Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => The Bike - C10 => Topic started by: WTexCliff on July 11, 2011, 05:00:21 PM

Title: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: WTexCliff on July 11, 2011, 05:00:21 PM

I suspect my gas cap is not venting.  From looking at other posts, it seems this can be a cause for fuel starvation.  Can these cleaned?
 
I think mine is probably not venting right because:
1.  I live in a very dusty area
2.  After riding about an hour in around 100 degree heat I parked my bike.  The next time I went to start it It would not fire.  I took the tank off and hooked up a temporary tank.  After some gas drained into the carbs, it started and ran fine.   Both tank vent hoses seem clear and I do not think either one was crimped.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: T Cro ® on July 11, 2011, 05:37:23 PM

Take gas cap off of bike, take gas cap apart, inside you will find a little rubber flap "thingie" that is the vent...... I threw mine out years ago and never looked back; now the cap can vent both ways. Once in a while if I fill the tank too full and the wind is in the "just right" direction I can get an odor of fuel but it has never been a bother at all.

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: potshotpanda on July 11, 2011, 06:15:21 PM

TCro, I love the elegant simplicity of your fix.

Jeff

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: WTexCliff on July 11, 2011, 06:32:58 PM

Thanks, I will give that a shot tomorrow.  I am guessing without the rubber thingie, she won't sing to me any more.  Oh well, she couldn't carry a tune anyway.

Thanks,
Cliff

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: Boomer on July 12, 2011, 05:25:05 AM

I just used to blow hard on the end of the vent tube.
You can hear it whistling into the gas cap if it's OK.

The most common cause of blocking for me are spiders.
They crawl up the tube and make a nest.
I fixed that by fitting a piece of gauze over the end of the tube.

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: snarf on July 12, 2011, 08:45:33 AM

Quote from: Boomer on July 12, 2011, 05:25:05 AM

I just used to blow hard on the end of the vent tube.
You can hear it whistling into the gas cap if it's OK.

The most common cause of blocking for me are spiders.
They crawl up the tube and make a nest.
I fixed that by fitting a piece of gauze over the end of the tube.

And you would blow in the tube with spiders in there...ewwwwe :doublepuke:

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: Outback_Jon on July 12, 2011, 09:02:49 AM

Quote from: snarf on July 12, 2011, 08:45:33 AM

And you would blow in the tube with spiders in there...ewwwwe :doublepuke:

Nah.  He sucked the spiders out first.

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: Strawboss on July 12, 2011, 05:48:34 PM

Fuel line kinked? I had a very similar problem. Checked the cap vent, blew out the hoses, hey, I got a quick disconnect fuel line adaptor, not a lot of space to work with behind the carbs and under the tank, but, yep, there it was, a kinked fuel line, a zip tie as a temp fix to straighten it out, runs like a champ.

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: WTexCliff on July 12, 2011, 08:39:44 PM

I pulled the gas cap off and disassembled it.  I was surprised to find that it was not dirty at all on the inside.  Anyway, I pulled the little rubber flap things inside the cap, blew through the hoses, and made sure things were not kinked on reassembly.  After a ride I found that I no longer have the fuel starvation problem.  Hopefully it will not return.

Thanks for everyone's input,
Cliff

Title: Re: Is there an easy way to make the gas cap vent properly?
Post by: Lodogg2221 on July 16, 2011, 07:10:57 AM

Guess thats something for me to do to! 
Mine likes to sing to me when its hot...expanding gas in the tank I assume because when I pop the cap, lots of "air" rushes out. 
Gives off a whine or whistle, and will resume within just a few minutes of me manually venting the tank if its sitting in the sun.

Ive had zero fuel starvation issues, but then its pressurizing the tank, so I guess I wouldnt if the rest of my hoses are in good shape, which they are.

Guess Ill have something to do in the next couple days!