Left Carburetor Pouring Gas Out

[TrevorSkatezz]

Hey all, I just recently pulled into my driveway and my idle started going down until my bike shut off on it's own. I looked down and my left carb was practically pouring gas out of itself, also when I leaned the bike to the right gas came out of a black hose that goes to the bottom of the airbox I believe. I have no clue why this happened because it has been riding very nicely lately..

Also I waited a little while and tried to start the bike again and it struggled but when it finally started, the same thing happened right away again so I had to shut it off.

It is a 1982 GS650G.

Please let me know what I can do to fix this. Hopefully a quick fix for now as this is my only vehicle and I have plenty of time tomorrow to work on it. (By quick fix I guess what I mean is no ordering parts online or anything like that)

I want to surprise my girlfriend who lives 3 hours away on Tuesday so i'm wanting this done by than!

Thanks guys =)

[oldgsfan]

I had similar symptoms a couple summers back - gas coming out the no. 2 carb. Then from my airbox hose too, i think.
anyway it turned out i had a bad petcock. Once i replacec it the problem was solved. Although i did also have to pull and do a carb clean. Bits of rotting petcock seals had gotten in causing the bike to bog down.

[azr]

It could simply be a a stuck float needle. Simple fix, just take a rubber mallet and smack the carb float bowl a few times to unstick it. If your petcock has failed usually the bike will run crappy at idle, or when you take off your oil cap you will smell gas in your oil and of course if your petcock fails it tends to pour gas out the number two carb. Check your oil for gas right away and if it smells like gas don't ride it. I'll keep my fingers crossed for stuck float needle.

[kjsamm]

I had the same problem, randomly my bike would leak fuel out of my carb. I re-adjusted the float and replaced needle, it didn't work. Turned out to be the gasket around the float needle seat. I juts pulled it it out and went to Menards and got new gasket for it, worked great. Just make sure the seat goes back in snug with the new gasket.

[mighty13d]

even if the petcock dies, your floats and needles should still seal it up so that fuel stops coming through when the bowls fill up. This is of course in a perfect world. Both should be checked. If it's still coming out after the bike has been shut off, then the petcock is going to need to be replaced.

[tom203]

You can try plugging vacuum line nipple on #2 carb, pull gas line off petcock and check/hope that no gas flows in "on" or "res" position; if so, then you could use "pr" spot and remember to turn petcock back to "on" when you shut off bike. If this problem came on suddenly, likely that petcock failed.

[koolaid_kid]

My advice, though late, is this:
Check the petcock first, easily done.
Pull the carbs, easy on that bike I am told. Remove the fuel bowls and floats. Remove and clean the needles, then spray carb cleaner into the seat. Drain everything, reassemble and bench test. That is, put them on the bench, connect a fuel supply (bike tank on PRI or a temp fuel source) and make sure they no longer leak. May take a couple of tries before they leak no more.

[TrevorSkatezz]

Thanks for the advice guys, I think what I am going to do is get out in the garage now and check clean the carbs as best as I can, and see if that works. Of course first I am going to try the rubber mallot thing because if that works it would be the easiest!
=)

As for taking the carbs out.. never done that before so this should be interesting. I have all day though so any tips/advice would be amazing!

you guys rock!

[TrevorSkatezz]

Alright, so the rubber mallot thing seems to have worked actually.. I hit the bottom of the left carburater a few times and tried starting the bike before even trying to do anything else.. and it started. I rode it around the block and it seems to ride like before now with a nice idle and no leaking..

Could it have really been that easy? Or is this just a super temporary fix?

I am planning on rebuilding the carbs soon, but since It is running fine for now is it safe to change the oil and call this a fix?

[DanTheMan]

Yeah, change your oil and filter. Carry a plastic handled screwdriver with you to rap on the carb bowls if you have a repeat performance.

[TrevorSkatezz]

Awesome =)

So as long as a change the oil/filter this shouldn't have any negative effects on my bike, other than just being annoying?

And also when I get the time to clean the carbs really well, that should probably fix it for good right?

[andtheacademics]

As for taking the carbs out.. never done that before so this should be interesting. I have all day though so any tips/advice would be amazing!

you guys rock!

I just had this - gas leaking out of all four carbs... You should pull the carbs and see whats going on in there anyway - helped me understand my bike a LOT better

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

BassCliff has amazing tutorials. He is the Sheldon Brown of GSR.

[tom203]

I'd still test my petcock for correct operation- 1/4 inch clear tubing on vac fitting, suck on it in "on" or "res" spot, does it flow ok, and does it stop flowing when you stop sucking. And if you see gas headed down the tubing, you got a problem.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Have a look at THIS THREAD for my normal recommendations.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[mighty13d]

You probably will want to clean the carbs soon anyway.