Fuel peeing out of one carb

[brand new bike zealot]

A quick bit of background... got a free '78 gs550 with no carbs, had a mechanic get some in there and set up right and it ran like a top for the past 1200k. After leaving work today, I smelled gas and realised a stream of fuel was leaving the bottom of the #2 carb. The bike runs exactly the same. A plugged valve in the float seems the most likely culprit, but after reading up it seems the petcock could be the issue. The reason I think this was I swung it to reserve this morning. I've also noticed the hose that plugs into the top of the intake boot is a tad gooey. I'm a tad freaked now after reading all this about gas in the crank and failing petcocks... I don't want to be blown sky high.... Thanks in advance for any advice

[akreider]

I had a problem with gas coming out of the carbs when shut off so I did the easy and quick fix, by adding an inline fuel shutoff valve. The trick is to remember to turn off when you park and on when you go. I still have quite gotten that totally yet.

This fix only works if no gas comes out of the carbs while the engine is running.

Adam

[orgis]

check your float bowls for crap in them, had this problem frequently til got an inline fuel filter and flushed the tank out

[t3rmin]

If gas is coming directly out of the carb it's probably not a float. More likely the drain plug or bowl gasket or a fuel line fitting (or fitting o-ring). Get a good look in there and figure out _exactly_ from where the fuel is leaking. It's easy enough to replace o-rings and gaskets but you will have to dismount the carbs.

If the gas is coming out of a breather tube or ending up in your airbox or crankcase then it's the float(s).

Or if it's coming out of the bottom of the tank, it's your petcock (or fuel line poorly attached or degraded).

[argonsagas]

Unless the drain plug on the bottom is loose, you have a float problem.

The fuel enters the carb at the float valve, and the drain is the only thing below it.

IF fuel is rising high enough to steadily leak anywhere else, the float valve is not closing.

[Pearson]

A quick bit of background... got a free '78 gs550 with no carbs, had a mechanic get some in there and set up right and it ran like a top for the past 1200k. After leaving work today, I smelled gas and realised a stream of fuel was leaving the bottom of the #2 carb. The bike runs exactly the same. A plugged valve in the float seems the most likely culprit, but after reading up it seems the petcock could be the issue. The reason I think this was I swung it to reserve this morning. I've also noticed the hose that plugs into the top of the intake boot is a tad gooey. I'm a tad freaked now after reading all this about gas in the crank and failing petcocks... I don't want to be blown sky high.... Thanks in advance for any advice

how'd you make out on this problem? After rebuilding my carbs a couple times, I'm having the same problem.

[rustybronco]

how'd you make out on this problem? After rebuilding my carbs a couple times, I'm having the same problem.

check your last post