Left carb's getting 0 gas... what could be up?

[Nick]

Well i'm fiddling with my bike and such today for a little bit then i have to hit the books hard and get my homework done. Anyway, I've diagnosed my bike to have 1 functioning carb and the left side isn't getting fuel. I came to this conclusion when i grabbed the left pipe and it wasn't hot... just barely warm. I took the bolt out of the bottom of the bowl and BROWN gas game out. Gross gross gross right? I checked out the upper part of the carb and that's all squeaky clean. I'm going to take the bottom off and see whats really going on in there. I may have to go out and get more carb cleaner once i get some homework done. Anyway, the guy i bought it from said a carb had a hole in the float... i think he couldnt tell his head from his ass! I'm thinking its WAY over due for a cleaning and float adjustments. I'm going to take that apart here in the next 5 min and i'll report back what i find and passably a picture too since i saw this... dirty mud water like gas come out.

[Nessism]

I think the 450 has hollow brass floats so they should be repairable by soldering if there is a hole. You might want to try to sink the float to see if it takes on gas.

While you have the carbs off it’s recommended to tear them apart and soak the carb bodies in carb dip – the best way to get the grunge out. At the very least, remove the pilot jets and hold them up to a light – there is a very small hole through the center that must be open. Also, take out the pilot screws (be careful not to loose the spring and washer, and o-ring if you are not replacing them).

Good luck.

[Nick]

there's no hole so thats good. I'll be messing with the carbs tomorrow because i dont have a screwdriver that's small enough to fit in between the... crank case and the carb screws themselves. I'll probly go out and get a small set and some dip tonight when im done with my homework.

[Nessism]

One more thing, you need to change the o-rings on the rubber carb attachment pipes (or boots as we call them here). This is one of the most common problems on GS bikes so do it now while the carbs are off.

BTW, I have an extra set you can have for $1 if your dealer does not have them. Send me a private message if interested.

[Nick]

alrighty, i'll be getting a majority of all the necessities when i get back from aruba on the 2nd... and make up the whole 8 days of work i missed. Should be a heavy paycheck for that 2 weeks, a whole 85 hours!8O Crazy for a part time warehouse worker in college

[Nick]

took the bowl out and it wasnt too bad in there. I dabbled with the float and needle valve a few times and then cranked it to see how the fuel was doing. It poured right out like none other but now i have the bowl back on and it wont do anything now, no fuel no nothing.

[chef1366]

took the bowl out and it wasnt too bad in there. I dabbled with the float and needle valve a few times and then cranked it to see how the fuel was doing. It poured right out like none other but now i have the bowl back on and it wont do anything now, no fuel no nothing.

Are you sure there isn't any gas in the bowl?
I think you need a good carb dipping.

[Nick]

i guess ill have to get the carb dip. What kind should i get?

I'm sure there's no gas because when i took the bottom bolt out no fuel came out but when i played with the needle valve thing and cranked the motor gas came out from the top. I can't figure it out

[chef1366]

I would go with Berrymans.
Sounds like you have a clogged float needle.

[Nessism]

Get whatever kind of dip you can find, and a large can of spray carb cleaner also. If the carbs are pretty clean on the inside you can get away with taking them apart and just using the spray. The key thing it to take them apart and get them clean. Don't short cut the cleaning process by just dropping off the floatbowls and spraying them out - it won't work. Take off the pilot screw caps if they are still on there and remove the pilot screws. You also will need new o-rings, Cycleorings.com is the standard place to get these but I'm not sure he sells parts for the 450.

Do the job right one time and the bike will be happy. Short cut the process and you will be back again and again.

Good luck.

[catbed]

all the orings in the carbs are nitrile. the intake boot orings are viton.

[Nessism]

all the orings in the carbs are nitrile. the intake boot orings are viton.

Thank you! Learned something.

[Nick]

alrighty, i took it apart again. The guy was right, the left float is holy. The patch he put on it was goofy, its this red and light tan stuff he gobbed over the hole with. I played with the needle some more and it idles on its own now so it's a start! Like i said when i get back from aruba this thing will be attacked hard. Thanks for all of the help guys! I'm sure i'll be asking for more really soon hehehe