Long Winter----Leaky Carb----Any Idea's?

[strapman]

After what seemed like 6 mo's of snow in Chicago, weather broke. At winterize, i ran the fuel out of carbs by turning of supply-drained bowls. 1983 GL 1100.

Mind you, last year i did a complete rebuild of this bike, including carb rebuild n sync. Just tried to start, of course she purred quickly....but i notice a gas leak at #4? carb (one that receives fuel from pump)....i can't tell exactly where it is, looks like from bowl...anyone have a quick idea as to what to look for---float/bowl gasket? Didi i mess things up by running fuel out of carbs at storage?

I recall the carb bank assembly needs "tickling" in order to remove easily---just don't want to chase ghosts, figure ask the question of those who know! Thanks in advance!!!

 

[slabghost]

Might want to give the #4 carb a few wake up raps with a screwdriver handle. Might have a sticking float or needle.

 

[backyardtrouble]

IF your sitting on the bike...which side does it leak from...the left...or right. #4 is on the left and #3 is on the right/rear. IF you gas line is leaking going to the carb, it may be running down to the bowl and dripping off of it. Maybe check you hose connection and tighten the clamp to start with. If it sit up all winter, with no gas, the gasket/o ring type seal may have shrunk a little and dried out some...let it run and get hot, that might help seal it some too.

 

[strapman]

Its the RHS, rear carb...i will give the suggestions a try....Thanks to you both!

 

[AApple]

backyardtrouble » Tue Apr 01, 2014 9:02 am[/url]":136om16r]
If it sit up all winter, with no gas, the gasket/o ring type seal may have shrunk a little and dried out some...let it run and get hot, that might help seal it some too.

Ed Zarchary what mine does....if it sits for a week or more without running, one of the carb bowls will seep when I start it the first time. After running/riding for a while, it stops seeping. Gaskets just dry out and leak until they get wet & swell again. :yes:
That being said, it really shouldn't do that, but sometimes it happens.

 

[joedrum]

atf in fuel ....

 

[Omega Man]

joedrum » Tue Apr 01, 2014 10:09 am[/url]":16z3rhu4]
atf in fuel ....

Oh no he d'int! :shock:

~O~

 

[strapman]

Found the cause....gas line from fuel pump to carb, slight tear in line at carb inlet. Anyway, replaced and no leak! Thank god as i was cursing having to pull the entire carb bank out to check things out! Especially since got cold here again! Chicago! Monday 65, today 40!

 

[kerryb]

I have the same issue, carbs on the right side dripping when I started the bike for first time this season. I'll check that line closer tomorrow, hope the fix is the same. If not...would you suspect float needle first? oh...'83 standard, haven't rebuilt the carbs yet, they ran well enough last year not to.

kb

 

[slabghost]

kerryb » Tue Apr 01, 2014 10:34 pm[/url]":gi0l6dpn]
I have the same issue, carbs on the right side dripping when I started the bike for first time this season. I'll check that line closer tomorrow, hope the fix is the same. If not...would you suspect float needle first? oh...'83 standard, haven't rebuilt the carbs yet, they ran well enough last year not to.

kb

I'd just follow the suggestions above to start. It wouldn't hurt to add 6-8 oz of ATF to the fuel either. It'll help clean the carbs.

 

[kerryb]

thanks, I'll give that a whirl...

p.s. Would seafoam be any better or worse? This is the bike that took 500 miles of riding to smooth out and become quite nice with seafoam in the gas and the crankcase.

 

[joedrum]

atf is actually better here in this regard as it actually swells rubber parts ... seafoam can actually destroy rubber if it is allowed to sit in carb ... so atf is best ... no contest

 

[kerryb]

Thanks, that's good to know.
So tonight I got home from work and decided to fire up the engine in the sunlight to see if I could see where the drips begin from. Engine fires up very quickly ...and...no leaks!, go figure...I did see stains on top of the coolant crossover tube, and plenty of smoke from the exhaust (none yesterday...go figure) but the carbs didn't drip at all. How do I know when it is really time to rebuild the carbs, because it seems to run quite well with good power for 117k miles?

just for fun kb

 

[slabghost]

kerryb » Wed Apr 02, 2014 6:20 pm[/url]":3dqa5rbb]
Thanks, that's good to know.
So tonight I got home from work and decided to fire up the engine in the sunlight to see if I could see where the drips begin from. Engine fires up very quickly ...and...no leaks!, go figure...I did see stains on top of the coolant crossover tube, and plenty of smoke from the exhaust (none yesterday...go figure) but the carbs didn't drip at all. How do I know when it is really time to rebuild the carbs, because it seems to run quite well with good power for 117k miles?

just for fun kb

Krrp running ATF in the fuel you may never know it's time to rebuild the carbs. At least that's the plan for mine.