84 Kz550 leaky carbs..

This is an issue I've been chasing down since last summer, its on the 550, it seems that gas just manages to seep into a puddle and over time probably find its way into the airbox, I've checked fuel level last year and it was fine, checked again today and it was fine. The needles seem to be fine. A little shiny ring around them towards the tip but doesn't seem to be damaged. Looks to be just from the needle seating itself. In fact they are probably new ones (I spent a large portion last year tearing apart, and cleaning and rebuilding three different sets of these same carbs. These bowls have no overflow tubes. Gas also finds its way to wet the tip of the airvent hoses. Some how gas is getting above where it comes in. The air vent hoses are above the fuel rail. This has been driving me nuts for about a year. They are sitting in my vice on my bench right now and I've got fuel supplied to them. Btw, this happens on all 4 carbs

Would suspect imperfect float valves, with very slow leakage.

Or perhaps the vacuum operated peacock is malfunctioning by allowing fuel to flow through the vacum hose back toward the carb.

Good Fortune!

That would make sense, if it were only coming from the number 2 carb, I've rebuilt the petcock last year... I'm unsure what a "float valve" is, unless your talking about the valve allowing the gas to fill from tank but, they are new too.

If you bent the tangs on too much of an angle, the needle will cock to the side. Try making them level and bend the arms, then use the tangs for fine adjustment.
Steve

kayodash wrote: . . . unsure what a "float valve" is . . .

Float valve is the float needle and seat.

Good Fortune!

swest wrote: If you bent the tangs on too much of an angle, the needle will cock to the side. Try making them level and bend the arms, then use the tangs for fine adjustment.
Steve

All of them? I know there's only two things it can be in theory, either the needles not seating or the fuel level is off. Fuel level is fine. It must be the needles not seating. If the tangs are slanted I should be able to physically see that, correct? Any indication I might see on the needle? Crooked seat line? I've got three three sets of floats and four sets of needles. I should be able to figure this out.. This is the last piece of my 550 puzzle. Besides a good detailing,

The needles must be free enough to seat evenly. Seats have to be clean and even. Needles can't have deep lines in them. You can dress them up if they're not too bad.
Steve