VFR 750 FV - Massive fuel leak solved ..... by simply waiting !

My Vfr was acquired by me from a mate free, after it was used as a getaway vehicle in a robbery. It was uneconomic to repair, but I recon these are future classics, and I knew the bike when it was new. Its done 60k miles ... It was sad to see it like this so I decided to give it a little bit of TLC

Basically the plastics were knackered therefore uneconomic to repair so my mate passed it to me.

I replaced the broken ignition switch/ steering lock and started the bike, fuel poured out when tuning the engine over and when it fired up and ran. A pool appeared on the workshop floor and the place stank of petrol.

I decided to look at the carbs guessing it was a float bowl issue. I changed float needles , cleaned carbs, checked floats, blew out innards with compressed air. I did not separate the carbs, it looked like a nightmare job with every chance of breaking old , maybe brittle pipes. I visually carefully checked the interlinking pipes within the 'carb block' and looked for any splits or cracks.

I also changed plugs and checked valves.

Started the bike today in great anticipation and still fuel was pi**ing out from high up under the tank, between the carbs.... I was gutted, fuel pouring out when turning over and running. I showed the issue to various mates.... same deal, fuel pi**ing out in serious amounts every time I fired it up.

About 3 hours later another mate dropped in, I said, check this out as I turned it over and fired it up... This time no leaks at all..... Amazing... the bike had apparently healed itself.

I have read that the fuel when it sits in carbs that haven't been used for a while causes a swelling up of sealing rings inside the pipes linking the carbs together and probably other paces.... Hey presto, no leak....

Purpose of this is to say that if your bike blows fuel over the workshop floor like mine did and it hasn't been run for some months or more, just wait a while before you start stripping it all down to investigate!

 

That's a pretty good sign to check and replace those o-rings ... I'd hate to be caught somewhere with fuel leaking out.

It's not a huge job to do it either.

I had a Magna V45 ('82) that did the same thing. It wasn't long after before it started leaking again.

 

Yeah, have to agree with Jeff, may have fixed itself for now but it WILL start leaking again. It's the weekend, time to replace some parts!