Topic: flooded carbs and my bike wont start

[cormier1989]

So i cone into work this morning and there is gas on the floor because it my second carb had flooded. I started my bike to drain the carbs and it would only idle on full choke and after a minute or two it wont even start on full choke much less idle. It seems like a stuck carb float but I am not too sure. Can anyone help me diagnos the problem and give a tell me what i need to do to fix it? Im thinking that if i take the bowl off and spray some carb cleaner in there i might be alright.

[Johnie]

Would help us a lot if you could tell us what bike you have there.  If you have the carbs many of us have you would not need to start the bike to drain the carbs.  Just open the screw on the bottom of the float bowl and catch the gas in a small container.  And notice if any junk comes out with it.  You could take that float and needle out to clean it and see if that does it.  Always be sure to turn your petcock off when the bike sits too.  Depending on what bike you have the float could also have sprung leak.  When you take the float off shake it and listen for gas inside.  Check the tank for crud?  Any history on the bike?  Have you or the PO ever had the carbs off? 

[Frankenkit]

he has a 1980 cb650 I think.   One of the 650s.

+1 on everything you said, Johnie.

To take the float/needle out, just use a little punch or a brad or something slim and pointy and just gently press out that pivot pin.  Sand it with a little very fine steel wool (clean it up real well after) or 1500 sand paper.  Make sure that bugger's smooth.  then clean up your float needle, make sure it's not 'sticky' and doesn't have any kind of residue on it.

I'm not sure if the plastic floats can spring leaks, but maybe they can. in that case, you may need a replacement. 

[cormier1989]

problem solved! thanks for covering me there kit I always make sure i turn my petcock off before i turn off my bike, sometimes i turn off my petcock a minute or two before i turn my bike off so i can get my carbs relatively empty. But upon closer inspection yesterday i found that my fuel clamps that clamp the hose into my carbs had come loose so it looked like my #2 carb was flooding. Next time ill take a little more time before i go make a post. After i fixed the little problem i took the old one out for a 140mi spin had to make sure it was running good.