Topic: Newbie question #3042

[Lenny55]

So I turned off my bike today, smelled gas, and looked around in time to see a pretty good stream of gas draining from the #4 carb.  What does this mean?  Is it normal.  Thanks, Lenny.

[Johnie]

Not normal...carb #4 float stuck open a bit.  Give the float bowl a few taps with a plastic hammer to see if it frees up.  A regular hammer you chance cracking the float bowl.  Be sure to turn off the gas at the petcock or it can continue to drain.

[Industrial Cafe]

it means you didn't stop and let it go pee before you left.

[Industrial Cafe]

you can use a screwdriver handle to tap on them, cause its hard to find a plastic hammer

pull the bowl and floats, and have a look-see for any junk in the fuel inlet you might spray down the disassembled carb bottom before you put it together, just for good measure.

[Derby City]

When that has happened to me I just unscrewed the drain screw in bottom of the bowl, and hoped that any foreign object that might be messing with the floats would come out with the gas.  I think draining the gas in the float bowl also allows the float to quit floating, creating float movement...just like hitting it with a hammer accomplishes.

Done it twice so far, worked both times.  I would never hit my bike with a hammer.  I love my bike!!!

[moham]

Not even a plastic hammer?

[Joel]

Where are the first 3041 questions?

[Industrial Cafe]

they're on your ignore list 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I had this problem after the coating on my tank failed to properly cure.  A in-line fuel filter is a good safeguard, as well.

[Industrial Cafe]

oh don't start the in-line filter deboccle again

[Lenny55]

Thanks guys, I'll try the plastic hammer/screw driver fix.  I'm finding out that a 36 year old bike that hasn't seen the road in a couple of years is going to need a little tweaking.  This forum is awesome by the way.

[Johnie]

And remember...all that tweeking is fun.