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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: conflicttheorist on January 20, 2005, 06:41:40 PM

Title: Help! Gas leaking from carbs and air filter box drain...
Post by: conflicttheorist on January 20, 2005, 06:41:40 PM
Can anyone help?  My bike was having trouble holding idle when I was riding it and when I stopped and parked it was leaking gas- from the air box drain line and some gas was running down and dripping  off of one of the fuel lines.  I took apart the bike and inspected the lines but there are no obvious blemishes.  Any ideas on what would cause this problem or on possible solutions?  Thanks!
Title: Help! Gas leaking from carbs and air filter box drain...
Post by: Kerry on January 20, 2005, 06:54:13 PM
It could be that one of your float needles is stuck open and allowing fuel to flow into the carbs when it shouldn't.

For curiosity's sake, what position is your fuel selector switch set to?  (ON / RES / PRI)

To see which side the problem may be on (if either) you could perform a non-invasive Float Height Check (http://www.bbburma.net/FloatHeight.htm) and see if the level(s) is/are too high.

You can try tapping on the float bowls with something.  At worst, a stuck float or float needle shouldn't require more than a carburetor cleaning or rebuild.
Title: Help! Gas leaking from carbs and air filter box drain...
Post by: dgyver on January 20, 2005, 07:01:00 PM
The float needle may be worn so it does not seal completely. Or it just may be a piece of crap from your tank causing it not to close completely. Do you have a inline fuel filter?
Title: Help! Gas leaking from carbs and air filter box drain...
Post by: conflicttheorist on January 20, 2005, 07:07:33 PM
Quote from: dgyverThe float needle may be worn so it does not seal completely. Or it just may be a piece of crap from your tank causing it not to close completely. Do you have a inline fuel filter?

I don't have an inline fuel filter... So there is consensus that it has something to do with the float needle not working properly?

I looked at that float height check page- since I already removed most of the carbs from the bike is there an easier way to check it or should I put it all back together, and check it?
Title: Help! Gas leaking from carbs and air filter box drain...
Post by: dgyver on January 20, 2005, 07:21:16 PM
If you already have the carbs off of the bike, might as well remove the bowls and take a look at the float needles. If this is the first time the bowls have been off, the screws will be tough to remove. Do you have a impact driver?

You can always put them back on just to check the level as Kerry suggested.