Needle and seat OR Float hanging up?

I have had an issue with my #1 carb (29's). In the past it has leaked now and then. Usually a tap or too and it would quit. I had the carbs off and gave a good cleaning. They looked pretty good. I polished the seat, they bench tested ok when I checked float levels via the clear tube.. Put it together and worked fine for a bit, couple short rides. Today it started doing it again.

My bike has a shortened kickstand. Maybe to short as it leans quite a bit. Not sure if related. Could my float be hanging up? How does one tell? I thought about switching needle and seat from another carb and see if problem follows. I want to get what info I can so I dont have them off too many times
Wayne

Yeah i usually just tap on float bowl with a screwdriver also. :laugh:
did you try shaking the float by your ear while it was out to see if it was sunk/gas filled?

When I bought my 29s, they had 1 float with some pinholes in it. Found that before they were mounted. Fixed with a little solder. If thats the case, wrap the tang that connects the float to the arm with a wet paper towel as to not melt the solder connecting the float to the arm. (dont ask how I know this)

No, but I thought about it :laugh: Felt ok.
Wayne

wireman wrote: Yeah i usually just tap on float bowl with a screwdriver also. :laugh:
did you try shaking the float by your ear while it was out to see if it was sunk/gas filled?

Thanks for the heads up!
Wayne

moneypit wrote: When I bought my 29s, they had 1 float with some pinholes in it. Found that before they were mounted. Fixed with a little solder. If thats the case, wrap the tang that connects the float to the arm with a wet paper towel as to not melt the solder connecting the float to the arm. (dont ask how I know this)

Hope to get the carbs on the bench tonight. Any ideas on how I can bench test them? I tested them last time and they worked fine on the bench. Hoping to get it figured out without to many removal/installations
Wayne

Having the same issue with mine. Bought a new needle and seat same issue. Only happens when on the kick stand, and not on the center stand. That to me means my float level is to high. I thought about taking some old intake manifolds and bolting them to a board with the correct spacing so I can mount the cards a the same angle as it sits upright and on the kickstand. That way the clear tube method is mor accurate.

This is a very comon problem. ma kawi (and othe manufacturers)fixed it with a vacumm actuated auto shut off petcock .
u can fix it by turning the gas off when u stop.

also check that the oring around the seat valve is in good order. they can leak around there.

Shutting the petcock off is not the problem. The gas runs out of the bell of the carb. It has got to be running to rich. And I can get it to stop but then the problem comes back. If it was only leaking out of the bowl gasket while on side stand for a bit I could deal with that.
Wayne
Mine has the fiber gasket for the seat. That is a good point as a leak there would bypass the needle.

kaw-a-holic wrote: Having the same issue with mine. Bought a new needle and seat same issue. Only happens when on the kick stand, and not on the center stand. That to me means my float level is to high. I thought about taking some old intake manifolds and bolting them to a board with the correct spacing so I can mount the cards a the same angle as it sits upright and on the kickstand. That way the clear tube method is mor accurate.

Mine might be similar,have not pinned it down. Makes me think the float can hang up ometimes when on the side stand. Where and how bad does yours leak? Mine runs out pretty fast.
Wayne

Never had that problem. But I turn my petcock off on the ride into my driveway.
If you feel the float is sticking when it is leaned over on the stand I would suspect a bad or bent float. Try setting your fuel levels on the minimum side and see if that helps.

How are you checking the level? Bowl drain screw w/clear tube method? Carbs need to be perfectly level.

Yep, tube method, have a stand made so it is level. It leaks off and on the stand. I am just thinking the move to the stand may make the float hang up.Can have the bike straight up and fuel runs out the mouth of the carb. That is a long ways past the bowl parting line. Shutting the petcock only keeps gas from running out when parked. It does not prevent the cylinder from being flooded when going down the road. The problem is intermittent. Thanks for the comments.
Wayne