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Message started by louie650 on 08/06/08 at 19:57:24

Title: Fuel overflow
Post by louie650 on 08/06/08 at 19:57:24

Does anybody have any ideas? I bought my '87 recently and it was mod'd a bit before I got it. It has a Mikuni carb, but it does not appear to be stock and it has a dial-a-jet.

I have had it a few weeks and I just started having a problem with it. It keeps stalling at idle and I am losing a lot of fuel from the carb overflow vent, usually just before it dies. I can't spray any carb cleaner in the vent because it will just shoot out where the dial-a-jet connects. I can't remove the bowl drain plug because it was tapped to connect the dial-a-jet.

I am assuming that I have a float problem (although it may not be). Does anybody have any ideas short of pulling the carb apart? I am not sure I am ready to do that.

Title: Re: Fuel overflow
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 08/06/08 at 20:33:26

You can try running the carb cleaner of your choice through the gas tank (seafoam, etc.) Or take a screwdriver and tap on the bowl with the plastic handle to free the float if it is sticking. Those are purported to fix the problem you describe sometimes.

Having done it a time or nine now, I would suggest removing the bowl and peering around in there with a mirror. Maybe even spray some cleaner up in the carb. Make sure to contain it with rags as it runs back out, or it'll screw up your paint. Pulling the carb in its entirety wasn't as much fun as I anticipated the first time, so I don't do it any more often than I have to. In fact, I have yet to remove the carb on my bike. I pulled the one off the parts bike and never tried to reinstall it. The way others describe it, though, I probably just wasn't holding my mouth right as I did it. They make it sound easy.

Title: Re: Fuel overflow
Post by louie650 on 08/06/08 at 20:39:06

I tried the Sea Foam in the tank. I suspect it would take a while for that to do anything. I also tried tapping the carb but it didn't do anything. When you say remove the bowl and use a mirror, do you mean remove the four bolts and drop the bowl down while the upper body is still attached? It sounds like it might be easier.

Title: Re: Fuel overflow
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 08/06/08 at 20:44:36

You got it. That's what I've been doing when changing jets and even just snooping. It works like a charm. Pulling the carb isn't major surgery, but it was just enough of a PITA that I won't do it until I really need to. I just use a little compact mirror of Kay's to look around up in there.

EDIT: On mine, I have to push back on the battery box to get the bowl off and on, but it'll go.

ANOTHER EDIT: Mine is a stock carb. Don't know exactly what you'll be fighting with.

Title: Re: Fuel overflow
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/06/08 at 23:31:00

If the needle valve the float stuffs into the seat is messed up, then even if the float isnt sticking, the bowl keeps filling up.

Title: Re: Fuel overflow
Post by louie650 on 08/11/08 at 10:07:54

Thanks for all the advice. As it turns out, I did not need to remove the carb.

I tried spraying carb cleaner in the vents, but I have one of Lancer's Mikuni carb so it just sprayed right out of the dial-a-jet. I then used Sea Foam. It took about one day of sitting, but now the bike is running as smooth as ever with no oveflow problems. Of course, there was a lot of banging on the carb with a screwdriver handle. I'm not sure exactly what did the job, but it looks like something worked.

Title: Re: Fuel overflow
Post by daweise1 on 08/11/08 at 11:59:57

Come on now, we all know what fixed it......

Beating on it with the screwdriver...

That should be the motto for my next project bike;" The beatings will continue till morale/ performance improves...." ;D