Well, I'm smelling a slight wiff of fuel again. It's been like that since Wednesday, which was when I last used the bike. It get's pretty strong when I put my nose right near the right side of the bike. If I didn't have the fuel leak a few weeks ago, I won't think much of it. Now, I'm getting paranoid.

During the service, the plastic connection was replaced. In my earlier fuel leak thread, Jim Martin mentioned that the plastic connections could crack when drving on rough terrain. I'm wondering about that rough terrain theory. I use the MV to work an pass a set of railroad tracks. I don't always so down enough. I wonder if that has anything to do with it?

The other theory is that I filled the bike up with gas a few minutes before I parked her for the day. The bike was pretty hot 212. With a fuel tank, I wonder if it could have cause excess pressure.

So it looks like it could either be rough terrain or excessive heat. Looks like I'll be taking a 90mile ride to the local dealer, while the MV is still drivable.

-- Agibbs996@aol.com (agibbs996@aol.com), October 11, 2002

Answers

Greetings Allan- Did the dealer replace one or both plastic fuel line fittings? I also filled up the tank one hot summer day before lunch and could smell fuel when I returned. I found the tank makes a whining sound as it releases the pressure. I opened the filler cap to help it along. Hope it's something simple. Please let us know.

-- Tim W (Provamo35@hotmail.com), October 11, 2002.

I'm not sure if both fittings were replaced, as I only saw the one cracked fitting.

For a few months prior to the leak, my MV was also making the high pitch whining noise. I also assumed this was normal, as the bike was just releasing excess pressure. It's the only bike I ever had that whined like that (pun intended). :)

It does get pretty hot during the Arizona summers. Although the temperature now are usually in the cool 90s. My thoughts are the fitting just cannot take the amount of heat generated by the engine and the ambient temperature. If new fitting are added, but are still of the same plastic design, I'm worried I may have the same problem again, especially next summer.

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), October 11, 2002.

Hi Allan, Ihad same problems with my 2000 MV last summer. One was the notorious cracked fuel QD fitting, but I,too, over filled my tank a time or two. I believe the fuel overflow line vents somewhere near the lower left fairing. Check there and if you see any discoloration inside or outside the fairing then that is probably whot is happening. Mine leaked thru the joint btwn the mid and lower fairing externally. So far, no probs with my 2002.

Colin

-- Colin Asekun (ckasekun@kingwoodcable.net), October 11, 2002.

I had the same experience as Colin. I overfilled the tank and stopped soon after to find fuel coming out of the overflow. I've done over 10,000k's since and no problems.

-- Matt Thompson (matthewt@nitor.co.nz), October 12, 2002.

Hey Allan, I saw your thread last time you had the fuel leak, I can't believe it's happening again so soon. Those fittings suck!! I hated them on the Ducati and they are pissing me off on the MV. I had my bike in for service for the same problem about 3 days before you did. After seeing how easy it is to change them out, it might be easier to get them from Cycle Moto and change them yourself. Beats the drive to Tuscon for only 30 min of work.

-- S. Criscione (desmonic@yahoo.com), October 12, 2002.

Hi Allan. I too go over a set of railroad tracks periodically and my dealer mentioned to me that it's possible I didn't slow down enough and hit the tracks a little harder than usual, causing the fitting to crack. I am quite suprised that they are so "delicate", especially in an application such as a fuel return line. Needless to say I am a little more careful when crossing the tracks. I see these squids wheelie-ing there japanese rice rockets all the time and landing very hard........i wonder if jap bikes have a different fitting because you never hear about their fittings breaking. Only blown fork seals and damaged body parts because they ride like idiots! Anyway, go easy on the tracks. Regards.

JM

-- jmmartin (jmmartin155@aol.com), October 12, 2002.

The doctor say's she's fine. I decided to take the 100 mile drive to Tucson today. We did smell gas but after inspecting the connectors, we found them in perfect condition (no discoloration). I was a bit concerned because they did not take off the gas tank and physicallly hold the part. However, we could see some fuel run off on the overflow hose. Atleast now I know where to look.

I did ask the dealer if railroad tracks could be a problem. He said no. But....I think I may need to be a bit more careful next time. I'm still sticking to my theory that it's either heat or an excessive shock that makes the weak connector's crack. I probably should have them replaced at the 6K check up. I'm pretty sure the connectors aren't too sturdy, because even the dealer mentioned they replaced about 4 of them!

The dealer also mentioned that MV's don't have a "closed system. They don't really have a California model." I took this to mean that if you overfill the bike or drop the bike (like what happened with my old '00 MV), fuel or fuel vapors will escape. I dropped the '00 MV twice (once by broken stand and the second in an accident) and both times, fuel started leaking, while the bike was on it's side. So, in the event of an accident, make sure you slide in a different direction! KaBooMMMM!!

BTW, if anyone's interested in a NEW 2001 996, Renaissance Motorcycle's has one on sale for $14K (below cost) and a 2002 998 for $16K (about $1k off).

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), October 12, 2002.