Fuel tank leak

[Big Phil]

First off a big thank you to all of you guys who offered tips and methods to find my tank leak. However, no matter how hard I looked and the methods I used showed a leak in the tank whilst off the bike. Today the sun was shining and it was a beautiful clear day. So I gave it one more shot and got the bike outside of the garage on the roadside. Now I wouldn't have to worry quite so much about setting the garage on fire with my house and worldly goods along with it. My idea was not to panic and immediately turn off the engine but have a decent look outside in daylight to see where the leak was coming from. First off I inspected the tank again and couldn't see any sign of corrosion or cracks that would cause a leak. I fitted the tank to the bike exactly as I have done numerous times before making sure the fuel pipes were very secure but this time I loosely bolted the tank down onto the frame, no idea why I just did. Started her up again and ran her for 10 minutes and not a hint of a leak. Now totally confused I could only think the bolts had grounded the tank to the frame. Without this ground path perhaps this had caused the injectors and fuel pump to behave erratically. So I removed the tank retaining bolts, started the engine again and within 60 seconds one of the breather pipes was flying around and spitting fuel everywhere. I therefore refitted the tank retaining bolts and all was well again. WTF 😳 but hey ho 🤔 you live and learn🤗🤗🤗


Is it possible that the pump and or injectors were spitting fuel out of one of the breather pipes due to the pump and injectors not being grounded together?

[Hooli]

That doesn't make sense to me, the pump etc grounds via the loom to the tank not via the rubber tank mountings.

I'd suspect a split fuel pipe that opens up as you lift the tank slightly. I've had the small low pressure pipe from the swirl pot to rear of the tank split & it just dripped slighty, it did it all the time though.

[Big Phil]

I totally agree it makes no sense whatsoever but it's not leaking now. One thing to mention however  the tank does make a ground to the frame via the bolts located nearest the seat on my SRAD. Still completely baffled. I have fitted new fuel pipes since finding the leak so doubt that's the problem because it continued after they were changed. Anyway, it is what it is for me. The leak has gone, the bike runs, I most probably missed a leaking joint or pipe, I honestly don't have a clue but I now have a leak free bike 🤗

[DP1400]

Phil, good news - all positives, and you have established that it wasn`t your tank

It could simply have been a case that in repeatedly moving the tank around fuel was sloshing about all through the system inc the breathers. Now the tank is correctly positioned and bolted, you fuel lines are correctly routed etc. all will be well.

Give her a run round the block a couple of times, nobody will notice .......

[Big Phil]

Your probably spot on with that analysis Dave. I would love to be able to run her around the block a couple of times but I have the chain and sprockets to replace, the brakes to rebuild and fork seals to change before she will be anywhere near safe to ride. Labour of love now she running though😍 She might be a decrepit old SRAD but she's given me so such fun in the past on track I can't let her rot away anymore. It's verging on criminal how I've neglected her over the last 7 years.😞