carb leaking at t-piece | GS1000 '78

[crookedspoon]

Hi Community,

[GS1000, '78, no pods, original exhaust]

After some major reworks, I reinstalled the carbs, put on the fueltank, turn the petcock to PRI and fuel starts leaking out of the little T-Piece where the fuel-hose connects to the carbs.
I notice the t-piece rotates with very little resistance and is able to move side-to-side by about 1,5mm.

It was very hard work getting the carbs in and out!

What could have happened here? Are there gaskets or o-rings preventing fuel to leak from the t-piece that could've gone damaged?

thanks for any insights.

spoon.

 

[hampshirehog]

The o rings on those tee pieces can shrink when the carbs are stripped and they're left in the air. The good news is that they usually swell up quickly when exposed to petrol again. Loads leak like yours on first assembly but the following day are fine. Wait and see what happens before pulling your carbs again.

 

[crookedspoon]

oh wow, that would be good news... just: that wasn't some light dripping, it was leaking! Within a minute or two, the area above the transmission was pretty much filled up with fuel...

 

[alke46]

Is the tee made of metal or some type of plastic? The metal ones have rubber O-rings which can be replaced. The non-metallic ones can be improved with some gas type Teflon tape.

 

[chuck hahn]

Only way to improve the rubber coated style is to throw them in the nearest trash can. Get the metal ones that take the orings and replace the tee and the crossover tubes as well. Teflon tape is a band aid on a shotgun would remedy.

 

[Guest]

what chuck said - AND even if they do swell slightly they'll be brittle and prone to failure

EVERY fuel rail I've checked has been badly , of not dangerously, compromised

 

[Sandy]

The o rings on those tee pieces can shrink when the carbs are stripped and they're left in the air. The good news is that they usually swell up quickly when exposed to petrol again. Loads leak like yours on first assembly but the following day are fine. Wait and see what happens before pulling your carbs again.

When I put my 79 GS1000 back on the road around 2003 the Ts leaked pretty bad but once they sat for a bit they were Ok. 14 years later they have never leaked again. Wait a couple of days and see what happens. You might get lucky or you might be buying some nice replacements. Trick is to keep them wet.

 

[willy0508]

Not to hijack but I have the same issue on my GS450. Not a big leak but any is bad. Can i get he metal for a 450 or is it only the stock rubber? Haven't seen any metal for the 450, when I searched parts places online it seems to be the stock rubber everywhere.

Thanks. I haven't tested again after sitting a day or so but I'd like to be safe and order another, I would think that part won't break the bank.

 

[sam000lee]

I'm not sure if any of these would fit the GS450 it would but Z1 carries several different Tees:

https://www.z1enterprises.com/catalogsearch/result/?cat=&q=fuel+tee

This is the one for the GS1000:

https://www.z1enterprises.com/fuel-pipe-joint-aluminum.html

 

[willy0508]

Haven't found any metal that say compatible with the GS450. Looks like it's the OEM rubber unless anyone else knows a site that has metal ones.

 

[steve murdoch]

I would contact Sirius about the metal tees.
Did not see the specific ones you are asking about but not everything they carry is listed.
https://www.siriusconinc.com/

 

[crookedspoon]

after a couple of days, no more leaking! Seems like the o-rings just needed to set again! Thanks a bunch for the feedback - so happy I didn't have to get the carbs out again!