Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Supersports: SS / SuperSport / Supersport 950 > Need a little help about gas line + tires...

[JonHsiung]

Hey guys, being new to this motorcycling thing I got two questions...

--Question 1--

So I fill up at the gas station about every week. When you look in you can see the gas rise up to the bend in a metal line to where there's a screw which is about 2.5" toward the ground under the gas cap. If I fill any higher than that, then gas starts to leak out of here:


So i traced one of the lines back up to the gas tank and the other just gets lost in oblivion. The one that leads up to the gas tank is shown as the third (rightmost) line in the pictures below. The gas tank has a sticker which states:
Battery(?) | Backflow | Dreinage




The line is hooked up to the "dreinage" spout from the gas tank. When I fill up a "full tank" from the gas light, it's 2.1 gallons. When I fill up from completely empty, it's about 3 gallons. I know the Supersport is 4.1 gallons so where the heck did my other gallon go if it's just going to leak out while I ride?

Someone has told me that it's probably a hole in the line that goes up into the tank. I was wondering if it's advisable to just plug the dreinage line since it doesnt rain down where I live, I never keep it in the rain, and i dont want gas leaking out when the bike gets dumped (happened before).






--Question 2--

I run Pirelli Diablos on my 91 900SS. What size should I go with if I choose to get a new set of tires and what brand/model of tire should I get next? I do A LOT of commuting with the Duc so my priorities in order are: treadlife, cheap price, handling, brandname, looks. Should I get the Dunlops and wear down the triangulated profile or should I go with some Continentals because they're cheap and claim to have thicker tread and last longer. I just don't want the tires to be bordering the "i'm gonna die if i take it up to the canyons" status because the Diablos have served me well.

Much thanks! I'm in SoCal if anybody has any hookups to reference.

[chicken]

Jon,
I take back what I said about your bike - it's disgusting! When was the last time you cleaned the underside of your tank?!

Someone will be along soon who knows what they are talking about so I won't even bother attempting #1.

For #2, don't scrimp on tyres if you have a sportsbike- they're the things that'll stop you sliding down the road! I use Diablo Corsas which I have been very pleased with - warm up quickly, sticky and great feel. I've never tried Diablo streets so I have no comparison. Having said that, for only 50 bucks more you owe it to yourself to give them a go.

Although you say you use it a lot for commuting, this must be a short journey if you are only filling up once a week! At around 100 miles a week you can get away with one set a year (although you could shred them in a day on the track ). Let's face it, if you wanted a cheap, reliable, average handling bike you'd be on a MZ, not a duke!

cheers, Chi

[Edited on 12-11-2004 by chicken]

[chicken]

Before anyone says anything about MZs, my ETZ250 ran fine for 4 years without being garaged or adjusting the chain. Best front brake on any motorbike - period.

The only reason I got rid of it was because I couldn't be bothered to reweld the footpeg when it rusted off....

[FiscusFish]

Ring ding ding ding ding ding.......

[keefer]

how much is it costing to fill up just after the fuel light comes on ?
Don't think you should get much more that £10-£12 in it
if its not down to it being over filled then it can only be a split line in the tank, Which you can get at if you take out the filler cap and pump assembly. Very tight though

[JonHsiung]

yeah i've never cleaned that area since i bought the bike... and as it seems, neither did the previous owner.

thanks for the input about the tires. i felt that the diablos wear kind of fast.

keefer - over here it's in dollars. i don't know what the equivalent is over there (not up to date on currency conversion). Gas is about $2.50-2.75 for 91 octane where I live. i fill in a little more than 2 gallons everytime the gas light comes on. thanks for the input. i'll check out the inside when i find time. hopefully that's it.

[Iconic944ss]

Hi Jon,

I had a period when my 900 used to dump fuel as well...it all went away strangely after I changed the one way valve on top of the tank (with the hose that runs through the top of the tree.

Otherwise sadly, it looks like time to explore inside the tank - I need to do this over winter too as its time for a fuel filter change I think....something you might consider doing if you are going inside the tank.

good luck - frank

[Derek]

Frank , your bike was dumping fuel out through the one-way breather valve which is a different problem from Jon's. Exits from a different hose.