Gas leak out the carbs...

[VaSteve]

So I went to get the annual safety inspection over the weekend.  Evrything is fine until the bike starts dumping gas out the carbs.   Second time this has happened.  The tech flicked the carb with a pen to unstick the float and it leaked no more.  I check it at home (remove the bowl and flip the float to ensure it cuts the fuel off).  Is there more to this?  I was told by a different wrench that that's "living with an airhead".

Thoughts?  Should I be concerned?

Thanks
Steve

[thrang]

I wouldn't worry the Bimbo had the same habit, from the left hand carb. I was never able to work out the cause as it was a totally random event.

[tagordon]

I searched through the forums here When I noticed my left carb leaking. It only does it when bike not running. The info I found refered to needle valves. So I ordered needle valves, floats & float pins. To go with the carb kit I already had ordered. Will be picking up the rest of the parts Sat 6/23/07.
Bike had been sitting for approx three years before I got it. Carbs are due for some maintenance. Even if it don"t cure the leak its time for the maint.
Right side plug shows burning rich. Maybe rebuild will help there.
Will let you know what the rebuild does or does not do.

Troy

[Justin B.]

It can be the float needle or the float itself having gained weight and doesn't float real good anymore.  On our '80 it was granules of deteriorated fuel line causing the needle to not seat all the time.  This crap was pre needle seat and a grain would stick down throufh the little hole and hold the needle off the seat.  Had to remove the needle and blow back through the seat (with fuel line removed) to clear the crap.  All kinds of black grainy looking crap came out.  No pissing since.  Of course we only discovered this after replacing needles, floats, etc...

[VaSteve]

I cleaned these carbs really good between the last time it happened and now and installed an inline filter, but no new carb parts....maybe I should.  There must still be something in there since I had a couple of stalls the other day.  Cruise to a stop and it died.  Fires right back up though.   :-/