Stuck float

[jeffe]

I have what I think is a stuck float on my 78E. When i start the bike or turn the petcocks to prime I get gas comming from the carb inlets and running into the airbox. The bike will start up and run but dumps a lot of gas into the airbox. The gas appears to be runnimg out of the number 3 carb. The carbs were rebuilt last summer after the PO let the bike sit for five years. I relined the tank but I am not real happy with the way it came out so I plan to do it again. I have not added inline filters, but plan to. I need any help any one can give me. As an FYI before this problem cropped up the old girl ran fine, and returned around 40 MPG.

I have used seafoam in the tank and directly into the fuel line for that side. I've pulled the drain plug of number 3 and number 4 so it would run freely thru the carbs. I've also gently tapped on the carb and ran air thru the line. This is about as far as i feel comfortable doing. Thanks for any help.

[ratbyk]

Flooding

It is likely dirt on the seat of the N&S. You will have to pull the bank of carbs. Suggest that you drop all 4 float bowls. Clean them out, remove the needles and blow out. Also check the small screen filters to make sure there is no dirt building up there as well.
Make sure your fuel lines are new or at least in good shape to remove the possibility that material is flaking off from their insides.
This time for sure , get some in line filters in the system. These old bikes have lots of crap floating around in their fuel systems. You have to filter it out before it gets to the carbs or you will be going through this same problem again and again.
Ken/Sooke

[Lewis.Dundas]

You also want to check that there is no leak in the float. I had a pinhole in one of mine that reduced the boyancy of the float. When I shook it you could hear and feel the gas inside.

Also when you have the carbs pulled, turn them upside down and measure the hight of the #3 carb float and make sure it is not lower than the other 3. If you have a manual it tells you the measurement.