Gas smell and flooding

[Whopper Stopper]

I just picked up my Roadsmith conversion a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday we were blessed with mid 70's weather and I took the trike for a 300 mile ride. I used the main tank first and then eventually switched over to the auxiliary tank. Eventually we stopped at a station and I filled the main tank and down the road we went leaving the switch on for the auxiliary tank.

I noticed the smell of gas as I was riding however we just kept going as everything seemed fine. When we stopped my passenger also commented on the smell of gas. I looked things over the best I could but everything looked OK. When we finally were ready to leave the bike acted as if it were flooded. It spun over about 20 seconds before it fired and after cleaning itself out returning to it's normal idle.

I switched back to the main tank and had no other issues for the day. Is it important to use the main tank first and only using auxiliary after the main is empty due to pressure or some dang thing? Has anyone else ran into this problem?

I figure Tuesday I will contact the installer but just curious if anyone else had any comments?

Thanks for any help or thoughts.

WS

 

[mhgoldwing]

Unless Roadsmith has changed the auxiliary tank setup, you are using it incorrectly and causing the engine to flood.

The aux. tank switch starts a fuel pump which transfers fuel to the main tank. It will keep pumping until you manually shut it off. When you filled main tank and left aux. tank switch on, you were still pumping fuel into the main tank you had filled so the tank was overflowing a little into the carbon canister on the front the lower engine. That is why you were smelling gas. Had you not used most of the fuel in your auxiliary you would have severely flooded the engine and it would have been coughing and sputtering big time. Ask me how I know this.

The correct procedure is to run main tank down to when low fuel light comes on and then transfer all fuel from aux to main tank. This insures you have sufficient room in main tank to accept the 4.5 - 4.7 gallons that will actually transfer.

I often don't wait on the low fuel light to come on but you must be observant and turn aux fuel pump off before over filling.

If this doesn't make sense, PM me and I'll try to help straighten out my poor communication.

 

[Whopper Stopper]

Thanks for the response, much appreciated.

My understanding is that on the 1800 the auxiliary tank is a transfer tank as you call it.

On the 1500, which I have, the auxiliary tank it basically just a spare tank, there is no transfer to the main tank. You flip the switch down and you are now burning off the aux. tank. This is how it was explained to me anyway.

I possibly should have stated 1500, screwed up.

Bottom line everything you say makes sense and being as green as grass to this conversion I am grasping. Thanks for the time you spent responding.

WS

 

[Solidbob]

Well guy's it sounds like this 1500 is hooked up to fill the main tank and not to be used as a direct fuel cell.

From the Website: GL1500

Fuel Tank

We offer a unique auxiliary 5-gallon fuel tank for our HT1500. This is another first for the trike industry from The Trike Shop, catering to the serious touring rider. The reason for offering this option is not because our trikes get bad gas mileage. In fact, with our gear ratio and tire size, the mileage will usually only decrease by 3-5 MPG. The extra 5-gallon fuel tank is not to see how long you can go without stopping, but rather enjoying the reality that there are better places to take a break than a gas station. You’ll have a range of about 500 miles now. The fuel tank works by simply flipping a switch on your dashboard to pull fuel from either the primary or auxiliary fuel tank.


This is contrary to this on the Website: GL1800


Auxiliary Fuel Tank

Our unique auxiliary fuel tank was the
first of its kind 15 years ago. We
figured since we had the extra space
above our differential, why not utilize it? Now we can offer you an additional 5 gallons of fuel on board. It's not that the Roadsmith gets bad gas mileage, typically 3-5 mpg less than the motorcycle, but on those long trips it's worth the peace of mind just to know you have extra fuel. Some states can push the limits of the stock fuel tank.
To fill the rear tank, remove the
chrome fuel cap on the left side of the
body and fill it just like the front tank.

No need to wait for fuel to transfer
SLOWLY to the extra tank. To use the fuel in the auxiliary tank, drive until the low fuel light comes on. Then simply flip the toggle switch while
driving and the fuel will transfer from
the rear tank up to the bike's original tank. When all the fuel is pumped out of the rear tank, it shuts itself off.





If it were me I would give Roadsmith a call phone (651) 777-7774

It seems this setup has been installed to do both (maybe) or it was plumbed to work like the GL1800 which it sounds like, mhgoldwings description is spot on as I have also done the same thing the second time I used it and didn't pay attention. So my proceedure is I burn a half a tank, turn on the switch and watch it rise til just short of full and turn it off... if you forget to turn it off it just keeps pumping - overfilling the main tank, filling the carbon cannister until your trike will hardly run unless keep running fast but will gradually get worse..... if you get to this point you will wonder if you will get home.... turn the pump off and burn the excess fuel off the cannister and the main tank / it will clear up but it will make you nearly change your shorts thinking about all that walking if it quits... don't turn it off / burn the excess off... you'll never do it again... Call Taylor and talk to a Roadsmith Tech to figure out what happened... I think something happened some where in this step of kit installation, this also tell how the switch should work:

9. Optional auxiliary fuel tanka. see pics #12, 13, &14 & diagram #A-100-877-D & A-100-878-Db. Install the switch and the fuel lines now.i. Install the pre-wired toggle switch with the red/black wire downii. Locate the Honda fuel level sender and unplug its 2-pin plug (under the leftshelter panel) Remove just enough hardware to be able to access theconnectorsiii. Plug in the supplied 2-pin connectors coming from the toggle switch1. yellow, green & gray wiresiv. Un-plug the stock Honda fuel pump power wire (single wire black plug)v. Connect the red/black wire (female spade terminal) from the toggle switchto the exposed terminal on the Honda fuel pump.vi. Connect the black wire(with male spade terminal) to the previously unpluggedHonda fuel pump power wire APPLICATION: Honda GL1500 GoldwingPRODUCT: HT1500 trike conversion kitVERSION: #4 for 1988-2000 model years onlyGENERAL NOTES: Please don’t attempt any shortcuts.vii. Connect the red wire (#10 ring terminal) from the toggle switch to the fuelswitch valve on the auxiliary fuel tankviii. Connect the two pin weather pack plug (pink & black wires) to its matingplug on the auxiliary tank fuel level senderc. Open the stock Honda fuel filler cap to relieve pressurei. Route the Auxiliary tank’s small vent hose (from the area of the fitting on theauxiliary fuel tank filler cap) forward to the stock filler cap area1. Locate the stock fuel tank overflow/vent hose, (red in color) cut it inthe area shown (Diagram #A-100-878-D) and install the provided “T”fitting, then connect the auxiliary tank vent hose to it.ii. Remove the fuel line from the stock Honda pump. Discard the clampiii. Connect the supplied 4-1/2 foot long 5/16” fuel line to the Honda fuel pumpoutlet tube.iv. Connect the other end of this hose (after safely routing it) to the right rearfitting on the fuel switch valve on the auxiliary fuel tankv. Connect the supplied 3-1/2 foot long 5/16” fuel line to the stock Honda fuelline using the supplied brass coupler fitting.vi. Connect the other end of this hose (after safely routing it) to the forwardfacing fitting of the fuel switch valve on the auxiliary fuel tank1. The toggle switch is a 3 position switch - the center position willdisable both fuel pumps. We supply this style of switch for anti-theftpurposesvii. When this system is installed as directed, putting the switch in the “up”position runs the front (stock Honda) fuel pump and reads the fuel level ofthe front (stock Honda) fuel tank. Putting the switch in the “down” positionruns the auxiliary fuel pump and reads the fuel level of the auxiliary fueltank. And here's a link to the 1500 kit instructions: http://www.trikeshop.com/media/docs/ht1500-v4-complete.pdf

Good luck sorting it out or contact your installer.... it will work as/ is til you get it figured out but I'd run in only in the up position and watch the fuel needle for creeping....

 

[mhgoldwing]

Thanks for the response, much appreciated.

My understanding is that on the 1800 the auxiliary tank is a transfer tank as you call it.

On the 1500, which I have, the auxiliary tank it basically just a spare tank, there is no transfer to the main tank. You flip the switch down and you are now burning off the aux. tank. This is how it was explained to me anyway.

I possibly should have stated 1500, screwed up.

Bottom line everything you say makes sense and being as green as grass to this conversion I am grasping. Thanks for the time you spent responding.

WS

Oops! Should have checked your profile.

Ok, if it's a separate tank then I would be removing parts and trying to find a leak. It doesn't take much to make awful gas smell. You might have to trace all the way to junction where aux fuel meets main tank fuel. Good luck.

 

[dirtdobber]

According to what Solibob posted the 1500ht works the same as the 1800ht/hts does.
When I get down to 1/8 tank I transfer the fuel.
This is not a gravity feed aux fuel cell. The fuel must be pumped to the main tank for use.
Hope you get it figured out.

You can also contact Roadsmith on their page here on TT
http://www.triketalk.com/forum/forums/306-Roadsmith-Trikes

 

[chris vickers]

This site has been super helpful to so many people including myself many times. Thanks for providing such great information

 

[Solidbob]

According to what Solibob posted the 1500ht works the same as the 1800ht/hts does.
When I get down to 1/8 tank I transfer the fuel.
This is not a gravity feed aux fuel cell. The fuel must be pumped to the main tank for use.
Hope you get it figured out.

You can also contact Roadsmith on their page here on TT
http://www.triketalk.com/forum/forums/306-Roadsmith-Trikes

VERY IMPORTANT*******

dirtdobber - NOPE / RE-read the 1800 system pumps from the aux. and fills the main tank as you state CORRECT ----- the 1500 system is different, 3 position switch that works different / Flipped to top (up) position the Honda Main Tank fuel pump is powered and supplies fuel / Flipped to the center position it disables both fuel pumps power as an anti theft deterent / Flipped to the (down) position the fuel pump on the aux. tank is powered to supply fuel to the engine. So it should not be a transfer pump if installed as designed!!! The 1500 Aux. tank has a filler neck as shown in the photo so neither system is gravity fed.

Just to clarify...Sorry if I lead you astray......

 

[dirtdobber]

I see how I misread your post now. It is vague on the 1500ht but in detail on the 1800ht/hts.
Live and learn. Thank you for posting this. My old mind may have got it this time.
I can't do simple math but i can do complicated problems with ease.
Some tnings just fly over me head. Lol