Please stop the bleeding!

[Guest]

Hello,
I started my 1983GS550ES for the first time since October and noticed fuel leaking from above the carbs. Has anyone seen this before?
See the link below for video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twWdevmG9eU

Any ideas as to what the problem might be?
Any advice or comments are welcomed and much appreciated.

[SVSooke]

You have to take the vid off private for us to see it.

[fritalian]

You have to take the vid off private for us to see it.

My apologies, it's public now.

Just wanted to add that the petcock is on the "fuel" setting and not "prime".

[Nessism]

Your carbs are most likely gunked up from storage. Could be the petcock too. Some maintenance needed...

[fritalian]

Your carbs are most likely gunked up from storage. Could be the petcock too. Some maintenance needed...

Thanks Nessism,
The carbs were disassembled and thoroughly cleaned 2 years ago. I've also used fuel stabilizer both winters so I'm hoping that they are still pretty clean. I'm thinking you may be right about the petcock but then again, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[SVSooke]

Thinking you might have some junk in the needle valves.You did Mr Barr's O ring kit right?If not it could be gas leaking past the needle valve O rings.

[Badooka]

Give them a light tap on both sides with a rubber mallet- sounds like a stuck float-

[Nessism]

Float could be sticking because of storage. Maybe try banging on floatbowl with screwdriver handle to see if the leaking stops. I wouldn't normally recommend such things, but if you used fuel stabilizer a little seafoam is all you may need to get the bike running well again, assuming you get the leak under control.

[fritalian]

Thanks to all for the advice.

I was able to get a closer look and it seems like fuel is leaking from one end of the solid metal tube joining the 2 sets of Mikuni carbs. It's about 4" long. Is this the fuel transfer tube?
Can anyone recommend a tutorial on how to properly remove the carbs from my bike? There are quite a few rebuild tutorials but out there they start with the carbs removed.