New ride

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oldr_n_wsr
Posts: 10838
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:59 am

Re: New ride

Post by oldr_n_wsr »

Had a "great" weekend with the motorcycle (NOT). I had tuned it up (sparkplugs), changed the oil/filter, checked the tire pressure and tightened the chain last weekend all so I could ride it this weekend. Saturday I was going to take it out on it's first longish ride and Sunday was the "Blessing of the Bikes" ride benefiting the local burn center. So I go take it out Saturday and I get about two blocks from home and I notice it's not running right. I go around the block and it keeps stalling and blue/white smoke is coming out of one exhaust pipe.
So I get it home and check the oil in the little window and usually when the bike is on the kick stand you see very little oil but when you lift it upright, the oil fills the window. Well even on the kick stand the window shows full oil. That's not right. So I drain the oil and I get almost 6 quarts of oil, but it's not thick, not like the 10W40 I put in. Turns out gas is getting in the oil. I figure out one of my carburators float is stuck open and pouring gas into the cylinder and is leaking past the seals into the crankcase. So I do a float level test find the offending carburator and find some "mung" (dried/varnished fuel) holding open the needle valve that allows the gas in from the tank to the bowel. Claen it all out and do the same to the other carb just to prevent that one from doind the same thing.

Put on new filter ($14 ?!!??!?!??) and new oil and all is well, or so I think. So I have the two pans of used/contaminated oil/gas on the floor and I am smoking a cigarette and somehow and ash or tip falls into the pan and lights it up. Now I have 5 quarts of oil/gas on fire near the bike in the garage. Good thing I keep a fire extingusher in the garage. Only damage was to the plastic oil change pan.

Moral
Don't smoke near gas, even if it is half oil. :loon

Didn't make it to the blessing of the bikes.


ETA
No I wasn't drinking, I was stone cold sober.

User avatar
Gob
Posts: 33646
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:40 am

Re: New ride

Post by Gob »

Ouch! A nearly nasty there mate...

But smoking while working on a bike? No offense, but that certainly earns a :shrug :loon :beat
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”

Jarlaxle
Posts: 5445
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:21 am
Location: New England

Re: New ride

Post by Jarlaxle »

oldr_n_wsr wrote:Had a "great" weekend with the motorcycle (NOT). I had tuned it up (sparkplugs), changed the oil/filter, checked the tire pressure and tightened the chain last weekend all so I could ride it this weekend. Saturday I was going to take it out on it's first longish ride and Sunday was the "Blessing of the Bikes" ride benefiting the local burn center. So I go take it out Saturday and I get about two blocks from home and I notice it's not running right. I go around the block and it keeps stalling and blue/white smoke is coming out of one exhaust pipe.
So I get it home and check the oil in the little window and usually when the bike is on the kick stand you see very little oil but when you lift it upright, the oil fills the window. Well even on the kick stand the window shows full oil. That's not right. So I drain the oil and I get almost 6 quarts of oil, but it's not thick, not like the 10W40 I put in. Turns out gas is getting in the oil. I figure out one of my carburetor's float is stuck open and pouring gas into the cylinder and is leaking past the seals into the crankcase. So I do a float level test find the offending carburetor and find some "mung" (dried/varnished fuel) holding open the needle valve that allows the gas in from the tank to the bowl. Clean it all out and do the same to the other carb just to prevent that one from doing the same thing.

Put on new filter ($14 ?!!??!?!??) and new oil and all is well, or so I think. So I have the two pans of used/contaminated oil/gas on the floor and I am smoking a cigarette and somehow and ash or tip falls into the pan and lights it up. Now I have 5 quarts of oil/gas on fire near the bike in the garage. Good thing I keep a fire extingusher in the garage. Only damage was to the plastic oil change pan.
:!: :!: :!: :!: :!: That could have been BAD!
Moral
Don't smoke near gas, even if it is half oil. :loon
Yeah, no kidding! My policy has always been: if I'm wrenching and you come near with a lit cigarette, I WILL spray you with a fire extinguisher, because damn near everything in the shop is flammable! :beat
Didn't make it to the blessing of the bikes.
At least you avoided the bike roast! (And the garage roast, and house roast, and rider roast...)
ETA
No I wasn't drinking, I was stone cold sober.
I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse!
Treat Gaza like Carthage.

oldr_n_wsr
Posts: 10838
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:59 am

Re: New ride

Post by oldr_n_wsr »

Lesson learned.
:ok

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