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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Fuel leak at the cap.
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Message started by SuperX on 08/30/10 at 03:47:39

Title: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by SuperX on 08/30/10 at 03:47:39

I discovered after topping off the tank on my recently purchased 2003 Savage that gas leaks from the cap seal when the tank is full. Have not had a chance to closely inspect the cap but before digging into it was wondering if this is a common problem. Is there and adjustment in the cap latch that can be made to make a tighter seal or do I need to replace a gasget or washer in order to seal it up?

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by Joe F on 08/30/10 at 04:29:51

How high did you fill it? The manual says you shouldn't go above the bottom of the fill tube. The only time I've ever had problems on my 2007 is when I went above the bottom lip.

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by 12Bravo on 08/30/10 at 05:12:59

The tank vents through the cap. If you fill it to the top (or real close to top) of fill tube, it will leak from the cap. I find that I can fill to the middle of the fill tube without gas leaking, but that also depends on how hot it is.

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by babyhog on 08/30/10 at 06:30:06

You might be interested in this thread. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1262920654

I've only had mine leak once. I think I over-filled it, pulled out from the gas station pretty quickly and gas covered my leg. Never have the problem if I don't over-fill.

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by thumperclone on 08/30/10 at 06:59:23

or only turn left...

i straddle the bike and keep er level while fueling...

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by SuperX on 08/30/10 at 07:34:59

I have been fueling with it on the sidestand but only to the bottom of the standpipe. the gas pours out the rt side of the cap and runs down the side of the tank when I stand it upright and while riding. I have to fuel well below in order for this not to happen. Even with the tank venting through the cap, it appears to me to be leaking quite excessively.

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by SuperX on 09/16/10 at 03:31:24

Problem solved! I employed the spud washer fix per Boule'tard's instructions (very helpful step by step). The toughest part was finding the proper spud washer. A quick cutting of the flange with a sharp exacto and it was ready to install. My suggestion is to cut very slight notches in the washer where it makes contact with the nubs on the inside of the cap. not doing so causes the washer to be slightly deformed by these nubs which may work it's way out on it's own but I didn't want to take a chance.
I had a running fuel leak out the side of the tank and now it's sealed tight!! Thanks Boule'tard!!

KB

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/16/10 at 03:50:52

A spud washer? Whats a spud washer?

I always thot a spud washer was the guy who cleaned the taters before someone else peeledthem.

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by Charon on 09/16/10 at 05:48:18

I was told that using Sea Foam would help keep the rubber gasket pliable and would eliminate the leak. It didn't work for me, though. I usually fill the tank to the bottom of the neck, with the bike on the sidestand (because I think it is unsafe to stay on the bike while fuelling it), then before I put the cap back on I raise the bike to level and "burp" the tank. That seems to allow a bubble to escape, and usually solves the problem.

Just one of the many "character traits" that seems to define the Savage Experience.

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by babyhog on 09/16/10 at 05:50:23

6E677760717F050 wrote:

Glad to hear it worked for you. Thanks for letting us know. Happy Riding!

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/16/10 at 05:51:32

I tookmy cap apart & slipped ashim in to make the rubber tighter. Makes getting it off & on a bit of a test,but I was tired of Gas on my leg.I have always been careful about how far I filled it,but it leaked anyway. I did notice that burping it decreased the problem.

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by qp on 09/17/10 at 14:42:45

756A6C6B7671407040786A662D1F0 wrote:

A spud washer? Whats a spud washer?

I always thot a spud washer was the guy who cleaned the taters before someone else peeledthem.

A spud washer is used when mounting a urinal to a wall, it is shaped like a top hat without the top, about 2-3 inches across. The washer material is about 1/8 to 3/16 thick.

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/17/10 at 15:14:42

Thanks for that

Title: Re: Fuel leak at the cap.
Post by Digger on 10/17/10 at 21:40:52

062D24372A2B450 wrote:

I was told that using Sea Foam would help keep the rubber gasket pliable and would eliminate the leak. It didn't work for me, though.....

Hi Charon,

If you're looking for a grease that will be friendly to the rubber and not be washed off by gasoline, try Krytox RFE (http://www.amazon.com/Krytox-PFPE-Perfomance-Lubricant-Style/dp/B001HWG92I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous&qid=1287376699&sr=8-2). I used some on the gas cap gasket of another bike I own and it works great. Spendy, though (I got mine on eBay relatively cheap).

IHTH!