Fuel bugs? Like real bugs...

[ColtMax]

I performed the Shotgun carb idle jet cleaning procedure a few weeks ago and I noticed tiny bits of black dust in the drained gas from the carbs.

This is a 1997 with 82k miles (142000 Km) so I was thinking of some rust in the tank making its way throught the fuel filter all the way to the carbs. A new fuel filter is on order.

After a ride today, the idle became erratic when bike was getting hot. Just to rule things out, I drained the carbs again. Some tiny black spec of debris are coming out of the carb drains again...

After looking closely to these little grains, I thought it was weird that they were all identical in size. Like mouse poop, but much smaller.

Took my old man glasses to give them a closer look and then WHAT? Are these legs? :O

I took the digital microscope out and analysed the suspects.... Here's what I found.

I have bugs in my fuel system :O where are they coming from? Anybody seen this before?

 

[Fire-medic]

Contaminated gas but contaminated by what? They sure seem to look like tiny little critters. I think I would drain the gas tank and then try to rinse it and refill it and see how things go.

I have never encountered fuel fleas before.

 

[Radioguylogs]

Crazy!

 

[D Larson]

What can live in gasoline?

 

[jfeagins]

Nothing lives in gasoline. The real question here is how, or where, are these little dead bugs getting past the fuel filter?

 

[ColtMax]

Nothing lives in gasoline. The real question here is how, or where, are these little dead bugs getting past the fuel filter?

Yup! Exactly my thought. I'll re-drain today and see if there are more. Expecting new fuel filter to arrive this week and ill clean the tank and the carbs over the winter.

 

[82ndCowboy]

My guess is the eggs were probably laid in the carb drain tube's. That's the most likely place they are coming from.
Are they in the fuel filter?
Take your tube's off and look inside them and clean them out.

 

[Fire-medic]

82nd Cowboy, I bet you got it! I proclaim you the entomologist of the VMax community.

 

[ColtMax]

82nd Cowboy, I bet you got it! I proclaim you the entomologist of the VMax community.

Well, I have to admit that this bike has been demonstrating to be alive into a whole other meaning than what you would expect.
Here's how I found the air filter to be on my first opening:

 

[Fire-medic]

Vermin make nests wherever they can. Intake systems are a frequent location for nests.

 

[ColtMax]

Cant wait to receive that new fuel filter from the dealer! I am now cleaning the drain tubes while replacing carb boots.
Here's the result of tonight's pour..
.