HELP.... leaking ALOT of gas

So I've had my bike back for about a week with no problems and noticed a substantial amount of gas under it when i came out of my work today. I was just picking up my paycheck so the time it took me to b.s. with my boss and drink a soda i had a puddle under my bike. It looks like its coming out of a little valve on my number 2 carb from the left side (see pic) like I said, it hasn't leaked at all since i got it back and just started, please help.

That's your #2 overflow. If it's leaking there the needle/seat in the #2 carb most likely needs to be replaced, but can also be just a matter of dirt in the seat or a sticking float. The big question though is why the fuel petcock allowed fuel to flow. If you have a vacuum petcock, with the lever in either on or reserve gas does not flow until the engine is running, so if this is what you have the petcock is also bad. Some guys assume the petcock goes bad and gas flows right past the needle/seat and leaks, but this is not the case. On a properly working set of carbs you could leave the gas in the prime position for a year and no gas would leak, so it appears you still have a couple small problems to get fixed there.

Thank you for your response.I have replaced the petcock, and when its in the off position it stops leaking. The carbs were just rebuilt about 8 months ago with only about 20 miles on them before she went into hibernation. I'm thinking you are right with the dirt in the seat or stuck float b/c she has been sitting for awhile. Up until today there was a few times where i left the gas on overnight and there wasnt a drop under it. Now for the next question, What's the simplist way to resolve this problem? I'm guessing i will have to remove the carbs?

If cleaning the needle valve eliminates the symptom then you need to ask how the dirt/rust got there.

An inline gas filter is needed. If you have one it may need to be changed for a new one. Longer term, you may need to clean out your tank.

Best of success.

hammerheads06 wrote:

...What's the simplist way to resolve this problem? I'm guessing i will have to remove the carbs?

With engine running, rap smartly against the float bowl with a plastic mallet. This will often dislodge a speck of crud caught between the float needle and seat. If successful, would also drain the float bowl to hopefully flush out any remaining grit or crud.

Good Luck!

Once you solve the problem you should install the overflow lines. Just attach rubber (neopreme?) tubing to the 4 overflow nipples and run them behind the engine to a couple inches below the rear of the engine. This will keep fuel from rnning onto a hot engine if the problem happens again. Ed

Thanks for all the advice guys, as far as how the dirt/rust might have got there, although I'm in a state of denial the tank does need to be cleaned and maybe por15? It looks like its just a cpl of patches of surface rust so I've just been ignoring it:blush:

I got lucky once and pulled the bowl off while the carbs were still on the bike, put a clean white cloth under the carb and turned on the gas. It flowed fast enough to flush out the chunk of crud and it got caught on the cloth. Also as stated before put on a filter and all should be well.

hammerheads06 wrote:

Thank you for your response.I have replaced the petcock, and when its in the off position it stops leaking.

The technical term for that is "normal"...:laugh:

Most of them will seep if the petcock is left ON because gravity never stops pushing. The needle to brass seat is a metal to metal seal so some gas can seep by. If it leaks a lot quickly, you need to take the seat and needle out and polish the contact surfaces to make sure they are smooth. Or, buy new ones if they are available.

hammerheads06 wrote:

Thanks for all the advice guys, as far as how the dirt/rust might have got there, although I'm in a state of denial the tank does need to be cleaned and maybe por15? It looks like its just a cpl of patches of surface rust so I've just been ignoring it:blush:

Even if the tank is pristine, you will have a bunch of sediment and crud in the bottom of it because it is in the gas we buy. Take off the petcock and rinse the inside of the tank with some mineral spirits and get the crud out. Then clean the petcock and you should be good. Inline filters are always a good idea.

Would like to point out that if the #2 float bowl (accelerator pump) check valve is malfunctioning or came out, gas will leak; just the gas in the #2 bowl will make a bit of a mess.

If you have a bit of crud between float seat and needle valve, you can remove the gas hose to the carbs and blow (kind of gently) with some compressed air and that will usually blow out the crud. If you want to go nuts, after ensuring that your tank isn't the source of crud and installing an inline filter, you can install a new needle seat assembly. I would suspect the accelerator pump check valve though... just from the fact that none of the other carbs are spewing. By the way, it isn't all that comforting to have gas overflow on a HOT engine. You might consider some hoses attached to the overflow barbs and routed over your swingarm.

wired george, i think YOU might have rebuilt these carbs. I went to your web site and noticed a few things. My buddy that i bought the bike from said he had to send them to TX to be rebuilt and I know he was on this website (thats how i found out about it)and i noticed when i was out looking at it that it had the allen wrench headed bolts in the carbs. If it was you I just want to say you did a great job and the bike ran fantastic when we threw them back on. Thanx for the help, I'm gonna try the air hose trick and cross my fingers. I'm really trying hard not to have to take the carbs off, when i was out looking , it seems the only way to have access to the bowls is taking the whole set off? I'm a big guy so that means i have big hands and it makes it difficult in the tight lil compartments on the bike. thanx for any and all help guys.....btw i tried to tap the carb, it slowed it down momentarily but when i tapped again it went full flow (same as its been doing) so hopefully the airhose trick works.