Carb Rebuild Gas pouring out

[Spootinay]

okay, I've set all the floats to spec. That is top of the floats to where the gasket sits, not the gasket itself right? I've taken the bowels off and check for leaks from the needles. none found. needles and housings are clean and shiny.

and the little bastard is still leaking. it comes out as fast as it goes in.

can i adjust all the floats to different levels all out of spec if i use the clear tube thingy to make sure i have the correct fuel level in each bowel?

[bikerphil]

Measure from the gasket surface with the gasket removed to the highest point on the float. Remember, when filling the bowls with gas for the first time, tap them with a screwdriver handle to prevent the floats from sticking. Only use the tube method to set the float level if you have an 81 or later setup with the spigots on the bottom of the bowls.

[crazy steve]

I'm starting to wonder is you have mixed parts in your carbs, or if they're even the '78-79 type...

What do the float valve seats look like? Are they threaded and screw into the carb housing? If they do, they do have the red fiber gaskets under them, right? Don't screw in, but are held in with small 'Y' shaped brackets? Then you have the '80-81 type carbs and the needles are wrong. Plus these are sealed with o-rings, and the o-rings are famous for shrinking and leaking. Replace with new valves, the problem should go away...

A couple of pics of the carbs would really help.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Your pain!

1st, I feel your pain Went through the same thing Did you also adjust the max float opend tang? If not, the floats can jam open. Next, how are you testing, is the test tank alot higher then the stock tank would be on the bike (mine leaked badly due to to much fuel pressure from that, on testing) Check to make sure the floats dont hit anything like the gaskets also. Many folks have no bleed down at all at shut off, I am not so lucky, but the bike runs great and I just shut of the petcocks a few sec before the motor to be sure / safe Good luck with your bike, I know the carbs can be a PITA sometimes

okay, I've set all the floats to spec. That is top of the floats to where the gasket sits, not the gasket itself right? I've taken the bowels off and check for leaks from the needles. none found. needles and housings are clean and shiny.

and the little bastard is still leaking. it comes out as fast as it goes in.

can i adjust all the floats to different levels all out of spec if i use the clear tube thingy to make sure i have the correct fuel level in each bowel?

[BA80]

I'm starting to wonder is you have mixed parts in your carbs, or if they're even the '78-79 type...

What do the float valve seats look like? Are they threaded and screw into the carb housing? If they do, they do have the red fiber gaskets under them, right? Don't screw in, but are held in with small 'Y' shaped brackets? Then you have the '80-81 type carbs and the needles are wrong. Plus these are sealed with o-rings, and the o-rings are famous for shrinking and leaking. Replace with new valves, the problem should go away...

A couple of pics of the carbs would really help.

Here's the pic he put up earlier steve. Definitly 78-79 bodies.

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...y/photo1-4.jpg

[crazy steve]

Here's the pic he put up earlier steve. Definitly 78-79 bodies.

http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...y/photo1-4.jpg

Yep, they are '78-79; thanks Greg. It simply might be just worn-out valves/seats, sometimes they can look OK to the naked eye but not be good...

[DGXSER]

I have not read back through the entire thread, so forgive me if this was covered. Years ago when I first rebuilt my first set of XS11 carbs, I did the bench test, no leaks. I then did the off the bike on a rack test, no leaks. And then time, after time, after time, after time, the bloody blinking carbs would leak when mounted on the bike. A fellow local XSsive always described his bike as looking like it had been rolled down a hill and set on fire, since I live on a hill, I was threatening to make mine match his!!! I was so tired of leaking bloody carbs!!

Well, after the umpteenth time of removing, and cleaning the carbs, float valves, seats (all of which were brand spanking new of course, and the 81 viton type), I finally saw the little black specks in the valve seats, then I noticed them in the fuel Ts. I finally figured out that the automotive style rubber lines I was using, kind with two cores, soft inner rubber, harder outer rubber, were chaffing off little pieces of rubber every time I put them on the babred Ts and tightened the little hose clamps I was using with them. I went to the local hardware store and bought the yellow plastic lawn mower fuel line. Put that on instead, and never had another issue with the carbs on that one leaking!

May not be your problem, but it sure had me for a while!

[BA80]

I hate to repeat what's already been suggested but.......are you CERTAIN your hooking the fuel inlet hoses to the INLET Ts and NOT the VENT Ts.

[Spootinay]

Lol yeah I'm hooking the fuel lines to the fuel tees.

the needle seats screw in and have red gaskets.

testing with carb off the bike gas level mimicking the tank.

floats are free to move up and down.

gas comes out the bottom right hole:
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...y/photo1-4.jpg

Ill set the max open tab and tap with a screw driver and get back to ya

[crazy steve]

At this point, I'd try bench testing these again but with a twist. Pull the bowls, turn the carbs upside down so the valves are closed, then put fuel to them. If the valves are leaking, you'll see where. You shouldn't get much if any fuel past the needles if they're good...

[DAVINCI]

Lol yeah I'm hooking the fuel lines to the fuel tees.

the needle seats screw in and have red gaskets.

testing with carb off the bike gas level mimicking the tank.

floats are free to move up and down.

gas comes out the bottom right hole:
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...y/photo1-4.jpg

Ill set the max open tab and tap with a screw driver and get back to ya

Just to clarify one more time what Greg wrote...the fuel tees are the LOWER tees. The vent tees are the UPPER tees. Got that?

[runningbear]

will a wireharness off an 80 midnight special work on an 80 special

[crazy steve]

will a wireharness off an 80 midnight special work on an 80 special

Yes, except for trim they're identical...

[mack]

Circles

Can you be more specific so we don't go in circles here. Which carb is leaking, or are they all leaking. You describe the flow from the bottom right hole. I assume the 4 o clock hole as the carbs would sit in the bike. Your drop tabs have been set and when you roll the carbs front to back the floats move freely and don't hang up on the bottom of the post. As the carbs would sit on the bike, you have the fuel lines hooked to the bottom T's. Am I right so far?

[mack]

Interesting

That 4 0 clock hole is the starter jet and connects to the emulsion tube tower through a diagonal port located imediately behind the float posts. Just learned that myself last week. The level of your fuel would have to be much too high for it to come out that hole if you lines are hooked to the correct t's