Water in my fuel tank! - Solved :)

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   My bike doesn't get out much any more, and is garaged and on a maintenance charger (if I remember to plug it in) when it's not in use.
I tried to start it up the other day, and no go, turns over but won't fire. Battery quickly drained so can't remember if it was on the trickle charger .. and if it's not, it's basically cactus within a couple of weeks due to the alarm!

We had a new garage door fitted the other day, and it was snowing, so the bike sat out in the snow. Now unless snow has different properties to water  I don't know how water has got under the fuel cap, it would appear it has.

Anyway .. today I decide to try again after charging it up again.

Note .. ITALIAN BIKES AND WATER don't mix .. believe it kids!

Same thing again .. turns over but doesn't fire. Battery not going flat immediately this time so I presume I just left it off charge last time accidentally. No drama there.

Pop open the fuel cap, and notice a lot of sitting fluid where the overflow hoses are. I dipped my finger in, and it didn't smell too petrol-like.

Went inside, grabbed some paper towel, soaked it up, and tried to light it .. nothing. Not a good sign!

Kept trying to turn bike over in the hope it was just a bit in the mix, and it would fire, but no joy.

Questions -
1) If it's water, could anything be knackered / damaged?
2) How do I fix this? Drain tank and fill with fuel and keep trying to start till it pumps through?
3) I guess I need a new seal on the fuel cap flap thing .. 

Thoughts / comments / suggestions?

Some pics .. 

You can see the darker colour on the right of this pic, that's where the water sat, and no doubt overflowed into the tank. Looks like I have some alien baby umbilical cord in there too!

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Wally Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto3 racer Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Status: Offline Points: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wally Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Water in my fuel tank! - Solved :) Posted: 15 Feb 2013 at 14:15
	My bike doesn't get out much any more, and is garaged and on a maintenance charger (if I remember to plug it in) when it's not in use. I tried to start it up the other day, and no go, turns over but won't fire. Battery quickly drained so can't remember if it was on the trickle charger .. and if it's not, it's basically cactus within a couple of weeks due to the alarm! We had a new garage door fitted the other day, and it was snowing, so the bike sat out in the snow. Now unless snow has different properties to water I don't know how water has got under the fuel cap, it would appear it has. Anyway .. today I decide to try again after charging it up again. Note .. ITALIAN BIKES AND WATER don't mix .. believe it kids! Same thing again .. turns over but doesn't fire. Battery not going flat immediately this time so I presume I just left it off charge last time accidentally. No drama there. Pop open the fuel cap, and notice a lot of sitting fluid where the overflow hoses are. I dipped my finger in, and it didn't smell too petrol-like. Went inside, grabbed some paper towel, soaked it up, and tried to light it .. nothing. Not a good sign! Kept trying to turn bike over in the hope it was just a bit in the mix, and it would fire, but no joy. Questions - 1) If it's water, could anything be knackered / damaged? 2) How do I fix this? Drain tank and fill with fuel and keep trying to start till it pumps through? 3) I guess I need a new seal on the fuel cap flap thing .. Thoughts / comments / suggestions? Some pics .. You can see the darker colour on the right of this pic, that's where the water sat, and no doubt overflowed into the tank. Looks like I have some alien baby umbilical cord in there too!

gregorious77 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Premium Member Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Location: uk south Status: Offline Points: 208	Post Options Post Reply Quote gregorious77 Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 15 Feb 2013 at 20:49
	Well I had the same thing with mine. The drain hole was blocked at the bottom of the tank much like yours must be. Lift the tank and you will see 2 hoses on the bottom which go to a drip tray/more drain hoses. try and blow down them and see if one is blocked. If so pull them off and poke some thin wire up them to unblock. I used MIG wire. I drained my whole tank via the fuel return hose (quick release one) into jerry cans and got no water from there at all. it was only the very last bit that had water in which was left in the tank. I just took the tank off and emptied it out by removing the pump plate from the bottom of the tank. (mine was leaking so was coming off anyway).

Wally Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto3 racer Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Status: Offline Points: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wally Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Feb 2013 at 09:42
	Cheers bud. The good news is that I got it to go over the weekend. I think I was freaked out by the water, and it was more down to the bike not being run for a couple of months. I hooked it up to a starter pack, and after about 5 seconds of cranking (usually turns over instantly when it gets ridden), it started, so probably not enough / old fuel in the lines or something? I think these bikes just have the smallest possible battery in them, and if you don't start it straight away you're stuffed as they suck a bit of juice to get going .. or I could just be making that up :) Anyway .. I'm happy again now I know my bike isn't broken .. and I think I'll clear the drain hose properly today. I put a straw in it over the weekend and blew to hopefully clear it but I think I'll make sure it's clear!

Nooj Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Premium Member Official nut shiner, and nutter! Joined: 28 Jul 2010 Location: Newbury Status: Offline Points: 393	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nooj Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 2013 at 09:44
	You can upgrade the battery to one with a little more cranking power, but as long as you look after the original one you should get a few years of use out of it.
	Shiny Bike Syndrome Specialists in motorcycle valeting and VentureShield fitting.