Gas Smell

Guys:

I am guessing I must be doing something wrong. Every time I start up the car and let it run it has a strong gas smell. I have checked the gas tank, floor, doors, hood and everywhere in between for a leak and none is to be found. I think that it might be that I am almost flooding the car with gas. I usually hit the gas pedal a few times before I try to turn it over to start it. Let me know if there is any particular ritual that needs to be done. My clothes come out smelling like gas as well. Any suggestions and/or comments would be helpful.

Thanks !

Andres D.

I never hit the gas pedal when first starting it; I just crank it and let it work up oil pressure; by the time it does that gas reaches the carbs and it starts.

Running rich bro~!

Examine the check valve in the front compartment. It is a small plastic one way valve on the tank breather tube and these are often installed backwards. Its purpose is to allow air in and keep gas and fumes from escaping. Several people on the site have experienced this problem, myself included with my 2000 VS. Also check that the gas cap seals well. Since the hood hinges go through the barrier between the luggage compartment and the cockpit, the fumes can easily get into the seating area.

I'm having the same problem,but I think it's the carbs,because it's coming from that area.

If you don't have the odor with the engine off, then it would seem to be related to fuel delivery pressure. Two things generate fuel pressure - the fuel pump feeding the line pressure, and the accelerator pump fed by the throttle linkage. If the engine runs all right, plugs not showing "rich", then it is probably a fitting or the carb itself. (Once had a Webber that leaked from the inside to the outside with the engine off, via a bad gasket. When the engine was running, it sucked all the gas back into the engine and ran fine). Accelerator pumps on some carbs are notorious leakers. Accelerator pumps can leak externally, and the engine can still run fine on the inside of the carb.
Don't tolerate gas leaks. Replicate the condition and keep looking for what is "wet". Be very careful.

I had a gas hose that split at a bend coming out of the electric fuel pump. The hose was a high quality gas rated hose only about 2 years old.

If you have a full tank of gas, check around the sending unit to make sure fuel is not leaking around the gasket.

Jim
Ahh . . .the annual speedster gas hose replacement activity. It is a once yearly event - AND DON'T FORGET IT.

I had a vent line coming frm my filler neck to the bottom of my passenger side front wheel well. I don't know if that was designed that way or not, but it was there. Every time I filled up, I had that smell for about 20 miles. I didn't know what it was coming from until I hacked my car up. I've happily deleted that "feature" in my new arrangement.