FJowners.com

General Category => Maintenance => Topic started by: David Allaband on August 19, 2012, 05:53:04 PM

Title: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: David Allaband on August 19, 2012, 05:53:04 PM
Hi everyone. My tank whistles out of the gas cap when the bike gets hot. When I open the tank there's a sound of suction. I assume the fuel is heating up and changing the air pressure in the tank and some kind of valve is blocked/broken.

I searched through the archives and found many people talking about the problem but no one explaining how to fix it. A few people said there are repair explanations in the "files" section but I can't find anything there.

Any help would be great!

No, I don't want to think of it as my bike singing to me. The wind sings to me, not the fuel tank. The fuel tank cries in pain.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: Mike 86 in San Dimas on August 19, 2012, 06:11:59 PM
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2024.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2024.0)

might help some. in files titled gas cap info

Mike
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: David Allaband on August 19, 2012, 06:15:07 PM
Thanks Mike, I just found that. It's a great photo explanation of what's inside my cap, but it doesn't tell me what I'm looking for or why it might whistle. Now I know how to take it apart... what am I looking for?

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2024.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2024.0)
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: Travis398 on August 19, 2012, 06:21:31 PM
You're looking for the post with the frogs in it, Heck if I know how to find it though
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: Mike 86 in San Dimas on August 19, 2012, 06:33:57 PM
It is whistling because it is venting, is whistling normal, maybe not when new. I am aware of many with this model year, that just tolerate it. I probably wouldn't. I my case (an 86) it would not vent and bike would stall out at extended freeway ride. Seventh picture shows white plastic goody removed. Try removing that. I did. Everything OK since.
I think they over complicated the cap making it automatically vent as needed instead of just having a constantly open vent hole.
Mike
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: markmartin on August 19, 2012, 06:53:43 PM
I removed the orange rubber flapper that fits inside the white plastic piece.  The whistling stopped.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: rktmanfj on August 19, 2012, 08:46:04 PM
Quote from: Travis398 on August 19, 2012, 06:21:31 PM
You're looking for the post with the frogs in it, Heck if I know how to find it though


http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3791.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3791.0)
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: ribbert on August 20, 2012, 04:12:11 AM
I stuffed a rag in the filler hole with the cap open and gave it a blast of compressed air into the vent at the lower left of the tank.  A lot of crap came out (hence the rag in the opening) and it's never whislted since.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: Travis398 on August 20, 2012, 03:15:28 PM
Quote from: not a lib on August 19, 2012, 08:46:04 PM
Quote from: Travis398 on August 19, 2012, 06:21:31 PM
You're looking for the post with the frogs in it, Heck if I know how to find it though


http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3791.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3791.0)


ahh it's so easy even a newbie could find it.

isn't it funny how this thread is just like the other one, someone is having a problems with the gas cap whistling so they ask how to fix it.
Everyone refers the guy to a file that says absolutely nothing about fixing the whistling.

Then they wonder why the guy doesn't get it..........Probably because that file doesn't say shit about fixing it. Maybe someone should add a note in the file explaining what to remove if their gas cap is whistling.  Other than that the file is useless........any 5 year old with a screwdriver could figure out how to take the gas cap apart. It's not rocket science.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: soundmindryan on August 20, 2012, 03:59:34 PM
Quote from: Travis398 on August 20, 2012, 03:15:28 PM
Quote from: not a lib on August 19, 2012, 08:46:04 PM
Quote from: Travis398 on August 19, 2012, 06:21:31 PM
You're looking for the post with the frogs in it, Heck if I know how to find it though


http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3791.0 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3791.0)


ahh it's so easy even a newbie could find it.

isn't it funny how this thread is just like the other one, someone is having a problems with the gas cap whistling so they ask how to fix it.
Everyone refers the guy to a file that says absolutely nothing about fixing the whistling.

Then they wonder why the guy doesn't get it..........Probably because that file doesn't say shit about fixing it. Maybe someone should add a note in the file explaining what to remove if their gas cap is whistling.  Other than that the file is useless........any 5 year old with a screwdriver could figure out how to take the gas cap apart. It's not rocket science.
I experienced the WOT/high speed fuel starvation AND the tank whistling. Performed the flapectomy and that cured both the whistling and the fuel starvation...BUT... Now, after returning home after riding on a HOT day, and parking in the shade of my garage, the heat from the engine soaks the tank and expels higher amounts of fumes into the garage than I had previously noticed before the flapectomy. Much higher and stinkier. So... It's a tradeoff but I can see why the mfr added the flap. Th fumes expelled with an open vent are not acceptable for a closed showroom or other enclosed area.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: FJmonkey on August 20, 2012, 07:49:25 PM
Quote from: Travis398 on August 20, 2012, 03:15:28 PM
Other than that the file is useless........any 5 year old with a screwdriver could figure out how to take the gas cap apart. It's not rocket science.
Not rocket science but wait till that 5 year old looses the microscopic ball-bearing that shoots out during dis-assembly, never to be found again.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: Travis398 on August 20, 2012, 08:21:03 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on August 20, 2012, 07:49:25 PM
Quote from: Travis398 on August 20, 2012, 03:15:28 PM
Other than that the file is useless........any 5 year old with a screwdriver could figure out how to take the gas cap apart. It's not rocket science.
Not rocket science but wait till that 5 year old looses the microscopic ball-bearing that shoots out during dis-assembly, never to be found again.

You don't have to be 5 to loose that ball, I'm sure a few adults have already done that.........and again, that useless file everyone refers to doesn't even mention the ball is going to "shoot out during dis-assembly"  or when it is going to shoot out.

Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: RichBaker on August 20, 2012, 09:26:52 PM
Quote from: Mike 86 in San Dimas on August 19, 2012, 06:33:57 PM
It is whistling because it is venting, is whistling normal, maybe not when new. I am aware of many with this model year, that just tolerate it. I probably wouldn't. I my case (an 86) it would not vent and bike would stall out at extended freeway ride. Seventh picture shows white plastic goody removed. Try removing that. I did. Everything OK since.
I think they over complicated the cap making it automatically vent as needed instead of just having a constantly open vent hole.
Mike

They all whistle, even new....  Many a time I've been standing in the showroom of my LBS, listening to the concert.  Unless your bike has the dreaded clogged vent, which causes the dreaded "tank vacuum, no fuel flow on the interstate" engine quits, a flapectomy is a waste of time...
Even then, usually just a simple cleaning of the vent passages will fix the problem.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: FJmonkey on August 20, 2012, 09:35:51 PM
Quote from: RichBaker on August 20, 2012, 09:26:52 PM
They all whistle, even new....  Many a time I've been standing in the showroom of my LBS, listening to the concert.  Unless your bike has the dreaded clogged vent, which causes the dreaded "tank vacuum, no fuel flow on the interstate" engine quits, a flapectomy is a waste of time...
Even then, usually just a simple cleaning of the vent passages will fix the problem.
I will chime in here, I hesitated in doing the flapectomey as a new owner many years ago but did take the cap apart and clean things up a bit. Have not had the fuel cut out since then. The cap still sings like a pinched venting balloon. As long as it vents all is working.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: FJ Flyer on August 22, 2012, 06:51:04 AM
Its an FJ...it sings.  Part of its personality. 
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: soundmindryan on August 22, 2012, 08:13:05 AM
Quote from: FJ Flyer on August 22, 2012, 06:51:04 AM
Its an FJ...it sings.  Part of its personality. 
:yahoo: :dance: :music: :dance2: HAHA! Yes! Love it.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: silas on August 22, 2012, 02:58:50 PM
+1 on a thorough cleaning. Open it up inside a ziplock baggie to keep from losing the tiny ball bearing and spring.
Title: Re: Tank Whistle (nothing in files section)
Post by: fj johnnie on January 31, 2013, 06:44:39 PM
 Oh yes. Now I finally know why my 86 FJ quit way back in 88 on the 401 in the middle of nowhere! All three of my 90 FJ's have made this moaning noise and have been affectionately named Mona!!! Cleaning out the vent tube is the way to go