Topic: Vulcan CV carbs filling airbox - any tips?

[Bodi]

I'm looking at a Kawi EN500 LTD for a friend. The airbox drools gas occasionally. My first idea was the air filter, looked pretty grimy and could have been choking back fuel. This looks to be a washable element, so I did. Seems a bit better maybe (his report) but still dribling the expensive burny stuff.
I will pull the carbs and check for float valve issues, but I'm not familiar with CV carbs and their peculiarities. Is there anything else I should look for that may be causing this? They're marked Keihin CVK. There's a tiny nipple (too small in my opinion to permanently attach a hose) on the bottom with no hose attached (it may only be a drain, not an overflow?). This does not drip fuel. The carbs are rubber mounted and vibrate quite a lot when running but I assume this is normal.
And man they make getting at anything difficult. You have to remove the solenoid to get the air filter out, although it's a pretty slick slide-in piece.

[HavocTurbo]

You are going to have to take them out and clean them.

Make sure you buy some carb dip or some sort (i prefer berryman's) and dip the bottom bowls.

The 500 and 250's have basically the same carbs and we ALWAYS had to clean them after any kind of long period.

Take out all the jets and clean them (i dip mine also) if you find a plug an e-string off a guitar will work if you dont have jet wires.

Then take out the float assembly and check to make sure the needle valves arent scored or worn. If they are (happens quite often on these) they need to be replaced.

When you take out the jets make sure you spray carb cleaner into all the holes with the butterfles WIDE OPEN. This will help uncover the passages so you can get any gunk out.

This more than likely is the culprit. The 250's were known to get plugged and leak into the cylinders AND the airbox as well as leak all over. The EN500 is the same engine as the EX500 (500 Ninja) but in a different mounting position. The Vulcan is upright where as the Ninja is tilted forward.

Hope that helps.

[Bodi]

Thanks!
The bowls look quite clean inside. The float valve have rubber/viton needles and both have a worn ring showing, so new ones should hopefully solve the flooding. The bike started and ran OK according to the owner, so I don't expect any plugged passages but I'll flush them out. The jets and emulsion tubes all look excellent.
I don't particularly trust his judgement though. The push throttle cable was broken and rusted solid, limiting throttle to maybe about 25%. He may be surprised at how powerful the bike will be now... I'll just take all the blame for that!