Gas in the oil ?

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:14 pm

Hi guys, replaced all my floats & float needles with new a few daze back, uncovered my bike after about 4 days & it "seemed" like I left my Pingle gas tap on.
I know I checked it as I'm kinda anal obout leaving it on, if fact I'm bordeline tourettes checking it sometimes 3 times knowing full well I switched it off ( ....and breath.)

Well the tap may have moved as I took my cover off but there you go, however my question is:-

Apart from the obvious, fuel tank level lower, oil in sump level higher, smell of gasoline in the oil ( none of which ring true in this scenario.)
I also lit a match to the sample of the oil & no flame.

How else can you tell your oil is contaminated with gas ?? I remember my R1 was in the shop & the tech said he found gas in the oil, so how would he have found out ??

Gonna change it tomorrow in any case but I'm doing a short low stress run this evening, could I incur any engine damage ??

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:41 pm

If you even (think) there's gas in the oil don't take it for a ride. Removing the filter should tell you if there's gas in there. I have stock petcocks and each carb has its own overflow tube and I have not had that problem.

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:18 pm

That's what I thought Terry thanks....

CBXRoger · Post by **CBXRoger** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:19 pm

The biggest issue is having a cylinder filled with gasoline, which does not compress. As the piston, in the gas filled cylinder, comes up on the compression stroke, the connecting rod will be bent. On early models, it was usually cylinder number one. Pull the spark plugs before turning over the engine, or serious damage will occur very quickly.

As far as gasoline in the oil, it will boil off after the engine is up to temperature. In cold weather, they used to put gasoline in the oil of the big radial aircraft engines to make them easier to turn over.

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:20 pm

Switched the ignition off Roger & turned the engine over by hand, all seemed well....

new shorty · Post by **new shorty** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:25 pm

Please fill me in on this one Larry, but I thought your bike has the flat slides with individual overflow tubes

That way I would consider it to be impossible to get gas in the oil.

Cheers,

Joost

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:13 pm

No Joost, I'm running the VM29 smoothbores roundslides in the UK ( too much traffic over here I'm afraid for huge carbs.) They ( Rick Tricks) only have three overflows....I struggled with the original needles & found that the Keihin Viton tipped give a better shutoff than the metal originals ( bonus) & they plop right in...

Even then they are prone to flooding when on the side stand. As you well know that's big trouble if your not careful...
It's something that you're always aware of but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks....

new shorty · Post by **new shorty** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:42 pm

Okay Larry,

That explains it!

Parking on the side stand is something that I never do for more than just a couple of minutes.
I'm also very anal about closing the fuel tap, even more since I removed that dreadful vacuum operated fuel valve.

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:02 pm

If anyone else is running VM29 smoothbores, both Mikuni, SUDCO & a few other VJM people recommend a float height of 23mm. I have found that 25mm from the flange face is the perfect height, carbs on their backs with the weight of the floats depressing the plungers. I think it was Rick ( of Ricks Tricks) that recommended that height to me 27 years ago..

new shorty · Post by **new shorty** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:20 pm

alimey4u2 wrote:If anyone else is running VM29 smoothbores, both Mikuni, SUDCO & a few other VJM people recommend a float height of 23mm. I have found that 25mm from the flange face is the perfect height, carbs on their backs with the weight of the floats depressing the plungers. I think it was Rick ( of Ricks Tricks) that recommended that height to me 27 years ago..

Wow, Larry, what have you done to keep your memory in such a shape that you can recall those figures after 27 years

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:16 am

new shorty wrote:
alimey4u2 wrote:If anyone else is running VM29 smoothbores, both Mikuni, SUDCO & a few other VJM people recommend a float height of 23mm. I have found that 25mm from the flange face is the perfect height, carbs on their backs with the weight of the floats depressing the plungers. I think it was Rick ( of Ricks Tricks) that recommended that height to me 27 years ago..
Wow, Larry, what have you done to keep your memory in such a shape that you can recall those figures after 27 years

Alcohol, drugs & wild wimmen have kept my mind sharp as a tack Joost...

cbx4evr · Post by **cbx4evr** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:04 am

alimey4u2 wrote:Alcohol, drugs & wild wimmen have kept my mind sharp as a tack Joost...

Thanks. You gave the diagnosis the doctor couldn't. Now I know what I'm doing wrong. If I start now will it come back is the question.

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:13 am

cbx4evr wrote:
alimey4u2 wrote:Alcohol, drugs & wild wimmen have kept my mind sharp as a tack Joost...

Thanks. You gave the diagnosis the doctor couldn't. Now I know what I'm doing wrong. If I start now will it come back is the question.

It will all come flooding back to you...

The International CBX Owners Association

Gas in the oil ?

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