My Katana is leaking gas i think? Any ideas?

[Katanarider600mm]

Hey, i have a 1998 Suzuki Katana 600, I got it used a while back ago, and I notice that every time I bring the bike back to my house and park it in the drive, it leaks one drop of gasoline? after this one drop....it does'nt do it again until the next time I ride? What's going on, the whole bike smells like gasoline. I don't know if all bikes smell like gasoline, or if it's because I have some sort of fuel problem...Any help would be greatly appreciated


Also a couple other questions about my bikes performance if you have the time -

Am I doing something wrong, because sometimes if I start the bike in Neutral, then kick it into first, the bike dies? How come this happens? The bike runs fine otherwise.

Also, what do I need to do to tighten my chain, it's pretty loose. It's almost at a point where it rubs my rear stand. Will I need to completely remove my fairings for this? for the love of God please tell me I won't!?

Well thanks in advance, any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

[ajohn505]

I notice that every time I bring the bike back to my house and park it in the drive, it leaks one drop of gasoline? after this one drop....it does'nt do it again until the next time I ride? What's going on, the whole bike smells like gasoline. I don't know if all bikes smell like gasoline, or if it's because I have some sort of fuel problem...Any help would be greatly appreciated

Couple of things to check:

1. Fuel lines. Make sure there's no kinks, holes, or bad connections.
2. Petcock. Turn it off when you're done riding.
3. Carbs. Sometimes the floats can stick causing fuel to flow into the carb/cylinders even after the bike is off. You'll want to check your oil too to make sure it's not contaminated with gas. If you don't have other performance issues, it's probably not a leaky gasket on the carb.
4. Overflow/Vent tube. Does this happen after a visit to the gas station?

Am I doing something wrong, because sometimes if I start the bike in Neutral, then kick it into first, the bike dies? How come this happens? The bike runs fine otherwise.

Check the sidestand sensor, or wiggle the wire on it. I can almost guarantee that the sidestand sensor is causing this.

Also, what do I need to do to tighten my chain, it's pretty loose. It's almost at a point where it rubs my rear stand. Will I need to completely remove my fairings for this? for the love of God please tell me I won't!?

Do a search on chain adjusting, it's been covered a thousand times. In addition, the exact steps are listed in your owner's manual. Basically you loosen the axle nut, turn each chain adjuster bolt an equal number of turns, then retorque the axle nut to the specified torque value. If you don't have a torque wrench, borrow one. You don't want an axle nut that's too loose.

The search function is a powerful thing.

[Katanarider600mm]

[quote=ajohn505]Couple of things to check:

1. Fuel lines. Make sure there's no kinks, holes, or bad connections.
2. Petcock. Turn it off when you're done riding.
3. Carbs. Sometimes the floats can stick causing fuel to flow into the carb/cylinders even after the bike is off. You'll want to check your oil too to make sure it's not contaminated with gas. If you don't have other performance issues, it's probably not a leaky gasket on the carb.
4. Overflow/Vent tube. Does this happen after a visit to the gas station?


Hrmmm, ok well pretend i'm a total moron, i'm fairly new to bikes period, I mean are my fairings covering all this stuff because I don't know where any of this stuff is on my bike? any ideas as to where I should be looking?

Otherwise thanks for the great info!

Although one thing, yesterday I had to stop at a gas station and get some gas, with a gas can because I was afraid I might not make it to the station before running out, when I brought it back and filled it up *which I might have been a little messy trying to get it in there* is when I really noticed the leaking, although. The bike has smelt like gas since I got it? so I think maybe this has been a problem before I filled it up yesterday

[ajohn505]

Hrmmm, ok well pretend i'm a total moron, i'm fairly new to bikes period, I mean are my fairings covering all this stuff because I don't know where any of this stuff is on my bike? any ideas as to where I should be looking?

I'd recommend picking up a service manual for your bike if you can. If you're going to be working on your bike yourself and you're serious about learning, you'll need a service manual. I don't know where things are on your specific bike. Chances are that your fairings are covering the carbs, fuel system, etc.
I could look this stuff up for you and tell you, but at this point it's not going to do you any good.

If you're comfortable turning a wrench and can follow printed instructions, it should be fairly easy to use a service manual to do work on your bike. I'd recommend doing some small stuff first like changing the oil and adjusting the chain, and work your way up to bigger things like working on the carbs. Hang out on the Fix it board here and absorb the information.

You'll probably want to either fix that fuel leak yourself or take it to a shop soonish; leaking gas is an accident waiting to happen. All it takes is a spark....

[Katanarider600mm]

I know I know, i'm terrafied I bought a piece of trash =( I don't have an owners manual where could I get one? Local Suzuki shop give me one you think? also for some reason I can't get the bike to start while in first gear today? If it's in neutral it starts fine, but what this equates to, is that I can't shift down to first from neutral after starting because it dies, and I can't start the bike in first, this mainly means my bike is a vegetable =(....between this and the leaking gas, I think i'm doomed =(

[ajohn505]

Bikes nowadays have safeties on them that prevent them from being started while in gear without the clutch pulled in, and prevent them from being run while the kickstand is down. Check the connections on both of these sensors. If you don't know where they are, ask the dealer or get the manual.

You can get the manual from your dealer.

It doesn't sound like you bought a piece of trash. It sounds like it needs a tiny bit of maintenance, like most used motorcycles do. Get a manual, page through it, do some work on your bike, and build some mechanical confidence... you'll be fine.

[97gsx600f]

Gas problem, don't know.

Stalling problem, if the stand sensor is not the problem, let me ask you this. When you first start your bike after setting, when it is in gear with clutch pulled in all the way, can you feel a slight resistance like the bike is wanting to move forward?

Chain. Don't remove fairings.
Step one: If you have a stand prop rear tire up (not a have to though)
Step Two: Break axle bolt loose by a few turns.
Step three: 10mm deep well socket or wrench and turn the nuts located on the studs pointing straight back off the arms. Turn them to the right. This will pull the wheel assembly back, tightening the chain. There are grooves on the side of the arms with a pointer attached to the axle bolt. When the chain has a inch, to inch and a half movement up and down, make sure both pointers are on the same mark from side to side.

Tighten axle bolt very snug and please, make sure you replace the keeper.

[97gsx600f]

I have mine torn down at this very moment. Painting it yet again. (Twice in 4 months) I have completly overhauled it and have a little knowledge about them. Not an expert but willing to help if I can. Post it here or at franksheraldconstruction@charter.net

[Katanarider600mm]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean with the whole in gear thing, but if your asking me, if sometimes when I start the bike in first, does it kindof lunge forward when I do.....then yes, not a ton but a little bit, enough to readjust my feet