Gas Leaking out of Carbs ('79 GS850)

[Guest]

Hey everyone,
This is my first bike I have ever built, I bought it back in September for 300.00 looking like this:

I have since got the bike running and made 4-2 exhaust for it, the pod filters were laying around the garage so I decided to put them on as well.

The reason I am on here, is the bike is pushing fuel out of carbs 1 and 3. If the carbs are set L to R like so (OOOO) [the bold O's being the carbs that are leaking gas. All of them seem to leak from the overflow lines on the bottom of the carbs. I have cleaned out the carbs, pulled out every jet and cleaned it, I have no replaced any of them or upgraded to larger though. If I should upgrade what would you recommend?

To by quite honest, I really have no idea what to do on this bike next. I have tried everything to get it running right and I just can't seem to figure out these carbs. The floats seem to function properly, the only think I can think of is that the needle/seat underneath the float isn't set properly.

If anyone has any ideas on how to help or advice of any sort, I'm willing to listen. I know the bike isn't that pretty, but I'd really like to get it on the road.

Thanks in Advance,
Brandon
(first time bike builder)

[tom203]

".....the only think I can think of is that the needle/seat underneath the float isn't set properly. "

or the gasket that might be under the seat. Still got a vacuum petcock?? might as well test it now -head here

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/carb_sync_notes.html#A03

[Big T]

Your float heights are wrong- what did you set them at?

[SqDancerLynn1]

You may have it hooked up wrong ? Check BaseCliff's site for the correct hose routing.. IT also will never run right with pods unless re jetted

[viperg]

Yeah, make sure you re-jet with pods.

On my 79 1000S I did the fuel tap rebuild kit and still had the same problem as when it started leaking. I completely cleaned and rebuilt the carbs and set the floats to factory specs. It drips about 2 drops per minute even with the rebuild and then over powers the float needles until it overflows out the bowl hoses. What I did to fix this was simply insert a $10.00 on/of inline fuel valve. This way I can turn off the fuel flow when parked & yet still have the benefit of keeping the original tap.

[keepsailing]

Hey,

Thanks for all the feedback everyone, I guess I should of stated earlier that I work nights and it's hard for me to respond right away. I took the carbs back apart this morning, installed an inline filter at the petcock and reset the float heights to near factory. Gas is no longer leaking from the air filters. I am still having gas leak out of the overflow lines on carbs 1 & 3. I tapped on the bottom of carb 1 and it stopped leaking for a bit, but then started again. What can we diagnose this as?

Thanks, Brandon

[keepsailing]

What size jets should I move up to? I have the carbs operating right finally, but it is running really lean.

[JTGS850GL]

How did you get the carbs "operating right"?

With pods it's going to be a hit or miss thing on jets. Not sure of a Dynojet kit available for that year/model either. I know there's a GS1000 kit but nothing I've seen for the 850 using the VM carbs.

[Big T]

What size jets should I move up to? I have the carbs operating right finally, but it is running really lean.

Pods and little/no mufflers?

Start at

Main 117.5
Pilot 15
Pilot fuel -one turn
Pilot air -two turns
Needle -raise one notch

You may have to go up to 122.5 or 125, hard to tell

[keepsailing]

I am probably going to get 120 jets.
After a good thorough looking over of the carbs, I noticed I had 2 of the float needles in upside down. (that's what you get for working on no sleep haha).
I have heard of guys replacing the washer on the needle for a smaller one, does that make any sense?

[keepsailing]

Having another issue, even though I'm pretty sure of the reason behind it. When I start the bike up and go to put it in 1st it shuts off. I know the battery on this bike is junk and will only start from a jump start and wont start back up on it's own if it dies. Think this is the issue? Just sent out an order for the 120 main jets. We'll see if this helps the fuel/air issue once they arrive. Really appreciate all the help!!

Add yet another problem: The bike has been missing or at least sounds like it is missing when idling and to be honest doesn't idle very well at all. I have checked the pipes once it's running, the are all hot. I am beginning to wonder if it is the plug wires, or potentially the pilot jets are too small? The exhaust is a lot more open now rather than stock and again the pod filters.

How exactly do I raise the needle "one notch."

Brandon

[Big T]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=199275

Ps to my PM, read this