Water in fuel

[Glass_Darkly]

Hi everyone was riding home last week in the heaviest rain ever and bike came to a spluttery stop. Thinking it was water in fuel drained the tank, fuel filter and drained the carbs to best of my knowledge. I then filled it back up with fresh petrol, but she still doesn't start is there anything I am missing out ?

[ducpainter]

If you're convinced it is fuel related try a little dry gas to get any remaining moisture. It will hide in little pockets.

I would check to make sure I had spark, and the general condition of the plugs too.

[Glass_Darkly]

yeah i am pretty sure its the fuel, after draining the water was sat at the bottom of the bottle i used, with the petrol kind of sitting ontop of it. will i have to take the carbs out and clean etc ?

Thank you very much for the reply !!!

[Glass_Darkly]

Also sorry what is dry gas ? thanks again

[ducpainter]

Also sorry what is dry gas ? thanks again

Dry gas is alcohol that absorbs water in fuel.

Where are you located?

I'd still check your plugs. When the thing stopped running they had stopped firing from the water and may be wet.

[Glass_Darkly]

okay awesome, im located in devon in the u.k. i will try and get hold of some asap until then its staying in the garage. one thing ducatis aren't built for is u.k winters lol

[Howie]

Also (if you didn't already) drain the carb float bowls and change the gas filter.

[Glass_Darkly]

yeah i undid the little screw nuts on the carbs and  drained it. i also drained the filter will i need to prime the line at all or anything of that sort its an m750 year 2000.

thanks for the replies this site is awesome lol !

[ducpainter]

yeah i undid the little screw nuts on the carbs and  drained it. i also drained the filter will i need to prime the line at all or anything of that sort its an m750 year 2000.

thanks for the replies this site is awesome lol !

Fuel filters are cheap and also can trap water.

If you still have the vacuum petcock, which you probably do, it's hard to prime the system without a bunch of cranking the starter...hard on the battery.

Those vacuum petcocks can fail in either mode...on or off...and can also fill the cases with however much gas is in the tank...

Better to get a manual petcock with 5/16" inlet and outlet and end the suspense while the bike is down.

If you were in the states I'd recommend a unit from parts unlimited that closely resembles a Pingle valve.

Not sure what is available to you.

[Howie]

A drop or two of gasoline down each carb will get the bike started.  Yep, a manual petcock is a good idea.

[Glass_Darkly]

ok so if i buy a manual petcock (i assume this is the same thing  as a fuel tap) does the vacuum fuel filter become invalid or do i just need to buy a new one ?

cheers

[ducpainter]

The stock vacuum fuel tap/petcock is under the tank hinge bracket.

The filter is in the line before that.

You still need a filter, and you'll most likely need a length of 5/16" fuel line to locate the manual unit where it is accessible.

It can go anywhere between the filter and the pump.

You'll also need a means of plugging the vacuum line/port from the intake runner to the vacuum petcock.

[Howie]

Here is mine:



Here is a source:

http://www.bikebandit.com/motion-pro-inline-fuel-valve

[Glass_Darkly]

  

okay cheers guys i will look into getting some dry gas online now

[Glass_Darkly]

Is there anyway that there could be water / moisture in the combustion chambers ?

would it be an idea to do an oil change and flush the engine through   as there is a little condensation on the sight glass ?