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Tiger Time => Steamers (1993-1998 Tigers) => Topic started by: R0B on August 22, 2010, 10:43:09 PM

Title: Leaky fuel Taps
Post by: R0B on August 22, 2010, 10:43:09 PM
My fuel tap drips. I've had this with the tap on my TB and TBS. There appear to be no servicable parts apart from the 'o' ring. I came up with this solution for my T'bird

http://www.triumphrat.net/hinckley-clas ... l-tap.html (http://www.triumphrat.net/hinckley-classic-triples/107870-kawasaki-fuel-tap.html)

I'm going to offer it up and see if it'll do the same with my tiger. does anyone have any tips of other units that they've used.

Rob
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Post by: rybes on September 18, 2010, 11:20:01 PM
i recently used an 8mm o ring to fix my tiger fuel tap. stop drippin a treat :d
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Post by: NeilD on September 18, 2010, 11:27:03 PM
neither of mine were leaking via the O ring, but fuel was still getting through when the tap was in the 'off' position..  :x  apparently its the plastic cone inside the tap that wears.. managed to pick up a new tap for the Tiger 'very cheaply'  :D , the TBS isnt too bad but will probably end up with a Pingle at some point.... taps from the Bonneville are the same fitting, but the outlet may be in a different place to the Tiger - worth keeping an eye out for those as bonneville owners like shiny things, so often swap to the Pingle tap..  :D
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Post by: rf9rider on September 19, 2010, 12:49:13 AM
My tap leaks, but only if you leave it in the "off" position.

I bought a Pingel tap but thats going on my project bike.  :)
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Post by: rybes on September 19, 2010, 09:00:37 AM
pingel tap ?
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Post by: NeilD on September 19, 2010, 10:30:52 AM
shiny things..  :D

http://www.straightlineracing.co.uk/aca ... _1600.html (http://www.straightlineracing.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Pingel_1600.html)

actually Straightliners in Kings Lyn who were recommended for Dyno work sell them...
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Post by: akendall1966 on September 19, 2010, 10:08:19 PM
I got a pingle set up from Straightline, found I had to open the hole in the tank a little for the pingel strainer to fit through otherwise easy job to fit.
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Post by: rybes on September 19, 2010, 10:09:23 PM
they look nice :D maybe my tap might accidently break so i NEED one ;) :lol:
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Post by: rf9rider on September 20, 2010, 03:52:03 AM
Got mine from them too.  :)
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Post by: GavD on October 18, 2010, 08:57:47 PM
ROB,

Did you have any joy with the zephyr tap fitting the tiger?

Mines passing fuel through when it's off so I'm looking at alternatives to the £60 triumph OE one.

Gav
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Post by: R0B on October 18, 2010, 09:24:46 PM
I have the tap in front of me. I offered it up, and I think it will fit.........but there is a guy in the states selling XT 500 taps for £20 plus post. The problem is not wanting to get taxed.......... I think that it would be a better tap.......I just need an american friend!!  Centres are the same........In fact I think all taps of this style are made by the same manufacturer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 1795wt_983 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370431415534&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1795wt_983)

Rob
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Post by: NeilD on October 18, 2010, 09:56:25 PM
they've got them here too..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT500-XT-5 ... 335ff75d1b (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT500-XT-500-NEW-PETROL-FUEL-TAP-/220653378843?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item335ff75d1b)

worth a go at £16..  although they look quite tall, especially with the outlet on the bottom?
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Post by: R0B on October 18, 2010, 10:06:15 PM
The worst bit is the ridiculously long main tank tube...........it will require some soldering or fabrication to get the reserve to the same level..........the beauty of the zephyr unit is that it's vacuum operated, but has side outlet....as I'm fooking about with my tank at the moment, I'll mount it up and take some pictures.

Rob
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Post by: MtheTiger on October 19, 2010, 03:24:54 PM
Quotethey've got them here too..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT500-XT-5 ... 335ff75d1b (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT500-XT-500-NEW-P...sh=item335ff75d1b)

worth a go at £16.. although they look quite tall, especially with the outlet on the bottom?  
 
 

yo NeilD, will these fit Tigger?
Distance between screwholes the same & rubber gasket fits too?
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Post by: NeilD on October 19, 2010, 07:34:40 PM
Quote from: "MtheTiger"
Quotethey've got them here too..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT500-XT-5 ... 335ff75d1b (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT500-XT-500-NEW-P...sh=item335ff75d1b)

worth a go at £16.. although they look quite tall, especially with the outlet on the bottom?  
 
 

yo NeilD, will these fit Tigger?
Distance between screwholes the same & rubber gasket fits too?

the advert says 34mm between holes, which is he same as Pingel quote for their Triumph adaptor.. as ROB says, the reserve inlet looks shorter than the standard one, so you'll lose some of the rserve capacity.. ? but probably worth a try at the price...  8)
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Post by: GavD on October 21, 2010, 09:35:11 PM
Or this one with a rear facing outlet - and cheaper too. I've just ordered one to see if it's any good.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT125-XT350-XT-125-350-FUEL-TAP-PETROL-TAP-/270635279897?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3f031ea619
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Post by: MtheTiger on October 22, 2010, 01:19:13 PM
QuoteI've just ordered one to see if it's any good.

Keep us posted....
I'm looking for a good & cheap replacement also that won't drip (like my new !! Triumph one does already  :evil: )
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Post by: GavD on October 23, 2010, 04:11:49 PM
Ordered it Thursday evening, delivered Saturday morning, can't argue with that.
Looks better in the flesh than on ebay. Fits the tank perfectly, just got to order some smaller bore pipe and an adapter.
Not sure what I'm going to do about the short 'main' pipe yet. If I leave it as is, I'm gonna have to head for a petrol station as soon as I switch over to reserve!
Here's a pic.
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Post by: Colonel Nikolai on October 23, 2010, 04:54:13 PM
GavD, once you report back that this item works well enough it should probably go on the parts interchange sticky thread for the steamers, eh?

Quote from: "GavD"Not sure what I'm going to do about the short 'main' pipe yet. If I leave it as is, I'm gonna have to head for a petrol station as soon as I switch over to reserve!

Can't you just lengthen it with a longer plastic tubing of some sort?
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Post by: GavD on October 23, 2010, 05:09:00 PM
I'm just thinking about that now, I don't want to use something that the petrol might affect and breakdown. The outside diameter of the pipe is 5mm, so I need something 5mm bore to slide over it.

I've just put the tank on the bike with the new tap, drained it on main then measured how much came out on reserve. With the bike upright I got about 1/4 litre out on reserve - should be good for all of 2 or 3 miles!!!

Definately need to extend that main pipe.
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Post by: Colonel Nikolai on October 23, 2010, 05:24:37 PM
Quote from: "GavD"I'm just thinking about that now, I don't want to use something that the petrol might affect and breakdown.

We have a super-cheap tubing over here that works well except when I don't use aviation-grade gasoline (non-oxygenated, no ethanol) it gets much less flexible and makes me worry about how it will behave in a few years. Have had it on my steamer and my sprint of the same vintage for this season only so far. Keeping an eye on it for now. You can buy it here in any auto-parts store: it's for radiator hoses but it's clear as glass. Do you guys have this?

Quote from: "GavD"With the bike upright I got about 1/4 litre out on reserve - should be good for all of 2 or 3 miles!!! Definately need to extend that main pipe.

Yes you do! One of the scariest experiences of my life was running out of gas on the tigger on a 4-lane highway during rush hour in a construction zone.  :shock:
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Post by: MtheTiger on October 23, 2010, 05:26:22 PM
looking good !
What do you mean by "just got to order some smaller bore pipe and an adapter".

As far as the main pipe is concerned I guess just slide another copper pipe on that has a snug fit and cut to the desired length.
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Post by: GavD on October 23, 2010, 05:52:35 PM
Is copper ok in petrol then?

The outlet on the new tap is for 5 or 6mm pipe, whereas the original is more like 7 or 8mm, so i've just bought one of these;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160439403690&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
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Post by: NeilD on October 23, 2010, 05:56:28 PM
looks like a good fix..  8)  fuel injected bikes normally have flexi hose inside the tank, so I guess a bit of that type of pipe to extend the metal one would do the job?
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Post by: rybes on October 23, 2010, 06:58:53 PM
id watch that pipe size if i were you gav mate. i seem to remeber the tiger one bein 8mm. thas quite a drop down in size. watch out ya dont suffer from fuel starvation when ya given it a wristful ;)
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Post by: GavD on October 23, 2010, 07:27:24 PM
yeah, thought about that. If I do get problems I'll just have to bite the bullet and fork out for either a triumph one or maybe one of those lovely shiney pingle ones.
At least I wouldn't have wasted too much dough.
Title: Perhaps something like this?
Post by: R0B on October 23, 2010, 07:45:26 PM
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Albion-Alloys-ROU ... 1917wt_698 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Albion-Alloys-ROUND-BRASS-TUBE-6-0mm-x-0-45mm-BT6M-/400166095541?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item5d2bc20ab5#ht_1917wt_698)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6mm-Round-Brass-T ... 1732wt_754 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6mm-Round-Brass-Tube-Model-Engineering-Live-Steam-/110599794067?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item19c042ed93#ht_1732wt_754)
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Post by: GavD on October 23, 2010, 08:02:25 PM
Thanks ROB
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Post by: MtheTiger on October 23, 2010, 08:57:36 PM
Quoteid watch that pipe size if i were you gav mate. i seem to remeber the tiger one bein 8mm. thas quite a drop down in size. watch out ya dont suffer from fuel starvation when ya given it a wristful  

this got me thinking too because I haven't got standard carb settings anymore: daytona cams, bos race exhausts and as main jets 128. Pilots are original though @ 40. Gives Tigger 100+ BHP but also makes her thirstier than her rider :shock:

If your Tigger is original and she can cope with the new tap diameter I'll give it a try also.
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Post by: D-Fuzz on October 23, 2010, 09:44:29 PM
I fixed my leaky petcock this morning.  A 25 cent o-ring and 20 minutes to drain the tank, so even if I have to do it once a year, it will be worth it to me.  It was good education for me as well and I found out I have 3L on reserve.  Still have no idea how far that will get me though.
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Post by: Colonel Nikolai on October 24, 2010, 03:47:34 AM
Quote from: "D-Fuzz"I fixed my leaky petcock this morning.  A 25 cent o-ring and 20 minutes to drain the tank, so even if I have to do it once a year, it will be worth it to me.  It was good education for me as well and I found out I have 3L on reserve.  Still have no idea how far that will get me though.

About 30 miles give or take on my Steamer. Thanks for doing that.
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Post by: GavD on October 24, 2010, 06:02:21 PM
After a bit of hunting around I found a plastic pipe on the kids fish tank that I've cut a bit from to slide over the outlet on the new tap to bring it up to size so that I can use the original fuel hose.

Only thing left to sort now is the short main pipe and we're good to go.
Hopefully I won't get any fuel starvation problems as Rybes suggested. I'm afraid my scratching days are pretty much over now. Rides tend to be slower paced nowadays.
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Post by: GavD on October 27, 2010, 10:52:15 PM
All sorted now,

Got the modelling brass pipe as suggested by ROB to extend the main tank feed up a bit, and got the outlet fuel pipe to the carbs sorted. All together cost about 20 quid - one third the price of a new triumph one and will probably last longer. Just gotta hope I don't get any starvation problems as Rybes suggested due to the decrease in outlet pipe size.
Title: how is it
Post by: Colonel Nikolai on October 30, 2010, 02:50:25 AM
Have you run a full tank through it yet? Let us know.
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Post by: GavD on October 30, 2010, 11:55:11 AM
I'm afraid not Nik,

I was hoping to get her roadworthy during the summer but it's not worked out like that. Too many other commitments.
Looking at having her on the road about March time.
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Post by: MtheTiger on October 31, 2010, 10:30:08 PM
I asked the seller Yambits on Ebay about the fuel flow capacity of the petcock and he states it's OK for single carb 500cc bikes but not for anything bigger....like triples. Hope it turns out OK.
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Post by: Bixxer Bob on November 01, 2010, 09:17:08 AM
I've not been following this closely, but here's a simple scenario: a full tank will take you about 200 miles, probably more.  That takes 3 hrs (ish) so if the petcock will allow the tank to drain in less than 3 hrs, you have enough flow, don't ya? :?

You don't have to drain a full tank, just a litre and then multiply it up... :wink:
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Post by: Mustang on November 01, 2010, 09:43:55 AM
the stock OEM petcock is just  barely adequate to feed all three cylinders at 5000 rpm  ..............just sayin
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Post by: R0B on November 01, 2010, 10:37:50 AM
I suppose you have to think what an XT500 does to the gallon...........I wouldn't think very much...................
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Post by: NeilD on November 01, 2010, 11:54:56 AM
Quote from: "Bixxer Bob"I've not been following this closely, but here's a simple scenario: a full tank will take you about 200 miles, probably more.  That takes 3 hrs (ish) so if the petcock will allow the tank to drain in less than 3 hrs, you have enough flow, don't ya? :?

You don't have to drain a full tank, just a litre and then multiply it up... :wink:

although I suppose the important calculation is 'how quickly do the float bowls empty vs how quickly can the fuel flow refill them' especially when 'on the throttle'  :)
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Post by: Bixxer Bob on November 01, 2010, 05:19:47 PM
Quote from: "Mustang"the stock OEM petcock is just  barely adequate to feed all three cylinders at 5000 rpm  ..............just sayin

I know my appraoch is a bit of a blunt instrument, but I tookrevs into consideration as, going on Girly experience (I know, fuel injection is more intelligent - but we're talking Triumph  Tiger FI here), and I get around 45 Uk mpg,  you'd have to be doing around 5000 rpm constant to cover 200 miles in 3 hrs.
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Post by: GavD on November 01, 2010, 06:06:49 PM
OK,

Just drained a litre through the new petcock in 95 seconds, therefore 25 litres would take 2375 seconds which is 39 mins & 35 seconds.

From that I reckon the new valve is ok for cruising. Only question left is whether when I gas it, it can keep up with how fast the float bowls are being drained.

I'm from the Isle of Wight, and for anyone who's never been here before, it's not that easy to give it some for long as you tend to meet most of the following depending on the time of year;
Coach/caravan/cyclist/horses/cattle/old granny on sunday drive.

It's a lovely place to live, but the roads are sh*te.
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Post by: NeilD on November 01, 2010, 07:24:19 PM
at some point over the next month or so I'll be taking my tank off so I'll time it when I'm draining it for comparison..  :)
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Post by: GavD on November 01, 2010, 08:35:55 PM
Thanks Neil
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Post by: Mustang on November 01, 2010, 08:55:04 PM
you'll be fine ,I just realized / remembered   :oops:  I have a restricted elbow in the middle of the fuel pipe on tiger 3  and it slurps gas at the rate of 25 mpg and is never starved for fuel .........

(http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee47/2uoykcuf/tigger%203/DSC_1138.jpg)
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Post by: Bixxer Bob on November 01, 2010, 11:39:08 PM
Quote from: "GavD"... Only question left is whether when I gas it, it can keep up with how fast the float bowls are being drained...

Even in the UK I don't think it would be a problem.  If I can refer you back to when my throttle jammed a couple of years back, I had a wide open full throttle for only a few seconds and I was well into 3 figures mph-wise.  I don't think there is anywhere where you can stay on the gas long enough to drain the bowls if they're getting any fuel at all.  

I suppose you could start the bike, turn the fuel off, and then rag it as much as you can- roads allowing - until you run out of gas in the bowls just to see how long it takes.
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Post by: NeilD on November 02, 2010, 12:35:35 AM
Quote from: "Bixxer Bob".......... until you run out of gas in the bowls just to see how long it takes.

in my experience, as long as it takes for - start-up, leave running whilst putting on helmet/gloves, ride out of village (at 30 mph) then its just as you open up for the NSL sign 1/2 mile from home..   :oops:  :D
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Post by: Bixxer Bob on November 02, 2010, 12:57:26 AM
:ImaPoser :ImaPoser :ImaPoser
Title: Tap drip
Post by: 97tiger885 on November 09, 2010, 09:42:27 PM
A quick and dirty fix is to insert a valve in the gas line between the tap and the carbs.   That is how my mc came.  I replaced the valve with a fuel filter, but if my tap starts to leak, I plan to reinsert the valve.  Cheap and easy.
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Post by: NeilD on December 06, 2010, 05:34:00 PM
Quote from: "GavD"OK,

Just drained a litre through the new petcock in 95 seconds.....

finally got round to draining my fuel tank...
...discovered I didnt have anything in the house with a second-hand so using the '1001, 1002,' method, I reckon its about 65 seconds on a standard tap to flow 1 litre..
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