Fuel coming out of float bowls

[tpederson]

I just finished a rebuild of my carbs yesterday and when I finally got them back in fuel started pouring out of the bowl drain as soon as they started filling up.  In the rebuild, I replaced the bowl gasket and float needle.  Was there some kind of adjustment I needed to do, I'm getting an indication from reading that this has to do with the float needles.

[coffee_brake]

When I did carbs once, they overflowed like that. It turns out I had put the floats back in upside down.

Also, are your floats at the right level? The manual should explain what level they should be at, and how to measure it. To adjust them, you would tweak the little thin metal piece at the float pivot. But if you're sure that you didn't bend that piece while you were cleaning, don't mess with it yet. If your manual doesn't explain how to check the float level, let me know, it's simple with some clear tubing like you bleed your brakes with.

Finally, there is a tiny O-ring in the opening under the float pivot for that jet. Make sure 1) that you still have one in there and 2) that you didn't double up on them. They are very hard to see and very hard to remove without tearing them. I find a bent paperclip the best tool to get them out. Again, they are fragile.

[JordanA]

The drain screws are shut, right?

[tpederson]

Yeah, I guess I could have described it better.  There was a good flow coming from 2 and 3, but 1 and 4 were just dripping.

[tpederson]

I think I found the culprit.  I took the carb off again and tried to level the floats only to discover that my carbs have non-level able floats.  So, I took the new needles off and compared them to the old needles on a hunch.  Lo and behold, the new ones are 1mm longer and the shape of the rubber on the bottom is different.  It was at this point that I actually read the sticker on the rebuild kit and realized that its for a 700cb 85-87 or some such.  After doing the requisite amount of cursing, I replaced the needles.  Unfortunately the bowl o-rings had swollen so I couldn't put the bowls back on.  I'm hoping that they contract again otherwise I'm going to bust out the RTV/welder and just seal it all up so I can get out in this weather.  LET THE CONSEQUENCES BE DAMNED!   

Just kidding.. but it was like torture not being able to get out today it was 60.  And in MN that's downright balmy.

[JordanA]

Ha I was going to say that you're a brave sole if you're going to go about welding on those carbs... fuel + electricity + fire + extreme temps = well we know what it equals.

[Bumblebee]

Ha I was going to say that you're a brave sole if you're going to go about welding on those carbs... fuel + electricity + fire + extreme temps = well we know what it equals.

Just dump the fuel out and welding isn't a hazard. There's not enough fuel in motorcycle carburetors to ignite. It's not like using a torch on dynamite or pressurized propane tank or something silly like that.
The big question is does he know how to weld aluminum?

Oh yea, the desperation in getting something done rule states that the floats will melt or just enough to compromise integrity and promptly sink..or stick open.

[JordanA]

Ha I was going to say that you're a brave sole if you're going to go about welding on those carbs... fuel + electricity + fire + extreme temps = well we know what it equals.

Just dump the fuel out and welding isn't a hazard. There's not enough fuel in motorcycle carburetors to ignite. It's not like using a torch on dynamite or pressurized propane tank or something silly like that.
The big question is does he know how to weld aluminum?

Oh yea, the desperation in getting something done rule states that the floats will melt or just enough to compromise integrity and promptly sink..or stick open.

While welding aluminum is tricky (my rear end in my Jeep is aluminum, Dana44a) it is nothing compared to welding to the paper thin unibodies that Jeeps have (full body Jeeps, not wranglers).  Man is that a pain!

Bumblebee, I was making a joke... as if he was going to weld the carbs shut while mounted on the bike.

[Bumblebee]

I was making a joke... as if he was going to weld the carbs shut while mounted on the bike.

I know. Maybe my sense of humor is a bit out of whack right now.
Hmmm. He could weld it while it's running so he can make sure he got all the leaks.

I hate welding unreasonably thin stuff. My electronics solder iron can go through some of the new cars nowadays.

[tpederson]

Bumblebee, I was making a joke... as if he was going to weld the carbs shut while mounted on the bike.

Bah, you guys don't give me any credit.  I was going to weld them while driving.  Through a dynomite factory, with a rabid shark on my back, and battling an irate polar bear Road Rash style.

Anyways, the o-rings shrunk, so I think I can get the whole works back into the bike.

If it doesn't work again, my biggest concern is getting curb stomped by the WWF after trying the next fix.   

[JordanA]

Haha curb stomped by the WWF... nice.

[tpederson]

Ok, now I'm down to one leaking bowl.  I'm hoping that the needle just needs to get saturated with fuel and swell a little.  I'll check when I get home in the morning.  Fingers crossed, damnit.

[tpederson]

Fuel is still coming out of number 3 like crazy.  Its weird, because it seems like before it was an overflow issue because there would still be gas in the bowls, just the excess would leak.  This one just doesn't seem to be able to hold fuel in it at all.   The drain plug is in good and tight.  And turning it in and out doesn't seem to have an effect on the flow either. Any ideas as to what could cause that?

[tpederson]

Ok, a picece broke off in the bowl, looks like I tried too hard to tighten the drain screw and a chunk came off.  This could be bad, I don't see any bowls on ebay, I might have to buy a new carb.  Anyone on here have a spare bowl they could sell me?  I've got some jb-weld in there, that may do it, but that's iffy at best.

[coffee_brake]

Can you get a bowl or just the screw on BikeBandit? Your local dealer may also be able to order you the parts.

Really when you think about it, is there any reason he couldn't just leave it JB'd and remove the bowl to drain it, when it needs draining?
My Harley carb had no drain screw, I had to dump the whole bowl when I needed to work on it. Which was EVERY DANG WEEK.

[JordanA]

I see no problem with the JB weld, as long as it is allowed to properly cure and can withstand the gasoline and not dissolve.

[tpederson]

Ok, I feel better about my outlook.  Once I sober up, I'm gonna ride that damn bike.  Even if I have to make my g/f push me down the street on it while I make motorcycle noises.