Things just got allot worse

[Anonymous]

hey everyone, i don't know if anyone can help me but i used to have a 81 gs 450 and you all helped me allot with that one. Anyway, i recently sold my 450 and bought a 1983 Honda Magna 1100 for the larger size. My problem is I have gas pouring out of the carbs. I am assuming that that carbs need to be taken off and fully cleaned with new gaskets, but i just wanted some confirmation before shutting the bike down for the winter a month early. A little back story, the bike was sat for a while before i got it, and ran fine for a few weeks, then now it is leaking gas pretty good out of the carbs, As soon as it starts up it starts pouring out, I know you guys don't do much with honda's but this is the best site i have found. I am really missing my 81 450 now, especially when i look at the pic in the gallery section. Thanks for all the help in advance.

[gspaul]

Yes, sound's like dirt holding the float needles open.

[Anonymous]

thats kinda what i thought, but its leaking out of all the carbs, i thought that was a little odd, to have all start leaking at the same time

[gspaul]

If you have a vacumn operated petcock that could be at fault to.
But the petrol still has to get by those needle valves, my guess they are varnished up from just sitting around and they are stuck in the open position.
You can try the easy way first, drain the gas from the carb's, then useing a very small funnel or large syringe ,pour carb cleaner down the fuel line untill the float bowls are full.
Just use the stuff you would normally put in your gas tank.
Leave it for a couple of day's,drain it and see how she goes then.

[spots25]

if you have to take the carbs out/apart, make sure you have the suicide hotline number ready

Also, DO NOT seperate the carbs. All the cleaning you will need to do can be done with the carbs connected. There are way too many springs and linkages in there, trust me. It took me a couple hours to get the back together

[Anonymous]

thats what i was afraid of. I have cleaned the carbs on my old 450 but this project seemed like it was going to be allot more work, i think i am going to give the draining the carbs and adding the the cleaner a shot, then hold my breath and pray.

[Anonymous]

Well I am trying to give the easy way a shot with adding the cleaner into the carbs while on the bike, but The cleaner is leaking right out of the overflow. I am thinking that this takes the petcock out of the question, It doesn't leak when the bike isn't running. but right now with all the gas out and tanks off, it is leaking the cleaner out. What do you guys think? Let it sit and and see if it closes off on its own, or give up and have someone take apart and clean the carbs. Thanks

[gspaul]

Well, nothing to lose by letting it soak for a day or 2,hey you could get lucky!

[Anonymous]

Things just got worse

Alright well tonight i drained the cleaner i had in the floats and reassembled everything, crossed my fingers and the bike started right up, well i would say it had less than stellar results, now instead of a constant drip of gas, it is now pouring out of the carbs, Im afraid to let the engine run to try and force something thats stuck loose, i don't want to burn the garage down, or do i not really have to worry about that? So am i now looking at ending the season early and tearing the carbs apart, Im taking that the bigger leak is a bad sign, am i correct, or did it loosen up something that it should have. Thanks

[duaneage]

yOu may need new needle valves, there are springs in them that could be damaged or frozen. if your taking it apart I would change the needles and seats. Easier than doing it twice.

You about to find out how much easier an inline four is to work on. I'll say a prayer for you.

[DaveDanger]

Not to be making light of your predicament brother, but about an hour after you get all those carbs removed and disassembled... I'll give you $500.00 less for the Magna than you paid for it! (Apologies friend, my first great bike was a V45 Magna, and I'd give a left leg to get back onto one. neighbor's leg at any rate).
It does sound like you have gunk gooing up the carbs. Running the cleaner through them probably did rinse some of the junk out, but not completely. Considering that you have a riding season deadline looking you in the face, it would be in MHO worthwhile to continue to try cleaning them on the bike (more carb cleaner the same way you've already done it). It may clean them well enough to make it rideable, and at worst, you may discover you have to park it and begin to disassemble and rebuild. Considering that you have to park it soon regardless, I'd try the quicker clean solution first.
What part of the world are you in that you can't ride year-round anyhow? I see that in lots of folks posts here, and I give thanks I'm in the relatively sunny south and can ride year-round.