Air box flooding! running crappy and pooping out!

[Goat_Tyrant]

So I noticed a nice sized puddle of gas from the air box drain hose under my bike. It keeps idling low at stops and eventually will die out if I dont rev it or apply the choke.
Won't start sometimes unless I crank the idle screw up, full choke and open throttle. I also noticed the idle adjustment screw was dripping gas as well.

I took the tank off and checked all hoses and everything looks normal. Every now and again the rpms shoot up to like 4-6k after it runs for a minute and then I have to readjust the idle screw. I rev it up to like 6 and it holds at 4k although the idle is set right I think something else is going on being that when it is running right the idle is at 1200 until I rev it then it sticks.

Any ideas?

[tussey]

So I noticed a nice sized puddle of gas from the air box drain hose under my bike. It keeps idling low at stops and eventually will die out if I dont rev it or apply the choke.
Won't start sometimes unless I crank the idle screw up, full choke and open throttle. I also noticed the idle adjustment screw was dripping gas as well.

I took the tank off and checked all hoses and everything looks normal. Every now and again the rpms shoot up to like 4-6k after it runs for a minute and then I have to readjust the idle screw. I rev it up to like 6 and it holds at 4k although the idle is set right I think something else is going on being that when it is running right the idle is at 1200 until I rev it then it sticks.

Any ideas?

Check your floats. They can cause air box gas flood. You shouldn't have to change your idle screw to start the bike. If you haven't cleaned your carbs lately give them a good run down and do the following maintenance

float height check
carb sync
make sure all the hoses aren't clogged/damaged
check all gaskets and seals

[PachmanP]

yeah sounds like something is wrong with your floats.  Check/adjust the float height.  Make sure your carb vent is clear (or that the PO didn't hook it up the the tank drain...)

[The Buddha]

+1 on these 2 before me.

You're going to have to seal it with new O rings as well as jet it right, you seem to have the characterstics of leaking gas and pulling in air at the same time. Rich and lean at the same time ...  and oddly that really isn't that  ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[galahs]

Make sure your carb breather hose isn't blocked.

I had the same problem after a wasp built a nest in my hoses.



Check the easy things first.

[Robzor]

I've recently been through hell troubleshooting a similar problem.  Stated as simply as possible, if fuel goes past the bowls, there's something wrong with the needles - either the floats arent floating, the needles are deformed/broken/missing, or there is crud in the seats.  In my case, a grain of rubber became lodged in the needle seat, keeping the needle from sitting properly and letting fuel just run everywhere.  Many many, MANY potential causes but that kind of has to be it.

[Goat_Tyrant]

well I tore the carbs apart, they were filthy! I've never worked on a carb before but for some reason I wasn't scared. in short one hour and two cans of carb cleaner later I was re-assembling it and throwing it back onto the bike. Set the petcock to prime and worked the trottle a little bit, engaged the choke and hit start. It fired right up doesn't hang at 4000 anymore it goes down a little slow but IT GOES DOWN! I ran it for about a 15 mile trip and every stop was great with the idle. But then I tried to take a 90 degree right hand turn, I spotted the gravel in the turn and slowed way the hell down, at about 3 mph the back tire went right out from under me! man my leg hurts today! the bike is fine it just scraped the point cover on the engine and the brake handle a little. What a trip!

So in general thanks to the information provided from this site and everone that helped with both of my problems (dirty carbs, and valve adjustment) I was able to execute both of these proceedures that I had no idea how to do before. And now 500 miles into my first bike I took my first spill as well! Thought you guys would enjoy this story.

Thanks to everyone for all your help. I will return the favor anytime I can.
I just have to avoid gravel at all costs from now on.! lol