Leaking carbs

[Mr Fixit1996]

I have just about had enough. I parted out one of my 1100s
because I was having a carb leak problem. I now am thinking of parting out my second 1100 because of the same thing.
Is this how these carbs are?
I have an xs1100 that is leaking from carb #4.
This is how the bike is set up. Two petcocks, one supplies 1-2 and one supplies 3-4
I know the float valve seat is not seating properly but I have put new ones in. I used a cheaper after-market type, maybe that is it,
but I am getting short on nerves.
Has anyone had any luck converting these over to rubber tipped valve seat?
If I have too much more trouble with these carbs this bike will be on ebay too.
Best wishes, Dustin

[bikerphil]

carb leak

To find out what the definite cause is, try doing a bench test. Carbs upside down, level, with bowls off, hook up a fuel source and observe. It's also possible the float is falling too low and sticking and/or hanging up on the float bowl gasket. There is an adjustment tang on the float to correct that. It would also be helpful if we knew the year of your bike. Also if you have brass floats, check to make sure they actually float by putting them in almost boiling water.

[XSPastor]

I had the same problem for a while and it was one of the floats dropping too far. It was dropping WAY further than the rest. After adjusting it, the leak went away. It's been a year now with no leaks!! Also, take a Q-tip and some polishing compound and spin it in the needle valve seat to make sure all the crud is out of there and the surface is glassy smooth. If you're seeing crud on the intake screens or junk in the float bowls, fuel filters would be a great idea too. It doesn't take much to make a needle valve leak - just a tiny particle in the wrong place. I have read somewhere on this forum about switching over to the rubber-tipped needles so I guess that's an option. As I remember, though, it's not as simple as just swapping them out... Good luck and stay at it! Don't let it beat you. Take it a step at a time and be persistant and you'll figure it out!

[prometheus578]

BikerPhil and XSPastor have covered all the bases.
(I don't know what that really means...)
Anyway...
Like they said, leaking carbs are either sticking floats or needles not sealing shut.
Yeah, the petcock isn't shutting off also, but the float needles should still stop the flow.
Bench test them as recommended.
As for the floats, especially the brass ones...
they can have a hole, or a crack along the seam that allows them to fill with gas and lose their bouyancy.
The part of the proceedure that BikerPhil left out was...
Submerge the float in the hot water.... and watch for bubbles coming from the float.
(The hot water heats the air in the float. The air expands. If you have a leak, it'll bubble.)

[Mr Fixit1996]

Anyone have a couple old valve seats that weren't leaking when they put a kit in or something they could part with? The threded type.
Best wishes, Dustin
Thanks for all the advice. I will keep you posted.

[egsols]

Something to read....http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ighlight=viton

The brass floats can also hang up on the pins. Make sure they move freely, really freely (say that 10 times fast).