[BigDaddy]

I have had my bike for a year in May, and the entire time I have had a bad gas fumes smell whl sitting still. I have had the carbs checked out by a buddy who is the mechanic at our local Honda dealer. he told me they were fine. This year it seems to be worse. I cant smell it at highway speeds, but when I come to a stop sign, it just about kills me. Any ideas?
The bike is an 85 Aspencade.

 

[Cantankerous]

What's your fuel mileage?

 

[detdrbuzzard]

do you have a bad gas cap, not sealing? bad emissions system on your wing, pinched breather tube

 

[BigDaddy]

not sure on exact mialage, but I will be right about 190 miles by the time the light comes on. I will check the gas cap. How do I check the emissions?

 

[BigDaddy]

Its more of a gassy exhaust smell, not like a gas fumes smell, if that helps at all.

 

[Ron Robertson]

If the exhaust smells gassy, I'm thinking maybe the spark plugs or the carbs a set a little rich.

 

[BigDaddy]

Thats what I am thinking too. It smells like its running too rich.

 

[Tatanka]

The good news is that's it's very simple and quick to adjust the air/fuel mix. Any idea when the plugs were new and when the carbs were synchronized? Any misfiring? Is the air filter new or in good shape? (If it can't breathe air, it'll breathe fuel.) "Just the facts, man, just the facts." (Dragnet)

 

[BigDaddy]

The good news is that's it's very simple and quick to adjust the air/fuel mix. Any idea when the plugs were new and when the carbs were synchronized? Any misfiring? Is the air filter new or in good shape? (If it can't breathe air, it'll breathe fuel.) "Just the facts, man, just the facts." (Dragnet)

Thanks for all the ideas everyone. I will start with the plugs.... Dont know when they were replaced. I have had the bike for a year, and I know I have not replaced them. I had it in to the shop to have the carbs gone over, and he told me they didnt need it. Bike runs like a top, no misfiring or any other noises. Air filter was replaced last summer.

 

[budoka]

My money's on the cap or the breather based on what your mechanic says.

 

[BigDaddy]

Well the cap is fine.

 

[Eric]

Make sure there are no leaks at the gas lines when you first start the bike. I did have this on mine. It would stop leaking after awhile when it warmed up. Eric

 

[Ron Robertson]

Had a fuel leak a few years ago, found a leak on the into side of the after market fuel filter. It was caused by a very small ridge of plastic the length of the input tube.
Used very fine sand paper to remove it. fixed the leak. Now when ever I replace the fuel filter, i check for that ridge and remove it before installing the filter.
This was on my 1500.

 

[soresaddle]

I have exactly the same problem with my 06 for three years now. I changed the cap and no difference. Looking at it again this year, the only thing I think it may be is the evaporative system. There is a line from the tank down to the evap canister then there is a line from that to the evap control solenoid. Ill bet that's bad...Or one of those lines has come loose?

 

[Buck]

i have a 85 Aspencade and i never get more that 170mi. to a tank

 

[Badrider]

When I had my 82 GL1100 we (Tammy) and myself would always have that exaust smell after a ride. Check carefully that there are no leaks in the exhaust system. Ya sometimes it might be something that simple.

 

[greydragon]

I am having the same issue but my bike smells even after I have put it up in the garage. It was smelling last night and then this morning and I have not ridden it for a couple of days. The air filter is a K&N filter and is clean. I changed the spark plugs 12000 miles ago. The bike is a 2005.

 

[Eric]

Pull the plastics off so that you can see the gas lines. Have a good look at all of the gas lines for a leak while there is pressure in the lines (with engine running). Pay a good look at the fuel filter for a leak.

 

[greydragon]

Which plastic pieces? The top shell or the side panels? Can I get a new gas cap at an auto parts house?

 

[Eric]

You should be able to see your fuel lines with just the side covers off. I have not worked on an 1800. I couldn't see where the gas cap would need to be replaced.