Carb #3

[msmccoy66]

I have an 80 xs11 with individual cone filters. Carb 3# just started dumping gas just before I got to work. Am I looking at an easy fix or ??? Any ideas. Thanks.

[msmccoy66]

Thanks for your help, looks like I'm doing some cleaning when I get home.

[Crazcnuk]

If it's just a bit of gunk on the float seat, you can take your fuel line off and blow through it. Sometimes can clear the debris out.

[msmccoy66]

On the ride home I opened her up quite a few times and it's not dumping fuel any more at this point in time. I am thinking to wait and see if it does it again and then take it apart. Do you guys think I should take it apart tonight just because?

[Ken Talbot]

Whatever was in there holding the float valve open is still in there somewhere. If you want to keep riding it because it is now leaking now, be sure to watch closely for when it acts up again.

If you get lucky, it could happen next time like it did this time.

If you don't get so lucky, it could happen just when you shut it down and walk away from the bike for a few days. By the time you come back, it will have had time to flood your crankcase with gas, spill all over the top of your crankcase, and leak all over the floor of your garage resulting in a high concentration of fumes to ignite from the pilot of your water heater.

The choice is yours. Maybe park it outside until you get a chance to look at it. And check your oil level each time before you ride it.

[Crazcnuk]

Not really an issue, if your petcock cut-offs work properly...

[planedick]

If

IF is a very small word with potentially disastrous consequences. Grandma said it's a small word with a big meaning. It's really easy to just drop the bowl down and check it out.

[Ken Talbot]

Craz is on the right track, though. If the petcocks are working properly, there is only a certain amount of fuel that can possibly leak past the float valve once the motor is off and the vacuum has dissipated from behind the diaphragm. Consider, however, that the bit of cr@p that got stuck in the float valve probably came from the tank, and it passed through the shut-off point in the petcock to get to the float valve. If that one got through there, it probably has one or two cousins still waiting to pass through the same place, and maybe pass through cleanly, or get hung up along the way.

Like I said, the choice is yours! After all, the cr@p could also just be from perished fuel lines and not from the tank.

[TADracer]

One thing is for sure, it is an indication that something needs attention.

Even if it is nothing more than a speck that came down from the tank then that is telling you that your tank needs attention or perhaps your filter screen towers (term filter is used very loosely) are suspect.

Checking everything out is a very inexpensive thing to do....only some of your time is required.

[msmccoy66]

Thank you all for your input, I think that now I will be looking at the tank and hoses and doing some preventive maintenance. As I was almost empty I think something got sucked down from the tank. Thoughts or opinions about addding a couple in-line filters?

[dbeardslee]

msm - Z1 sells the clear plastic high capacity in-line fuel filters for $2.08 ea. If you haven't done it already, when you put the filters in, lengthen your fuel lines and cross them under the tank such that the right hand petcock is feeding cylinders 1 and 2, and the left hand petcock is feeding 3 and 4. That way when you want to adjust and synch your carbs you'll have enough line to remove the gas tank, turn it around backwards and place it where the seat usually lives and reattach your fuel lines. Makes it easier to turn the screws.

[msmccoy66]

Thanks, I hadn't thought of that. Makes sense and I should also do the same with my vacuum lines.

[Crazcnuk]

Yes, just watch you secure your tank, when it's on backwards...


Don't ask how I know!

[dbeardslee]

MSM - Vacuum lines you don't have to worry about. Just stick a couple pencils in the ends to plug them and set the petcocks to the 'prime' position when you're adjusting.

Yes, just watch you secure your tank, when it's on backwards.

Craz - I'm with you on that, brother! You know, those pops-a-dent things really work