Carbs leaking, next steps?

[meri]

Hey guys!

I've cleaned my carbs several times, and replaced the float needles and such, and every time I think the carbs look perfect, I get the bike running, shut everything down and put it away. The next day I'll have a pool of gas on the ground. The gas is leaking out of the air box intakes. Searching around in some threads it looks like my next step at this point is to play with the float heights. Is there anything else I should be trying?

Thanks!

-Meri

[Petorius]

1. Check float heights with u-bend method
2. Adjust float heights as necessary. 14.6mm for 89-00, 13mm for 01+
3. Reinstall carbs and re-perform u-bend method

I had trouble getting the float heights perfect recently. I found that the easiest way to do it was to make an adjustment, reinstall the carbs into the cylinder heads to hold them level, then use a spare length of fuel hose as an auxiliary fuel supply so that you can re-check float heights with the u-bend method without needing to hook up the tank and petcock each time you make an adjustment.

[meri]

This method? http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=26604.0

[Petorius]

What you just linked is how you will adjust the float heights to spec when you have the carbs apart. Step 2 in my first post. For steps, 1 and 3, referencing the u-bend method, you re-attach the carbs to the bike, then attach one side of a piece of clear tubing to the float bowl drain, then bend the other end up into the air (must go at least a few inches higher than the float bowl gasket). So you will have two pieces of clear tubing, each attached on one end to one of the float bowl drains, the other ends sticking straight up in the air (open). Like the pictures below. You then open the float bowl drain screws, and fuel should fill the tubes until it is level with the float bowl gasket. In the first picture below, you can see that the float level is set too low, as the fuel is not rising all the way to the float bowl gasket.

[Suzuki Stevo]

In the first picture below, you can see that the float level is set too low, as the fuel is not rising all the way to the float bowl gasket.

Fuel level readings stop at the bottom of the bowl, not below it. What you have is no fuel entering the bowl in that photo as if the fuel chicken is not on the Prime position. Or did you set up that shot just as an example?

[Petorius]

I just pulled that off google. I am guessing that the guy who took it had already properly set his float heights and just closed the drain screw prematurely to show an example of the process.

It is directionally correct and gives an idea of what OP should be looking for. I was wondering if anyone would call me out on it 

[meri]

What you just linked is how you will adjust the float heights to spec when you have the carbs apart. Step 2 in my first post. For steps, 1 and 3, referencing the u-bend method, you re-attach the carbs to the bike, then attach one side of a piece of clear tubing to the float bowl drain, then bend the other end up into the air (must go at least a few inches higher than the float bowl gasket). So you will have two pieces of clear tubing, each attached on one end to one of the float bowl drains, the other ends sticking straight up in the air (open). Like the pictures below. You then open the float bowl drain screws, and fuel should fill the tubes until it is level with the float bowl gasket. In the first picture below, you can see that the float level is set too low, as the fuel is not rising all the way to the float bowl gasket.

Ah, many thanks. I was having issues finding reference to that! I'll give this a try tonight and see if I can get it sorted out.

[Suzuki Stevo]

I was wondering if anyone would call me out on it 

After 28 bikes, not much gets past me, if you understand the principal that your working with...that photo screams BS right away.

EDIT: That, and my 7 years of High School