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1995 VT600 Float Seat Washer Size Needed

  • TM

    Hey gang -

    So I bought this 95 VT600 that has been customized into a hardtail, the bikes awesome but I have been struggling with getting it to run right. I've noticed a heavy gas smell coming from the bike if I leave it over night, it's so bad that the smell is starting to seep into the basement. 
    So, I've started tinkering in an attempt to figure out where rhe smell is coming from. I've torn down the carbs and cleaned the ever loving crap out of them with a sonic cleaner, polished the float seats, jets are clean, etc..my petcock is also not leaking and holding closed when shut off, so there shouldn't be any leak there. I'll also add that this a TJ Brutal carb kit.  When I first bought the bike the rear cylinder wasn't really firing when it was at idle, it would kick on however with a little throttle, and by little I mean not even a 1/4 turn. So I figured out my rear coil pack was bad, and just went ahead and replaced the spark plugs, spark caps, tubes and coil pack. The rear cylinder is kicking on now and I've leaned the mixture screw to 2 turns and am no longer spitting gas, however my rear spark plugs are dark and wet. The bike still smells when sitting.

    I realized that I probably had a ton of blow by, and sure enough the oil was saturated in gas. So I drained that and replaced the oil and filter. The garage still reeks.

    I was thinking about the carb, and I realized that while rebuilding the float assembly, I didn't have any washer or O-ring beneath the float seat. So my next thought is, is there a chance that there's supposed to be a washer or oring there to prevent raw gas from getting in?? If so, does anyone know what size that washer is? I want to just buy the washer.

    My only other guess is that the smell is just emanating from my velocity stacks, or my fuel cap that has a vent hole in it. It's driving my wife crazy and I'm trying so hard to fix it. 

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  • TJ

    @Travis McKee the float valves do not have any washers or o rings. the float valve assembly is a rubber tipped needle that should go into a polished brass seat.  you can ensure the float needle is seating properly byut taking smoe mothers mag and aluminum wheel polish and getting soem automotive wood handles coton swabs. put the swab in a drill, put some mothers on it and put the swab in the needle seat and spin it in there till its shiny. use acetone to wash all the polish out before reassembling. id also look for leaks at the fuel pump if youre still using that, look at all the lines, pull everything apart, you may discover theres a crack or some weeping. the gas cap ventilates but you shouldnt smell gas strongly, if you think your petocck is actually closing perhaps you are mistaken. take the tank off, set it on a bench with a catch tray and rag underneath the petock, making sure the tank is full enough to cover the petcock, leve it overnight with the valve closed. in the morning you may come out to find the rag soaked. a slow drip is still a slow drip. the smell shoudl not emenate form velocity stacks thaey have nothing to do with a fuel leak. you have a leak somewhere and you need ot track it down. 

    now if your carbs leaked fuel into the cylinders then your petock definitely doesnt work and your float valves arent closing or sealing. unfortunately modern gas is extra shitty and if its allowed to sit in a carb and dry up it can leave a nasty varnish behind that will prevent your jets from functionig properly and your float needle from doing its job. 

    DO FUN SHIT!
    Check the FAQ's here for tons of tuning info and more!! - t.ly/MA6r6

  • TM

    Thanks, TJ. I've disconnected my petcock and will check that over night. Will update. 

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  • TM

    @TJ So I let the petcock sit overnight and there are no signs of drips. However the garage REEKS, of gas. The carb is empty at this point, so I'm going to go and polish the float seat after washing it with acetone. I'm also going to pull the oil plug one more time to see if more fuel is inside, just in case, then refill with oil and a new filter. 

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  • TJ

    @Travis McKee did you move the fuel tank out of the garage or leave it in the garage becaused ier you left it in the garage then you wouldnt know if the tank is the issue. leave it outrside tonight and get a fan and some ventilation in the garage,. also..... is there any other gas stored in the garage? 

    DO FUN SHIT!
    Check the FAQ's here for tons of tuning info and more!! - t.ly/MA6r6

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  • TM

    @TJ I'll move it out of the garage when I return tomorrow night and test the smell. Yes there are two gas cans, but putting your nose up to them brings zero scent. The scent is strongest at the bikes fuel cap, and at the velocity stacks. Weird.

    Update though, I found the issue causing the rich condition/leak! It was the needle for the rear cylinder! It didn't fit properly and seal, so I had another one lying around that was slightly longer and it worked like a charm after I polished the float needle seat. Passed the wet test, and seals perfectly. Rear cylinder fires at idle and the bike runs like a bat out of hell with two turns out on the fuel screw! However, I did not find any leaks that caused external fuel leaks, just the needle. 

    Will update further, thanks! 

  • TJ

    @Travis McKee excellent news man! your tank should have a nipple on the bottom of it, and this is a ventilation hose. it is typically routed to a charcoal canister beneath the swingarm pivot. if this is plugged, then you WILL get fuel vapor pretty bad. the other thing i though tof was that the fuel vent is plugged. 
    a 95 didnt have a vented cap. the 88-98 had a vented tank, from 99-07 they went to a vented cap style. I dont know if this is the deal with your bike but its simple enouigh to check. 

    DO FUN SHIT!
    Check the FAQ's here for tons of tuning info and more!! - t.ly/MA6r6

  • TM

    @TJ so the tank is 100% aftermarket and I'm pretty sure it's not from you either. I don't see any vent hoses coming off of it, just the fuel line, so I'm assuming that's why it's a vented.

    6/23 Update: So i saw today that I am getting a small oily gassy leak underneath my left passenger footpeg. I followed the trail and it goes up the gas tank on the left side of the bike, and around to the front of the gas tank. I'm 99% sure that pressure is building up and spurting small amounts of gas out of the gas cap vent and down my bike. This would explain the constant smell. My gas tank does not have a vent tube to solve this issue. Is there anything I can do to fix this? I've noticed if my tank is full and i go full throttle, some of the gas will spit out of this vent hole and back at me as im riding. Different cap? Bigger vent hole? Not sure what to do...

    6/23 Update R1: I FOUND THE FREAKIN ISSUE!! The tank weld at the front mount tab is cracking and seeping fuel slowly out!! Draining the tank and adding jb weld tank weld for the meantime until I can get it welded properly and repaired! 

    cap. 

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