New problems

[Hmar]

So, I started my riding season by flipping the bike and performing the 1st and 2nd gear fix. After a lot more time than I would hope, and some clutch problems that were fixed with the help of this forum, I got the bike back together and ridable, went around the block once. right about then, my kids bought me paint for father's day, so I decided to paint the bike (pic below)
After registering and changing colors with insurance and registry, I was ready to ride! That;s when I discovered the heaven-knows-how-old battery finally decided it was done holding a charge, so off to buy a new battery. put the battery in this past Wednesday, rode around the block a few times, was happy. I have a functioning second gear for the first time since I've owned the bike. Gas light came on as I was parking, no big deal. yesterday (Thursday) morning, FINALLY time to ride to work! Start bike right up, happy happy... runs out of gas while warming up. No time, what's one more day? go to work, happy thoughts of soon to ride, no more delays, weather looks good for the next few days. Get home last night, play with kids, wait for wife to get home so I can go buy gas, fill tank all is right with the world. Around 8 last night, sitting on the front steps with a beer, waiting for the dog to do her thing, when I smelled gas. Went over, turned on light, looking around, see crack on right carb boot, pouring gas. turned petcock off, leak stopped (yes, I know I should have turned it off when I parked) At the very least the 2 outside boots are cracked and leaking, heavily.

So, on to the question: once they start leaking, is it too late to try and seal it? Am I going to need to bite the bullet and buy a new set of boots? If I take the carbs off, will I need to sync them?
Thanks in advance, and here is the promised picture:

[mack]

Carbs

Sorry to say that while the cracked boots are an issue, those carbs need to come off and have the fuel levels checked and or fuel valve seats and needles checked. No gas should be "pouring" from the carb boots if the levels are correct and the needles and seats are functioning correctly.

[Hmar]

I was really afraid someone was going to say something like that. Lacking the tools and know how to sync the carbs, any idea how much I should expect to spend?
Thanks

[BowlingSS]

I like the color but I am a LSU guy. Take the carbs off and clean them real good. You might have some dirt that got in and could prevent the needle valve from stopping. Do you have filters on the gas lines? If not you should install some. I would also check your tank for dirt, etc in the bottom. Take the petcocks off and clean the filters. Sometimes the boots just look cracked on the outside. It would run badly if the carb boots were cracked all the way thru.

Good luck. I used to live is Westfield, MA.

Bill

[Hmar]

Thanks, Bill.
I was married in Westfield.
I'll pull the carbs this weekend and see what I can do. It's still the sync that worries me.
I can't really complain, I've had the bike 4 years and still don't have a grand into it, I've spent more on helmets and leather than I have on the bike.

[bikerphil]

Your carbs will not go out of sync just removing them and cleaning them out. If you separated them all from the bank of 4, that's another story. Do not touch any of the sync screws when disassembling. If it does need a sync later, go buy a $5 vac. gauge and do it the poor man's way, or but a real set of gauges for $60. Don't take your bike to a shop as 90% of the time it will come back to you worse than you started with, doesn't make sense to pay someone to learn how to work on this type of bike, do it yourself, JMHO

[mack]

Follow the carb

cleaning tech tip completely and don't skip any parts. I'm sure when the time comes, and you have also followed the bench sync tips that we have a few guys/girls in the area that can come and show you the sync procedure for a cool one or two!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey guys,

You're missing some of the vital clues he provided!

1st) He ran the carbs DRY warming it up, so floats dropped all the way down.

2nd) He then refilled it, I'm assuming with a separate portable fuel can since he coudn't drive it to the station. Then turned the fuel petcocks on...or had left them in the ON position....either way....bowls filled up....but perhaps due to the floats dropping so low....the got hung UP and stuck OPEN= the fuel leak out of the intakes!

SO...the first thing we often suggest it just rapping the carbs with a dead blow hammer or screwdriver handle to dislodge the floats...he has NOT reported any carb leaking before!?

I would suggest trying that and see if the carbs continue to leak with the petcocks ON, have the bike on the centerstand, not sidestand. If it doesn't leak after doing the bump/gentle rap technique, then he probably just had some stuck floats! However, if it doesn continue to leak, then you'll know for sure that you need to pull the carbs and clean them!

Yes...he should still probably take off the boots and at least SEAL them for now to keep his expenditures down so he can ride the season. Then ask for a new set for Xmas!

And throw in some SEAFOAM in the tank to help keep it clean.

BTW, ensure that the fuel didn't flow/leak FORWARD into the intake/engine so that you don't have fuel contaminated oil = bearing ruining quickly situation, and would need to drain/replace oil /filter!

T.C.

[MPittma100]

Don't Start The Engine!

Check for evidence (smell) of gas in the oil BEFORE you start the engine again. If gas is in the oil, change it and the filter right away. Carburetor repair in the way of float adjustments and/or rebuild kits is a must. Replacement boots (intakes) are needed too.

Add fuel filters if there aren't any.

Lots of help here with tutorials and videos.

[mack]

Maybe

TC you may be right. If so it certainly reinforces the requirement to bend the drop tangs when your setting the floats doesn't it. Easy to check though.

[Hmar]

TC, you may have saved my bike, not sure I could have gotten away with any more money right now. I hit the carbs with a screw driver, seems to have stopped the leak. It seemed like I could smell gas in the oil, so I changed it and ran a can of sea foam through. I went for a ride last night, to run some errands, and she felt like a new bike (a lot more pep with all 5 gears)
Thanks for your help, as always this site is a life saver.

[mack]

Thats why

he's the Top Cat

[mack]

drop tangs

You should still take the time to set your drop tangs on the floats so you don't run into the same problem again.