Kyle, Yes sir. Good point, I never thought of water or dirt dropping into it. I think I will add a small loop of vacuum tube onto it just so the opening faces down.
Thanks again for all the help and assistance on this board. Here's some pictures of what I did yesterday if you're curious: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2032058&id=1197300068&l=2cd06759f5 On Jan 16, 6:31 pm, Kyle Munz <[email protected]> wrote: > The second nipple doesn't need a hose, it's only a vent for the back > side of the diaphragm as you thought. The only reason it's facing down > to begin with is so it doesn't fill with crud. If it's now facing up > you could now put a small piece of vacuum line on it facing down and > open on the other end. Where it's at under the tank though you should > be ok except in the heaviest of rains. > > On 1/16/10, Zaxeiler <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > So today I worked for about 3 hours on the bike. I removed the side > > coverings and the tank. After draining the tank I removed and > > examined the petcock. Opening up the vacuum assembly didn't show any > > problems, the gasket was in good shape and sealed well. Furthermore, > > the bowl at the bottom still had a screen in good shape. I > > reassembled the bowl with the slightest teflon tape (sorry > > Fishmeister, I hadn't seen your post). Also, I reassembled the vacuum > > assembly with a slight amount of gasket sealant. Finally, the top > > stem, filter, and o-ring needed to be realigned. I replaced the o- > > ring and centered the filter again. > > > Finally, when reassembling the bike, I replaced the fuel line from the > > petcock to the carbs. I figured a new reinforced line with some fresh > > clamps couldn't hurt. The vacuum hose however, I did not replace as I > > wasn't noticing any problem with the suction from the engine before. > > > All in all, she's running well again. However, to get the metal to > > seal well on the petcock assembly I had to rotate the center piece of > > metal. For instance, when you remove the 4 screws to look inside at > > the gasket the outer piece where the vacuum hose attaches remains > > unchanged, but the next layer down, the piece of metal with the small > > opening (to let outside air in, I assume) I rotated 180 degrees so > > that it now faces up. Trying to understand how a petcock functions, > > and since this small opening does not connect to a specific line or > > anything, I didn't think this would change anything. Doing this just > > gave me the best seal possible, as the metal on the petcock had been > > torqued/warped and no longer laid flush in the other orientations. > > > So, she's no longer leaking, and is running beautifully. And you all > > are to be thanked (especially Kyle for the pictures). So thank you > > for all the aid, hopefully I can contribute to this board in some way > > to show my appreciation. But if not, my riding tomorrow will speak > > volumes about it. > > > Zac > > > On Jan 15, 1:33 pm, Kim Paddock <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I bought a multi-pack of small rubber seals from the auto parts store. > >> Some of them worked on my bikes. HotrodMamma. > > >> ________________________________ > >> From: Kyle Munz <[email protected]> > >> To: [email protected] > >> Sent: Fri, January 15, 2010 10:49:23 AM > >> Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: 1983 Nighthawk 550 Gas Leak > > >> I removed my tank first. On the 650 you remove the seat and you can see > >> one bolt holding the tail-end of the tank down, remove that and it lifts > >> up and back. Disconnect the fuel line and vacuum line. The 650 also has a > >> fuel gauge you have to disconnect the wires to the sending unit, I don't > >> think the 550 has that though. Once the tank is off (and drained) the > >> petcock just has the one nut holding it on. > >> New seals I usually get from the dealer, rubber things don't hold up well > >> in salvage yards. My local dealer is pretty cool about trying to match > >> online prices, the only problem is these bikes are getting older and some > >> parts are getting harder for dealers to obtain. You can try finding a > >> generic replacement at an autoparts store if that fails. > > >> -Kyle > >> -Sent from Houston, TX, United States > > >> On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 11:44 AM, Zaxeiler <[email protected]> > >> wrote: > >> >Kyle, > > >> >>That's really helpful. Thanks a ton man! I guess a remaining > >> >>question though, is without my Clymer manual, how would I get to the > >> >>point where your photos start? What are the steps to remove the > >> >>petcock itself (or is it too complicated and I need to wait for the > >> >>Clymer to ship)? And finally, if indeed all the rubber in there is > >> >>ruined, where's a good place to get new seals? > > >> >>Thanks again, > >> >>Zac > > >> >>On Jan 15, 12:37 pm, Kyle Munz <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >>> I have pictures from when I took mine apart on my 650. There should be > >> >>> some > >> >>> similarities with your 550 if they're not the same part. Also, once > >> >>> you have > >> >>> the petcock off there should be a plastic screen inside the tank that > >> >>> the > >> >>> reserve "straw" sticks up into, make sure that doesn't have any rips > >> >>> or > >> >>> tears while you're in there.http://munz.kicks-ass.net/nighthawk/?p=151 > > >> >>> -Kyle > >> >>> -Sent from Houston, TX, United States > > >> >> On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 11:29 AM, Zaxeiler <[email protected]> > >> >> wrote: > >> >>> > I don't think it's a hole... However, I did realize it when I had > >> >>> > it > >> >>> > running while sitting recently. It is dripping at a steady pace > >> >>> > from > >> >>> > the bottom of the petcock. The main fuel line that runs from the > >> >>> > petcock to between the carbs (2 & 3) is also noticeably wet with > >> >>> > fuel. > > >> >>> > My clymer manual isn't here yet. Any suggestions as far as where to > >> >>> > start to stop the leak? > > >> >>> > Your comments are most appreciated, > >> >>> > Zac > > >> >>> > On Jan 14, 12:47 pm, Kim Paddock <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >>> > > The last time that happened to me it was a pinhole leak in my gas > >> >>> > > tank. > >> >>> > It had rusted through. It took a little bit of looking though as the > >> >>> > paint > >> >>> > was not peeled off. I finally found a spot where the paint had > >> >>> > bubbled a > >> >>> > bit. That was the hole. I hope that it isn't your tank...they are > >> >>> > expensive > >> >>> > and hard to find. HotrodMamma. > > >> >>> > > ________________________________ > >> >>> > > From: Zaxeiler <[email protected]> > >> >>> > > To: Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers! > >> >>> > > <[email protected]> > >> >>> > > Sent: Wed, January 13, 2010 10:22:27 PM > >> >>> > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] 1983 Nighthawk 550 Gas Leak > > >> >>> > > I just purchased this bike over the weekend. It's in great > >> >>> > > condition > >> >>> > > and is a great ride. It was sold by a man who collected > >> >>> > > nighthawks so > >> >>> > > it's in good shape considering the year, and has about 24k miles > >> >>> > > on > >> >>> > > it. Besides the fact that it's my first bike, and I'm ecstatic > >> >>> > > and > >> >>> > > love riding it to death (even in the midst of winter), I have > >> >>> > > finally > >> >>> > > deduced tonight that it has a fuel leak. > > >> >>> > > So, as back story, I bought it about 120 miles from my home. The > >> >>> > > deal > >> >>> > > was too good to pass up on, and I had a friend drive it back for > >> >>> > > me. > >> >>> > > About 2/3 of the way through the trip, after about 70 miles she > >> >>> > > died > >> >>> > > on the interstate and needed to be changed to reserve. Now, I had > >> >>> > > read that the range of the bike could vary from 80s-140s... > >> >>> > > However, > >> >>> > > considering that we had been doing freeway travel and he had been > >> >>> > > riding in 6th (overdrive) for most of the trip it seemed unlikely > >> >>> > > we > >> >>> > > had been driving aggressively enough to burn through the 3.2 gal > >> >>> > > tank > >> >>> > > that soon. > > >> >>> > > So, sunday night upon return home, I filled her up at a gas > >> >>> > > station > >> >>> > > and began to practice riding around my area. Monday and Tuesday I > >> >>> > > did > >> >>> > > some more practice riding, and considering I'm a new rider, none > >> >>> > > of it > >> >>> > > was very aggressive, no red lining, so I shouldn't have run though > >> >>> > > gas > >> >>> > > too soon. Today (Wednesday) after a few great days of riding and > >> >>> > > 40ish miles (I reset the odometer after filling up) the bike died > >> >>> > > on > >> >>> > > me and I had to switch to reserve. It was only at this time that > >> >>> > > I > >> >>> > > had realized she was leaking gas. Each day I had been noticing a > >> >>> > > slight drip below the bike, but had assumed it was condensation > >> >>> > > coming > >> >>> > > from the bike since it was cold. I hadn't realized that the bike > >> >>> > > had > >> >>> > > been leaking on the ride home, just thought we had gone farther > >> >>> > > than I > >> >>> > > remembered. > > >> >>> > > So, I understand that this isn't much information to go on. But > >> >>> > > here's the spread. The bike is dripping gas, I hadn't observed it > >> >>> > > too > >> >>> > > often, but this is a noticeable mark on the ground after it has > >> >>> > > been > >> >>> > > still for awhile. I rode for 40 miles, so it can be assumed that > >> >>> > > I > >> >>> > > actually consumed about 1 gallon, which means that (if you assume > >> >>> > > something is left in the reserve portion) the bike has leaked > >> >>> > > about 2 > >> >>> > > gallons of fuel over the course of almost exactly 3 days. > > >> >>> > > I know that there's no way from this information that any of you > >> >>> > > can > >> >>> > > "know" what the problem is. However, knowing where to start > >> >>> > > looking, > >> >>> > > or a few places to start would help me as a new owner. If any of > >> >>> > > you > >> >>> > > with experience know something that is known to happen with a lot > >> >>> > > of > >> >>> > > nighthawks, or if from the information you can make a guess, or at > >> >>> > > least give any clues whatsoever, I would be most appreciative. > > >> >>> > > From one new NH lover to the others, thank you ahead of time, > >> >>> > > Zac > >> >>> > > -- > >> >>> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >> >>> > > Groups > >> >>> > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > >> >>> > > To post to this group, send email to > >> >>> > > [email protected]. > >> >>> > > To > > ... > > read more »
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