Hey everyone,


new poster here. Owned my 02 Superhawk since 2010, regularly ridden until 2021 when I stored it in my dad's garage for 3 years while I lived overseas with the military. Prior to storage, I drained the carb float bowls of fuel to prevent gumming up of old fuel but left fuel (with Stabil) in the tank to prevent rust.


After returning last month, I pulled the bike out, flushed brake/clutch fluid and drained the tank/ replaced with fresh fuel, then attempted to start. I expected the bike to crank a while as the carb float bowls were empty. After cranking for two iterations of about 6-9 seconds, it hadn't started but I could smell a lot of fuel.


Investigating, I saw fuel dripping below the carbs onto the engine and everywhere. I checked carb drain bolts and they were tight but fuel was seemingly leaking from multiple areas around the carbs and running down to various low points on the carbs and dripping from there. For reference, fuel did not start leaking until I began cranking the starter to run fuel into the carbs - does not leak from under the tank and no fuel was present in the air filter box.


I'm guessing the carb gaskets are no longer sealing and will need to pull the carbs and replace the gaskets (will clean the carbs while I'm at it). I asked a local/ reputable bike shop if draining the float bowls for that long was an error and mechanic said no, it would not have made a difference.


Before I dive headfirst into this project, any thoughts/ experiences on what else could be causing all this escaping fuel? Thanks for reading this far and throwing some help my way.


God bless.

 

My guess is the same. Given a little time and a little more gas they may swell and stop leaking if a gasket material and not an o-ring type gasket.

 

Uh, no, a stuck open float valve is the culprit due to the carbs float bowls not being drained or run dry of treated and likely untreated ethonol gas after the peacock was turned off.

A full carb go-through is strongly recommended, along with an oil & filter change, draining the gas tank, adding a half quart of 10W-40 nside and rotationally spreading it around and refilling with fresh 87 RON dosed with Techron (don't worry about the oil, it'll just smoke a bit on start up), pump up & check the tires and maybe replace them as they likely flat-spotted. Install a fresh properly filled and charged Yuasa (or a decent LifePo but the VRR should be a Mosfet unit with heavier gauge wiring, etc, etc (The King and I)...

Hopefully, the tank had been topped off with treated gas.

When I deployed, I always removed the battery and put it on a Battery Tender, and had a buddy come by and turn on the timer I had the BT on every 3 months. I fully mothballed the bike including squirting motor oil in the spark plug holes and turning it over manually to coat the cast iron cylinders, put wax cups in the end of the cans, and left the tires pumped up on old floor matts, etc.

It fired right up when I got back. .

Still does.

 

Or, based on the conditions outlined in the original post, give it a little time.

 

Time for what for it to get worse

 

Thanks y'all. Sounds to me like we're all on the same page. I'll take the carbs off, clean them out, replace the gaskets and o rings with a rebuild kit and go from there. I appreciate y'all!