Carb Leak - Always A Mistake To Assume All Is OK!

[farmer]

I always seem to relearn this the hard way. Finally got my 79 R65 out for first run of the season. I keep it in heated garage on charger year round. Started right up so I took off for a ride. About a block later I get a wet cool sensation on my left foot - look down and gas flowing from carb float bowl on my tennis shoe. Hurry up and shut down and lean over to keep gas off hot exhaust. Back home in garage, removed float bowl to inspect. Float and float needle appear to be working properly. Will clean and install a new float bowl gasket next. If that doesn't work I guess carb will have to be removed and thoroughly checked.

[williamemack]

HI Jim, I've had this happen too. I shut down, drained bowl, held up the floats to flush out carb fuel intake and all has been well eversince.

Will

[Justin B.]

I would seriously suspect rubber fuel lines disintegrating internally and the rubber bit's will flush down the line and sometimes intermittently prevent the float needle from seating.

This could/will be an ever increasing problem as government enviro-nazis mandate an ever increasing ethanol percentage in fuel.  Rubber bits meant for gasoline generally don't take too kindly to high levels of alky-hol which is why I started switching to urethane fuel line a few years ago.

[montmil]

Maybe I'll figure a way to mount a fuel filter on each carb's brass fuel line pipe.

Bowl gasket may have dried out and shrunk up on you. A bit of junk could hold the float needle off its seat.

You've received good advice here, Caddy Jim. Probably ain't no big deal. Your sneakers already stink anyway...

Monte

[Bob_Roller]

Justin,
Any common suppliers sell  urethane fuel lines ??
Last time I installed clear fuel line, I had problems with it kinking.

[Justin B.]

I get mine from Aircraft Spruce.  Oh, and they now list a blue Bing alcohol resistant line...

[farmer]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Will check out fuel lines and rubber bits in float needle area tonight. I did replace fuel lines 2 seasons ago. Can they go bad in 2 years?

PS: The wife banned me from entry into house until offending sneaker and sock discarded in garage garbage can. Also have this problem with grease on hands.

[montmil]

...PS: The wife banned me from entry into house until offending sneaker and sock discarded in garage garbage can. Also have this problem with grease on hands.

Save 'em, Jim! Wear them to the next family reunion and you'll probably get lucky and never be invited back again.

If I liked these people, I'd go see them on my own time...  

Monte

[vestandpants]

now ive heard from many sources that the left carb is always prone to leaking.

i had a leaking left carb 5 years ago and i couldnt work it out. the float was fine and correctly set, float needles changed and it still leaked. a friend of my dad's made a comment about it whilst supping a pint in his local 'left carb leaking? you have to make sure they are level'. the next day i did as he said and its never leaked since.

[MrRiden]

Google up Tygon. Its a type of fuel line that the ultralight folks have been using. Looks interesting.

[farmer]

Just finished working on the left leaking carb and no more leak! Here is what I did (not sure which one fixed the leak):

1. Put my trustee pocket level on it (the flat top bings make this easy) and sure enough not level by about 10% - so I leveled it.

2. Removed float bowl and sprayed float needle area with carb cleaner and dried with compressed air.

3. Float bowl gasket is bad (in pieces) - I think there may have been an unsealed gasket area - carefully placed the gasket back together and installed float bowl. Ordered a new set from realgaskets.com. I did remove float bowl to make sure it was dry last fall before storing - I bet the gasket got messed up then.

Just happy that no rebuild was necessary now.  [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif]

Thanks again for all the ideas.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Google up Tygon. Its a type of fuel line that the ultralight folks have been using. Looks interesting.

Don't you have a source you use that you could link us to?
Lots of hits on Google.  This is just one of them.
Yellow, eh?  I suppose I could find something black to wrap it with...

http://www.willardssmallengines.com/shop/2-cycle-carburetion/tygon-fuel-line-/page1.html

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

And I recommend riding boots over tennis shoes.  

If foot injuries are anything like hand injuries, I want to minimize the risk at all costs.

[MrRiden]

Don't you have a source you use that you could link us to?
[/quote]
Yea Rob ya got me. I know I link to lots O stuff but I'm still runnin my trusty Black rubber NAPA fuel line. I have seen Tygon in charcoal. I'll tell ya what, if you run the yellow I'll run it too! Even go in half for 6';D
rich

[rob650]

level the carbs - on what axis?

i also have the "left carb peeing on my foot" problem.  pulled the bowl and bent the floats down a bit for a short term fix.