Reddish gunk in float chambers?

[El motociclista]

Opened up the carbs and found a small amount of reddish brown substance at the bottom of the float bowls:





It is very fine and powdery. Could it be rust? There was the presence of a similarly colored substance under the float bowl gasket (gasket sealer??) that could be a possible source of this stuff. Anyone ever find anything similar in their bowls? Just curious. It was a relatively small amount so I'm not really worried. I would just like to know. I have an inline fuel filter right before the supply line feeds into the carbs so I'm assuming that that would prevent rust from entering. What do y'all think?

[GSrookie500]

It's rust. Do you have a fuel filter? That should take care of most of the problem. The rest is in your tank at the bottom. You can get your tank cleaned. Do some searching on here.

[El motociclista]

I do have a fuel filter, this one:



It's been on the bike since I bought it 2 1/2 years ago. Maybe it's time for a new one.

[The Buddha]

That fine rust will get through the filter no problem. But yea replace the filter, it when it still wet with gasoline, run air through it in the reverse flow direction. It usually gets it back to being like new again.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Pigeonroost]

The rust is from the inside of your fuel tank.  The tank can be acid etched and coated.  Maybe it could help a little to keep your fuel doped with tiny bit of fuel-mix oil or Lucus fuel/oil treatment.

prs

[El motociclista]

Thanks guys. Don't think I'll be acid etching and coating the tank anytime soon but definitely something to think about for the future. For now I'll get a new fuel filter or try and clean the current one a la Buddha's suggestion and perhaps use some Lucus in the fuel.