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Fuel dripping out of muffler???

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 4:46 pm
by Styleisdead
I just bought a 1969 CL160 for my girlfriend, in beautiful condition, I mean this thing looks clean. The only things not original are the pipes (the original owner had put low pipes on it and the tool box cover was replaced with a "Mr. Peanut" lid)

Well, as I was going over it and doing some light cleaning, I sprayed some carb cleaner in to the carbs and the cleaner started to leak out of the left exhaust where the header meets the muffler.

I felt around to make sure the cleaner hadn't dripped down on to the muffler and I think its coming from inside the muffler.

What does this mean? Any idea what the problem might be?

I haven't tried to start the engine yet.

Joel

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:54 pm
by e3steve
Joel, 2 possibilities:
  • Crankshaft is entering or dwelling the induction stroke and the exhaust valve is leaking, due to either poor seating or maladjustment - this could be serious, allowing the exhaust valve to leak under compression and could possibly cause the valve seat to burn away

    Crankshaft is dwelling, or on the cusp of completing, an exhaust stroke and the inlet valve is leaking, due to either poor seating or maladjustment - not quite as serious, as the inlet valves are cooled by the fuel/air charge; as a result, inlet valves don't burn out seats
Either scenario requires, in the first instance, the adjustment of clearances. Once that has been carried out, try the carb cleaner thing again; or, better still, a compression test.

G'luck!

Steve

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:20 pm
by CliffC
A third possibly could be both valves cracked open, one opening and one closing. I agree the first thing to do would be to check valve adjustment. CliffC

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:47 pm
by Styleisdead
Thanks Guys.

So I just did a compression test, twice, first dry, then wet. The right side was 118 psi dry and 120 psi wet. The left side was 100 psi dry then jumped to 150 psi wet.

The left side was/is the side I'm having problems with leaking...

I'm going to put the carbs back on (I took them off after I had the leaking problem) and I'm going to spray the cleaner in again to see if I still have the problem.

Whats concerning me now is the huge jump in pressure between wet and dry on the left side. Think I might need to change the piston rings?

Joel

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:43 am
by Styleisdead
errr, still dripping...

So, I guess the my next move is to remove the cylinder head cover and take a look see....

I'll be back with more questions...

Thanks again,

Joel

leaking cleaner

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:52 pm
by eyedragaknee
To get that much cleaner to go in the intake and out the exhaust with them both "open" after you have turned the engine over really seems weird and co-incidental. Are you sure that what you are seeing wasn't already in there from the first spray and the compression is now pushing it out the pipe? If you sprayed that much in there it could be sitting on the top of the cyl.

I'd take the exhaust pipe off before taking the engine apart and check it out that way to see if it is new stuff or old coming out.

You might have a valve issue, but you also might be saving a lot of work to check it first....and you can possibly look in the exhaust to see if the exhaust valve is closing.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:30 pm
by Styleisdead
great suggestion.. I'll pull them off after work tomorrow. Let you know what I find. Thanks for all the help thus far. Gotta love this forum.

Joel