Topic: Gas gushing onto ground after turning bike off.

[skarbakka]

Hi,

I have a 76 550f. She has been running fine until today.  I took a ride (about 40 miles). Three times I stopped along the way and turned the engine off, only to have gas spewing onto the ground from one or more of the carb lines.  Upon trying to restart the bike, it acted like it was flooded and didn't kick over very easily.  On the last few miles back the house, I was cussing at the traffic because it felt like all I was doing was trying to keep the bike from stalling.  Of course when I did finally make it home, gas came pouring out once again after turning off the engine. I looked for threads on this, but wasn't too successful.  I would appreciate any help. Hopefully, I won't have to pull those damn carbs off.

thanks

[Bob Wessner]

Sounds like stuck floats or dirty float valve seats. Are the floats set correctly? How's the tank, clean? Is there a filter in the petcock, have you checked it? Good habit to get into is turning off the fuel flow at the petcock every time you stop/park.

[Inkscars]

Sounds like an issue with your floats. Possibly needles. Turn off the gas supply and let the bike run till the gas out of the bowls is burned up. Open back up the gas supply and see if it still drips. You could also just drain the bowls, and try the same thing. Go from there. It just sounds like the floats are out of adjustment or sticking. should be an easy fix.

[skarbakka]

Thanks for your replys,

The carbs should be in good shape. However, it does look like the gas is coming primarily out of one carb and not the easiest one to get to in order to remove the bowl.  I'll try both the gas and screwdriver method.  Also, I never thought about the filter, but it has given me problems before. Thanks again

[flybox1]

Sounds like stuck floats or dirty float valve seats.

Drain that bowl.  tap on the bowl with the handle end of a screwdriver to get the float to fall, or tap the whole bank with a rubber mallet.   put drain screw back in.  hook 8" of clear tubing on the overflow vent tube on that bowl, and raise the other end. tape it up or something.  its just gotta be higher than the bowl.
turn on the fuel and see how high the fuel level goes, and if your floats work.  as read from clear tubing, fuel level needs to be 4mm below bowl gasket level.  if not.... you're gonna need to pull the rack, recheck the float valves(make sure they are clean and the spring operates). clean the float pins so the floats "float" freely, and check and recheck your float heights.