And yet another fuel leak...

[Toolmaker Tim]

More clues

Pulled the plugs today and looked at them. Plugs 1&2 are good, 3&4 are black. Changed the plug to another set I have and got the same results. It is starting to smell like an electrical problem. I know the left coils controls cyl.1&4, and the right 2&3. I hope it's not the TCI.Any ideas or threads I should check?

[DGXSER]

Hate to say it, but it just about has to be fuel related. As you stated the coils feed 1&4 and then 2&3. The TCI don't know or care about 4 cylinders really, it just knows to give a signal to two coils. So if either 1 or 4 and either 2 or 3 are sparkin, the TCI is doing its thing, and so are the pickup coils I would suspect.

Granted it is possible that the both pickup coils are only signaling every other time they get bumped, leading to the issue your describing, but, wow, that would be WAYYY out there in my opinion. Just this side of impossible.

So, on the fuel side of life, do you have any issues with gas flowing when you do not want it to if your petcocks are left in prime position with bike off? Seems more likely that both float valves are leaking due to some sort fo gunk or grunge from the tank getting into the line that feeds them. Leading to over full float bowls and an over rich mixture.

[Toolmaker Tim]

Fuel vs Electrical Issue

Actually I see that as good news. Problem is, since I have the vent tubes open to the atmosphere, it isn't leaking/overflowing. Things that make you go Hmmmmm. New plan needed I guess, same as the old plan. Pull the carbs again and figure out what I missed. I don't want to change the float setting when I am getting different results from one side to the other.

[petejw]

hey TT,
did you sync the carbs?
the left and right banks could be out,
with regards to the vent tubes, id drill the
middle of them and reattach the vent hoses from
the carbs, that'll help with acceleration.
what did you set your mixture screws at?

[Toolmaker Tim]

I Think I Found It

First, DGXSER, you were right, it is a fuel problem. I found out two things, that the prime position has no flow, and when I put it in reserve or run, carbs 3&4 overflow. When I shut off the petcocks, the bike revs fine, no popping until the carbs start running dry. I put in plastic floats, so I will be checking to see if they are sticking agains the carb bowls went I get off work tonite. That would seem to be the highest probablity, with crud in the needles a very close second.

Pete, since I did have to pull the airbox, I opened up the vent holes. Yup I did sync the carbs, but since I am pulling them I will do it again. It gives me a chance to use my new sync gages. New toy ya know!

[DGXSER]

Ok, so now I have to ask, do you still have the Octopus vacuum valve on the bike? IF you do, you may have mixed up the line son your right side petcock which could be your issue with flow in the PRIME position. Remember, Prime is the front outlet on BOTH petcocks, the petcocks are "side specific". Unless of course someone swapped them side to side, then it would be the rear outlet on both. They are marked with an L and an R so you can see if they have been swapped.

I'd start by rapping the bowls on 3 and or 4 with a screwdriver handle to dislodge the float first. If that does not work, you COULD try some seafoam in the gas, and let it get into the carbs and see if it dissolves what ever got in there. But most likely your going back in...again.

[Toolmaker Tim]

Octopus

No, I don't have the octopus. Petcocks are on the proper side and the front nipple is capped off. Left petcock feeds 3&4, right petcock feeds 1&2. Pulled the airbox off and gave 3&4 fuel, when it started leaking I gave both a couple of wacks with a screwdriver handle. They stopped leaking, 1&2 started leaking. I beat those two into submission. I'm guessing the sides of the floats may be hanging up on the sides of the bowl when the fuel level drops to far. I put the petcocks in the reserve position and let it idle for about ten minutes, no leaks. Sort of a catch 22 situtation, the old needles and seats leaked because they were worn, and the new floats and fuel valve leak because they rub. I took the retaining springs off the needles before I installed them, I hope that wasn't a mistake.