Topic: Leaky Carb #3

[BenelliSEI]

When I put away by bikes for winter, I disconnect the fuel lines, remove and dump the float bowls, take out the floats, clean and blow out all jets and reassemble. In the spring, drain out the old gas from the full tank (straight into my wife’s Hyundai), hookup the hoses, fresh gas, and go.

Decided today was the day for a ride on the K1. Did the usual and it fired instantly. But, gas just started pouring out the #3 overflow tube and then the lowest corner of the airbox. Opened it up and the floats had a suspicious “rattle”. Popped a leak over winter?  I had another set of carbs on the shelf. Opened them up, grabbed a plastic set of floats and with no measurements, just popped them in. Problem solved, bike runs great!

Just stuck the brass originals in some hot water and no holes or leaks. Maybe some loose solder in one, but no air bubbles. I wonder if the black, rubber bowl gaskets had swelled up and were dragging on the float? Maybe the plastic floats are a bit narrower? Used up the afternoon. Will ride it tomorrow’ and see how it goes.. Mmmm

[BenelliSEI]

Made a couple of hot dogs too!

[denward17]

Beautiful bike you have there, that hot dog looks good too.   

[ekpent]

I've mentioned in the past about having brass floats go bad on early 750's and Suzuki 2 strokes. One test might be to slightly heat them with a gun,not enough to expand them out and distort them but enough to see if they 'bleed out' a little if indeed they do have a leak. Think gas may be more easy to penetrate a small pinhole or solder joint then water or I am just coo coo in the head ! Some aftermarket bowl gaskets are crap. Only one I have ever replaced was one. I always just the old originals ones intact and do not pick them out. Carb dunk etc.does not hurt them.

[BenelliSEI]

I've mentioned in the past about having brass floats go bad on early 750's and Suzuki 2 strokes. One test might be to slightly heat them with a gun,not enough to expand them out and distort them but enough to see if they 'bleed out' a little if indeed they do have a leak. Think gas may be more easy to penetrate a small pinhole or solder joint then water or I am just coo coo in the head ! Some aftermarket bowl gaskets are crap. Only one I have ever replaced was one. I always just the old originals ones intact and do not pick them out. Carb dunk etc.does not hurt them.

Usually, when I plunge them in hot water, the air inside expands and bubbles out the crack or pin hole. Despite something inside one of these (it does seem to rattle more than splash around), they showed no air escaping. I suspect one side was fouling on the gasket. When I get a chance, I’ll slip it back in again.

[BenelliSEI]

Beautiful bike you have there, that hot dog looks good too.   

One “dog” turned into three!

[newday777]

John
When I put mine away for it's winter nap after bowls are emptied, I inject Marvel Mystery Oil in the carbs to keep they lubricated. Then in the spring drain the bowls of the MMO and tank of the 2 stroke oil. After being away for 18 months from being stuck in San Diego (CA lock down), I did this and it fired up without a leak.
This past winter I didn't put MMO in the carbs and I too had some leaks until the gas rehydrate the carbs....

[BenelliSEI]

John
When I put mine away for it's winter nap after bowls are emptied, I inject Marvel Mystery Oil in the carbs to keep they lubricated. Then in the spring drain the bowls of the MMO and tank of the 2 stroke oil. After being away for 18 months from being stuck in San Diego (CA lock down), I did this and it fired up without a leak.
This past winter I didn't put MMO in the carbs and I too had some leaks until the gas rehydrate the carbs....

Stu….. I some times wonder if we’re just not trying too hard. A friend of mine starts using STABIL, with every tank, in September. Shuts his bikes off and walks away. Everything seems to work in the Spring……

[Kevin D]

Hi John, I have had two of my original brass floats fail. It wasn’t a pinhole or a crack, it looked like the brass was corroded. I tried resoldering but I don’t have the touch, so I have two plastic and two original.
 I was having a leak problem that continued until I polished the carb posts, the hinge pins and the end of the float barrel that holds the hinge pin. There was a wear mark on the carb post and maybe a hang up there.
 It’s tight quarters in the float bowl, I have seen floats that are not square with the float frame and wondered if it was due to hamhanded float handling, or an effort to make a clearance with the the bowl/gasket. I still have my original bowl gaskets in place.
 My winter storage plan is fill the tank, drain the carbs. In the springtime, I hold my breath a bit when I first touch the starter button, but I am always rewarded with an eager engine roar, letting me know it is ready for more miles.
 Just for fun, I calculated that there has been about 2200 gallons pass through my fuel tank over the years. Or 550 gallons per carb. Most of it Super Shell or VPower.

[ekpent]

The problem could have been as simple as just the float needle getting wedged and jammed a little in the seat especially if you were filling an empty bowl. I have a K3 chopper that every once in a great while I would come out of the bar, errr I mean restaurant and turn on the gas and that carb would be a pisser. Quick drop of the float bowl and push the float up and down pop bowl back on and go.

[BenelliSEI]

Glorious morning, so took it down to Rice Lake for breakfast with a few friends. Four of us headed off to Warkworth for another coffee and then around the lake. +100 miles and it ran perfectly. This K1 is definitely my favourite ride, ever! Great morning, good to be alive….

[bryanj]

Always carry a soft handled screwdriver to whach, er gently tap, the floatbowl with

[BenelliSEI]

Hi John, I have had two of my original brass floats fail. It wasn’t a pinhole or a crack, it looked like the brass was corroded. I tried resoldering but I don’t have the touch, so I have two plastic and two original.
 I was having a leak problem that continued until I polished the carb posts, the hinge pins and the end of the float barrel that holds the hinge pin. There was a wear mark on the carb post and maybe a hang up there.
 It’s tight quarters in the float bowl, I have seen floats that are not square with the float frame and wondered if it was due to hamhanded float handling, or an effort to make a clearance with the the bowl/gasket. I still have my original bowl gaskets in place.
 My winter storage plan is fill the tank, drain the carbs. In the springtime, I hold my breath a bit when I first touch the starter button, but I am always rewarded with an eager engine roar, letting me know it is ready for more miles.
 Just for fun, I calculated that there has been about 2200 gallons pass through my fuel tank over the years. Or 550 gallons per carb. Most of it Super Shell or VPower.

Kev…. I think I will add STABIL for the end of season and use you method. Makes perfect sense.

[BenelliSEI]

Always carry a soft handled screwdriver to whach, er gently tap, the floatbowl with

I do….. this one needed more. Oddly, it ran perfectly last time out. I suspect a swollen gasket was the problem. Will change it all back and see.

[newday777]

John
When I put mine away for it's winter nap after bowls are emptied, I inject Marvel Mystery Oil in the carbs to keep they lubricated. Then in the spring drain the bowls of the MMO and tank of the 2 stroke oil. After being away for 18 months from being stuck in San Diego (CA lock down), I did this and it fired up without a leak.
This past winter I didn't put MMO in the carbs and I too had some leaks until the gas rehydrate the carbs....

Stu….. I some times wonder if we’re just not trying too hard. A friend of mine starts using STABIL, with every tank, in September. Shuts his bikes off and walks away. Everything seems to work in the Spring……

Which flavor Stabil?? Red or marine?

[BenelliSEI]

John
When I put mine away for it's winter nap after bowls are emptied, I inject Marvel Mystery Oil in the carbs to keep they lubricated. Then in the spring drain the bowls of the MMO and tank of the 2 stroke oil. After being away for 18 months from being stuck in San Diego (CA lock down), I did this and it fired up without a leak.
This past winter I didn't put MMO in the carbs and I too had some leaks until the gas rehydrate the carbs....

Stu….. I some times wonder if we’re just not trying too hard. A friend of mine starts using STABIL, with every tank, in September. Shuts his bikes off and walks away. Everything seems to work in the Spring……

Which flavor Stabil?? Red or marine?

He uses the Red.

[Gamma]

+1 on the Stabil.  I’ve not run my Honda yet, but I’ve been using Stabil in my Suzuki RG500 for several years as I was concerned about the carbs getting gummed up with modern fuels.  I was working overseas for several months at a time so didn’t get to ride her much.  I used to put Stabil in the tank on the last run of the bike before going back to work, I didn’t drain the carbs.  Sold her this year, my wife thought that it was to fast for an old codger😂

[Doobie]

I've never had any issue with a CB750 that's been sitting but the CB899F I had leaked gas whenever I looked at it. Reminded me of a dog I had that pissed whenever he saw me because he was so happy.