Oil dripping from carbs

After the last few times I've ridden I've noticed a drop of oil hanging from the #1 and #3 carb drain holes. Does anyone know how oil might get there?

After lubricating the throttle cables on my kz750b, the oil dripped out of the sleeve bottom end and down the carbs to the crankcase below. It took me awhile to realize what was going on.

Are you sure it's not gas ????

Its probly slightly varnished gas. Clean re-tighten the drain screws.

Good luck.

it could be from your cam chain tensioner gasket as well.

does your crank case vent go to the air box? u may have excess oil in the air box , working its way out ?

Thanks for the ideas. I'm pretty sure it's oil. It seems like motor oil rather than cable lube, and it's been three years since I lubed the cables. I just had the carbs apart two weeks ago to change the pilot jets and there wasn't really any varnish. The #1 carb is pretty far from the chain tensioner and the #2 doesn't have the drops of oil.

I have had gas leaks, which is why I was looking in the first place, but it sure doesn't seem like gas. The gas was coming out of the air box drain hole, so I know I have a problem with the petcock and one or more float valves.

I just checked to see if oil might be dripping down carb boots from air box and it doesn't seem to be.

KYKZ1100 wrote:

...gas was coming out of the air box drain hole, so I know I have a problem with the petcock and one or more float valves....

Would check for fuel intrusion into crankcase.

Good Fortune!

KYKZ1100 wrote:

it's been three years since I lubed the cables.

Three years... c'mon, show her the love!

...maintenance...

Get some carb kits, clean the carb's real good,install the kits, set your float level, etc. A petcock rebuild kit is also pretty cheap. Don't forget a good Motorcycle in-line filter. When their off have a good look at your rubber boots/ manifolds, replace as necessary. Then when done warm the bike up and sync them with a manometer. Oh go ahead and lube the cable, advancer, valve clearances, and the rest per the manual.

Motor Head wrote:

Get some carb kits, clean the carb's real good,install the kits, set your float level, etc. A petcock rebuild kit is also pretty cheap. Don't forget a good Motorcycle in-line filter. When their off have a good look at your rubber boots/ manifolds, replace as necessary. Then when done warm the bike up and sync them with a manometer. Oh go ahead and lube the cable, advancer, valve clearances, and the rest per the manual.

I don't want anyone to think I'm a slacker. I posted this on the popping noise thread on Saturday: "I've tried everything - new valves, pistons, rings, carb holders, vacuum caps, exhaust gaskets, larger pilot jets (twice), sealing off air recirculation system, adjusting float levels, adjusting fuel mixture screws, etc. Today I sync'd the carbs and used a ColorTune to see what was going on in the cylinders." I've also rebuilt the carbs, all the calipers, new steering and wheel bearings, new front master cylinder, repainted frame, tank fenders, wheels, and a lot of other stuff. I've only ridden it about 3,000 miles in the last three years so I didn't think lubing the cables was necessary again yet because I'm still doing a lot of things for the first time. I'm about to start on the clutch. Fortunately my wife is a pretty good sport about it - she parks in the driveway so the boat and motorcycles can stay in the garage. You might be getting the idea that I'm a little sensitive about this whole thing.

Oh, and I have an inline gas filter. Still can't figure out how oil might be dripping from carb drain holes though.

Sorry my bad, didn't realize the other post about the work already done.
Do you run a factory air-box or pods? If pods maybe over-oiled? If not, then you sure it's not fuel? A small fuel leak do to a float bowl gasket seep, or to high a level? There isn't to many places oil would drip from on a carb. Could it be a leak from the valve cover, then the airflow has spread it?
Just some thoughts.