy it, take out your old leaky gas valve and install the "new" one and it immediately starts to leak. Now you are angry. The store must have sold you a faulty faucet. Is not it ? Probably not.
When the fuel cocks are removed from the tank or the tank they are on is drained, the rubber o-rings that are supposed to prevent leaks are exposed to air. They then dry out and retract. In addition, if the valve housing is made of aluminum, it will oxidize in the presence of air (oxygen) and can cause a “scab” to form. If this crust is thick enough and comes in contact with the rubber O-ring, it can destroy the seal.
What to do then?
Before you go back to the junkyard, yelling that they sell shoddy parts, you can do some research. The o-ring probably needs to be rehydrated. First of all, if you have a vacuum valve, you need to plug the vacuum port. Take a small piece of vacuum line and push it over the orifice. Then epoxy a bolt on the other end of the line. This will prevent gas from entering that side. Now take the whole faucet and soak it in gas for 24 hours. Put it in a coffee can, fill it with gas, put the lid on and leave it alone. After 24 hours have passed, try reinstalling it. Most of the time, that's all you need to do and there will be no more leaks.
Recommended epoxy for your motorcycle's faucet available on amazon
If you still have a dripper, you need to remove the screws (bolts) and disassemble it. No screws? See “Persistent Leak” below. Remove the o-ring (rubber seal and diaphragm for vacuum valves), turn on gas and use a stiff plastic brush to clean the groove where the o-ring is and all surfaces, then replace the rubber parts. If a crust is adhering to the o-ring, try removing it with your finger. If you scratch it with the brush, it will leak anyway. Reassemble the valve and try again. In most cases, the leak will have stopped and you can continue.
Is your motorcycle's fuel tap still leaking?
If your fuel valve is still leaking because the rubber o-ring is rotten or torn, you can try to find a new original fuel valve, aftermarket aftermarket fuel valve, or rebuild it yourself - same.
There are many different styles of faucets of gasoline, but I would say 90% of them can be rebuilt. See the page Rebuilding your fuel valve.
If your faucet is the type where you cannot access the washer or o-ring, because it is riveted, it is not rebuildable. Other resources on motorcycles may recommend drilling the rivets that hold it together to access the washer. Replace it and reassemble the valve using self-tapping rivets or epoxy.
Rubber O-ring available on Amazon
Our recommended products for your leaking motorcycle fuel tap:
To conclude, here are some recommended products on Amazon.
