story and a problem

[oldyam80sg]

OK so the bike ran fine in April and May of this year.I rode to work several times and around town.No issues at that time.In late May, i started having my legs randomly going numb and my priority was to get my VA paperwork in order to see what was happening.So i didn't renew my registration in May and put it off until i could find out what was wrong.The bike went into my storage unit and i started it when i could maybe 2 times a month.In August i was involved in a motorcycle accident on my Kawasaki ZRX 1100 when a car turned directly in front of me causing me to do a panic stop and i went down hard.No broken bones but took 2 months before i could walk normal again.Started fixing up my Kawasaki and put the XS on the back burner.Now last week i go to start the bike up and gas pours out of the air filter closest to the clutch lever.I also sprayed water on the pipes and the one that is leaking the gas is also cold.Put Seafoam and Stabil in the tank and tapped on the carb body to free a stuck float.It worked for a bit then started again.What could it need besides a thorough cleaning?

[jwhughes3]

I think you diagnosed it properly.

Gummy carbs needing a thorough cleaning.

John

[bikerphil]

Might also need float valve O rings, hard to tell before you take them apart.

[oldyam80sg]

I replaced them 2 years ago(o-rings) The weird part is the air filter had gas dripping out of it after i turned it on and i tapped on the body trying to free the stuck choke.After a while(2 minutes) leak stopped the bike ran really rough so i shut it off and shut off the gas.When i restarted the bike, the gas leaked again so i suspect there is crap somewhere preventing the carb from getting fuel.

[mack]

Filters

There are little filters on the bottom of the float valves. (other end of where the needle is inserted). That could be plugged up pretty good as well. However it wouldn't explain the fuel dripping out of the air box unless number two float is stuck and it is over flowing the bowl up to the air vents in the bells. unlikely. Are you sure the fuel is leaking from the number 1 velocity stack in the air box? Once you let it air out a bit, check that cold cylinder for spark.

[Tropic-al]

Just to be on the safe side, while looking for the problem, check the oil sight glass to make sure you don't have gas in the crankcase. It's happened to me twice because of a leaking petcock and a float that was stuck.

[oldyam80sg]

2 years ago the bike was in storage shed and didn't leak out of carbs.However when i rode it couldn't get too far.It would bog down and removed carbs and found the filters at the bottom of float valves were clogged solid.They were removed and cleaned and the bike was running like a top.I went on a 60 mile ride without an issue.Hope a cleaning will fix this current issue.

[skids]

Yeah, that is a hell of a place to put those screens. If they are clogged with rubber bits you might consider new fuel lines. Careful with those T's...

[oldyam80sg]

OK so i cleaned the carbs and reassembled them onto bike but now have another issue.Will only run on choke all the way out and partially out.If i push choke all the way in bike will die.I spritzed the pipes and pipe closest to clutch not too hot as rest of other pipes.Any ideas?Bike starts fine otherwise.Could the spark plug be fouled?Didn't check them yet.

[TopCatGr58]

Well that's the FIRST cleaning!

Hey Old Yam,

Sounds like you may not have gotten your pilot circuit cleaned properly, it's not getting enough fuel thru it to run/idle without the choke/enrichener.

Did you actually pull out the pilot jets and main jet needles/emulsion tubes and soak and clean them and ensure their small ports are open. That GUM/VARNISH can really mess up those small ports.

T.C.

[Shacknasty]

Gas companies make more profit by putting less anti-gumming additives in fuel. That's why the new stuff goes badly so quickly and clogs every little passage and jet. Gotta completely disassemble and clean those carbs from A to Z. No shortcuts.

[mack]

Carbs

Do you have the carbs with the plugs in your pilot tower or do you have the passage connecting both towers?

[oldyam80sg]

I will take the carbs off again and go through them.It was a pain to put the carbs back on so removing them will be easier!The fuel today is not like the fuel of yesterday as when i yanked the carbs off the gas residue is like a yellowish color.I will also change the plugs as i bought NGK's in bulk last year.

[oldyam80sg]

I'm going to replace my Tygon yellow fuel line as I'm finding out Tygon hardens up after a while.

[oldyam80sg]

Just ordered 6' of Tygon and as soon as this darn snow is cleared from my storage unit will have another go at it!Going to change the spark plugs also as i know they are fouled.