Motorcycle is leaking gas for no reason? (1980 KZ650)?
First off, where did the gas come from? From the carb overflow tube/s, from the fuel line between the petcock and carbs or the petcock itself? Before you to tearing into the carbs, you need to find out. Otherwise you'll spend big bucks on a carb kit and fight getting the carb rack off and back on and it will still drip gas. Pulling the carbs is a big job, especially for an inexperienced person. It's normal for gas to be released from the float bowls. In addition, that's what the overflow tubes are for, allowing excess gas to exit the hose rather than run inside the engine. However, it's very unlikely that all four float valves are leaking unless a bunch of crud or rust came from the tank. Ron is correct in that your bike should have a vacuum operated petcock that says RES, PRI (prime) and RUN. If your petcock actually has OFF, then either the petcock or the tank and petcock have been changed. If your bike has the orginal style vacuum operated petcock, there will be two hoses exiting it, a larger fuel line and a smaller vacuum line that most likely goes to carb #2. If this is what your bike has, the first thing I'd check is the petcock itself. With fuel in the tank and both hoses removed, turn the lever to run or reserve and see if any gas drips out of either nipple. A drip or two from the fuel nipple is normal, but after that it should stop. If gas drips from the fuel nipple, the rubber "washer" inside is shot. If it drips out of the vacuum nipple, the diaphram is shot. You can get both in a kit for around $30-$35 on ebay. Fuel should run out when the lever is on prime. If the petcock has been changed to an old style, then take it apart (the lever) and there will likely be an O ring/s inside that you will need to replace.
I wanted to keep my motorcycle in a cargo trailer through the cold months. How can i safely heat it?
If you cover it good it will not sweat. You don't need to heat a cargo trailer. Just get some simple instructions on how to winterize your bike and do it. Usually you remove the battery, fill the tank with gas and fuel stabilizer, fill the crankcase with oil, and put a table spoon of oil in the spark plug holes. It's a good idea to keep it off the concrete. This will eventually make flat spots on the tires. Park in on a board and cover it.
Dry-rot/cracking on motorcycle tire sidewalls...how to fix?
Dry rot is one of, if not THE, most dangerous issues with m/c maintenance. There is no repair, only replacement. As one of the others wrote above, winter storage is the main culprit in dry rot. If possible, put a strip of carpet under the bike, or at least the tires, when storing for the winter or find a heated garage. If you choose to use a treatment such as Armor-All, be extremely careful not to get it on the tread section of the the tires. It is VERY slippery stuff. Or use another treatment specifically made for tires.
Parking a motorcycle near Temple University?
I am going to travel on my bike to philly this weekend, more specifically Temple university. I am visiting a friend and don't know where to park my bike. I am down to just go on the side walk, but i don't know how strict they are in that area. I also don't know what the area is like crime wise, and I don't have a lock for my bike just the built in steering lock. It is a fairly popular bike so it has a lot of appeal (CBR 600RR). Should I just bite the bullet and find a garage or should my bike be safe from both cops and robbers for a weekend?
Will the floor in my shed support my motorcycle?
The shed is actually a shelter that someone put a floor in. It is 10' wide by 16' long. It is supported by 6 4x4 posts. At some point, someone strung 2x6s across the 10' spans (one 2x6 on each end and 2 on the center posts) and then run 2x4s between them for the 16' length. The ends of the 2x4s are notched on the ends and they connect to notches in the 2x6s so they fit flush. There is also a 2x4 running under the 2x4s (parallel to the 2x6s) at the 4' point at each end that is resting on brick supports (one at each end and 2 more about 3.5' apart in the middle. The centers of the 2x6s also set on brick supports. This is topped with 3/4" plywood. Simply put, the longest span the 2x4s make is 4' and the longest span the 2x6s make is 5'. Can I park my 500 lb. bike in the shed safely? If so, will there be enough support left for storing some other items (all a bit lighter than the bike)?
How long can engine oil last in motorcycle?
Depends on the oil and the use of the vehicle. I will deal with use first.IF the engine of the bike is brought to full operating temperature every time the bike is used this will force any moisture collected by the oil out and minimize the formation of the acids mentioned in other answers. The problem here is that it will take a reasonable ride to heat the oil to that temperature, above 220 degrees F. I deal with H-D bikes and they may not get ridden that far or the owner will fire up the bike and just let it idle in the garage for 5–10 minutes. VERY BAD! The oil never gets fully heated and the moisture can now chemically bond with some of the components to form the dangerous by-products. Also the short run time means that the air in the motor heats up and as the engine cools it will bring cold moister air back in and that moisture will condense on the not heated metal of the engine cases and add more moisture to the oil. Still bad!.Now for the oils. Most oil is designed for a minimal life span; its cheaper that way. The big lie is that oil doesn’t actually break down. Otherwise oil could not be recycled. But the additives do or it becomes so contaminated that its like flowing quick sand in you engine. So the once a year, 3000 or 5000 mile change interval is a good rule of thumb. H-D says 5000 miles for engine oil and 10 or 20,000 for the other oils. On the other hand great semi synthetic oils should last much longer. An Amsoil engineer said that they would say for their V-twin rated oil, only change the oil every 10,000 miles or just buy conventional oil so you don't waste your money. Amsoil did recommend short changing(at 6000–7500 miles) the oil filter because the Amsoil product will actually clean the deposits that conventional oil ususally leaves with no problem and clog the filter. An engineer with Royal Purple said he only changes his oil when it needs it. He would send out a 1 once sample of oil to be tested at every oil change interval. He stated he had 27,000 miles(after the 1000mile break in oil change) on his Harley only changing the filter every 10,000 miles and topping off the oil. He also had a street legal drag car ran in the 8 second range that had 18,000 miles under the same rules.But to be specific in your case, sitting for 3 years, change all fluids in the engine and if it has hydraulic brakes, don’t forget the brake fluid.
Is it possible, and sustainable, to trade the subway for a motorcycle in New York City?
Do not, I repeat : DO NOT BUY A MOTORCYCLE IN NEW YORK CITY. There are only two exceptions to this rule :You are prepared to lose your bike and can financially afford to replace it at a moment's notice. You have a permanent garage with around the clock access. Other than that Abbe has a great post on what to expect. Just to recap :Expect drivers to ding/knock over your bike completely. If riding a sports bike, expect to have it stolen. Chains won't help. There are so few places to park a motorcycle during the day in the city. (legally or illegally) Most riders do it anyway and just take their plates off. This works until one day the meter maids call in a squad of tow trucks and haul off 3 vespas, and a couple of sport bikes from one spot. Alternate side parking. My block has two day signs. Meaning two days of the week you can't park there. By my math it means you have to move your bike a minimum of 3 times a week. Fun. The roads suck as mentioned below.Traffic sucks. I commuted from Queens over the 59th st. bridge to my office on 47th and 3rd a handful of times before I gave up. It wasn't any faster than taking the subway, and a few days into the week I saw a vespa get towed on the block of my office. Insurance will also be pricier since you live in an urban area and chances of your bike being damaged/stolen are super high. Yay!Summary of what it's like to own a motorcycle in NYC :Expensive. Insurance, garage parking, repairs, etc.The city is against you. They don't want you to park a motorcycle on the street anywhere, anytime. They will tow you eventually.Bike thieves are constantly on the lookout for nice bikes to scrap for parts. Especially if you own one of the import street bikes. Traffic. Lots and lots of traffic. Really poor roads.I haven't even mentioned the fact that drivers here have no regard for motorcyclists. They barely have any regard for other cars and pedestrians. You are getting the worst of both worlds : technically a vehicle but without the protection of one. Also : weather. Unless you have balls of steel, your riding season is basically April to about October. The other months it's too cold/weather too poor for you to ride in the city. I sold my bike earlier this year. I can't recommend this to anyone unless you truly love riding and can't imagine not doing it. You have to jump through so many hoops to own a motorcycle in NYC that it really isn't worthwhile.