I Can Smell Something

[Whitlow]

So I have a smell after I have been riding for a while not sure what is is maybe fumes from the carbs. It is not a raw gas smell but it is a smell like exhaust. I know this is not much to go on but its all I can say. The pipes look good when I look at them it is not running rich.

Edited October 6, 2009 by Whitlow

[Venturous Randy]

Could you have a small oil leak dripping down on your exhaust?

RandyA

[Whitlow]

That is a good question I will check that I did notice a small oil spot under the bike I looked but could not see where it was coming from. I wipe it up today and will be looking tomorrow to see where it might be. Is there a know oil leak on these bike I can look for?

[LilBeaver]

How long have you been smelling this?

If this is a first time deal or if it has just started in the last couple of rides, take a look at the underside of your pipes to see if you picked up something that is cooking down there... I know it might be a little gross, but I got a small animal at some point and didn't know it until I stopped and started smelling something pretty awful...

 

Also, you say it smells like exhaust - but maybe you ought to carefully check your radiator and radiator hoses for small cracks or whatever. I know that hot coolant has a distinct smell, but, your description being a little vague (and it being difficult to describe smells) it is something else to check...

 

Good luck

[Whitlow]

I have smelled it since I got the bike. I rode it home 200 miles and smelled it then. I have only owned it for a short time around a month and have ridden it several times. I checked the coolant today and it was between the low and full mark so I topped that off. It does not smell like antifreeze that sweet smell. I will look at the pipes better tomorrow I'm going to change the oil and look to see if there are signs of oil burned on the pipes. The bike has 14000 miles on it now.

[SilvrT]

You might get a strong exhaust smell of it's running rich. ???

[Whitlow]

The pipes seem to look good not black and smutty. How can I tell if it is running rich? The bike runs well and I'm getting around 40mpg.

[SilvrT]

I notice exhaust smell too ... not always but when I do it's when I come to a stop .... maybe after I have been decelerating hard... can't really say as I've never thought a lot about it. I've noticed this on other bikes too. It may just be that the expelled exhaust is floating up to your nose due to air pressure, wind direction, or a number of other things... (just a wild guess here)

[atlm]

A few of my previous carbureted bikes would emit a bad smell, mostly when hot after riding. It would fill the garage, and would make me nauseous after a while if I continued to breath it. It was a gas-like smell, not like a gas station, but definitely not oil or antifreeze. It was caused by tiny gas leaks. Nothing was dripping or visibly wet, but various things just weren't completely sealed, like the carburetor boots, or small cracks in gaskets or fuel lines.

 

I was able to eliminate the smell on a couple of bikes by rebuilding the carburetors and replacing all fuel-related rubber, like boots and lines.

 

My wife and I test rode a low-miles (11k) 2005 Venture, but after the ride, I noticed the bike had that smell. It was pretty strong, even sitting outside. The previous owner told me he had the curburetors rebuilt since they were clogged a bit due to lack of use. I'm guessing something wasn't re-assembled perfectly air-tight. Anyway, after a lot of deliberation, we decided not to buy the bike just for that reason. I didn't want to have to spend my first few weeks with a bike trying to troubleshoot a fuel seal problem, while having my garage smell like gas.

 

I can say that it's not normal. Neither my current Venture nor the 2009 we test rode have any gas smell whatsoever before, during, or after riding. As has been previously mentioned, there might be a tiny odor on non-CA bikes if they're brought out in the sun and the gas in the tank vents due to expansion from heat, but it should be barely noticeable and stop relatively quickly.

 

Here's another thread that I'm guessing might be the same as your issue, and lists areas of the bike to check:

[ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23888]HELP>..RSTD Fuel smell - VentureRider.Org[/ame]

 

Hope this helps.

[Whitlow]

So I have noticed a drop of oil under the bike since I got it. Today I changed the oil and filter and was checking things out closely and found that it is dripping from a tube that runs under the engine. A metal cross tube on the frame that has 2 flat bars with holes in them. Right behind that on the bottom of the engine there are some rubber tubes and the oil is dripping from one of them. I can not get a good enough look above that. I think the smell I am smelling is from oil getting on something hot. Anyone out there know where I'm talking about? I will try and get a picture of the area today and post it. There is only a drop or 2 after sitting a few days after a ride. But I think it maybe causeing the smell I have.

[SilvrT]

So I have noticed a drop of oil under the bike since I got it. Today I changed the oil and filter and was checking things out closely and found that it is dripping from a tube that runs under the engine. A metal cross tube on the frame that has 2 flat bars with holes in them. Right behind that on the bottom of the engine there are some rubber tubes and the oil is dripping from one of them. I can not get a good enough look above that. I think the smell I am smelling is from oil getting on something hot. Anyone out there know where I'm talking about? I will try and get a picture of the area today and post it. There is only a drop or 2 after sitting a few days after a ride. But I think it maybe causeing the smell I have.

 

I think that tube will drip oil if you overfill the bike. Generally speaking you should not fill it much higher than the middle of the sight glass .... more than that won't hurt it any (unless you put wayyyyyyyyyy too much in) but you will get that dripping. Happened on mine too.

[SilvrT]

regarding the smell....nobody suggested that maybe it's time to change your shorts ... :rotf:

 

sorry, couldn't resist!

[davecb]

regarding the smell....nobody suggested that maybe it's time to change your shorts ... :rotf:

 

sorry, couldn't resist!

 

 

Or add deodorant... :rotfl:

[Whitlow]

You all are so FUNNY I'm ROFLOL!!!!!!! But if anything the RSV STINKS!

[silent67]

I had a odor on the GL yesterday, guess what I found today, Mr. Jingles was dead and still juicy !