Help please...

[mike_of_bbg]

Would you guarantee that your carb work today will not be leaking in 2041? I agree that, in an ideal world, needle valves would not leak ever. However, this is the real world. These GSes are at least 30 if not more years old, and they were not designed with fuel filters in place. There's nothing wrong with the original OEM needle valve design. Usually if they're leaking it's because there's a tiny chunk of rust or dirt keeping them from seating fully, or because their sealing o-ring is becoming brittle and hard so that thin gasoline is seeping past it. Seems a good thorough cleaning of the entire fuel system - including the carbs - is usually just as effective as replacing the needle valves. I don't care if you spend $150 on new needle valves - if you get another chunk of rust or dirt between them and their seats, they're going to leak also.

The leak may be so small that it would take weeks to fill up and overflow carb #1 on the side stand. A bike being ridden regularly can live a perfectly normal life like that. He gave it 3 months of sitting.

[Graham]

Hmm now I’m taking customers for parts? About 70% of the carbs I do don’t get any new parts. Hmm. I’ll ask my customers about what I’m accused of and see what they think. $10 each for float needles or gas covered floors and excessive oil changes.
Ever seen a Honda Rancher fill a quart container from the air box, a Kantana burn a starter from turning 2 gallons of gas/oil in the crankcase?

Hmm will there be any gas left in 2041?
Needle valves don’t last forever or o-rings, that’s why we clean or replace them.
Now if trash gets into a needle valve and holds it open then we should clean fuel tanks, petcocks and install filters. That’s a no brainier.

Thanks haztoys.

[bogie]

Update: Got it started and all that good stuff, was estatic and just took off, wasn't until a block later or so I realized I had a flat tire in the back... Pushing the bike back was fuuuuun -_- (and no, it wasn't obviously flat cause I did look at it b4 hopping on, but did nothing more than a quick visual check)

So yep once again, I am a dumbass... Might be a theme with me and this bike... :\

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. bogie,

Oh boy! Are you having fun yet?

Not to worry. Most of us have pulled bone-headed stunts on our bikes. Well, perhaps I should just speak for myself. Perhaps I'll tell you a story sometime.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Graham]

Update: Got it started and all that good stuff, was estatic and just took off, wasn't until a block later or so I realized I had a flat tire in the back... Pushing the bike back was fuuuuun -_- (and no, it wasn't obviously flat cause I did look at it b4 hopping on, but did nothing more than a quick visual check)

So yep once again, I am a dumbass... Might be a theme with me and this bike... :\

You’re not alone. A lady called yesterday and wanted us to pickup her bake because it wouldn’t start. When I got back to the shop I tried to start it, just turned over. Then I checked the switches, plug caps and fuel supply. The petcock was off. She still had to pay for pick up. We all have our bonehead days.