Carb leaking then not leaking. What gives?

[Bren]

Okay, I am not too flash on the fuel system, but here is the scenario. I have not ridden my bile for over a week, and went for a ride today. Destination Palmerston North. Left Otaki and got just past Levin when the bike starts missing. Pull over and stop thinking maybe water has got into the carbs. have a look and see the drip drip drip of a fuel leak. Fuel was leaking slowly out of one of the middle carbies. Start up bike and it leaked real fast....So, what to do...Sprayed the carbies with a liberal coating of CRC and decided to ride home like a nana, started away and it was still missing....by the time I got home it was running like a dream....

So two questions, first was the float blocked? and secondly, are carbs supposed to overflow and leak if blocked?

Otherwise what else to do?

[MSTRS]

You have either a float problem (unlikely) or a shut-off needle jet problem (most likely). This could be either a poor seal (not seating perfectly) or a bit of crap in the fuel temporarily got stuck in there. Monitor for awhile, otherwise strip and clean etc.
What I'd suggest right now is take out the drain screw on that carby to clear out what you can from the bowl. Run it into a clean white cloth, so you can see what if anything comes out. Repeat for the other carbies, if there is some crud. And fit a fuel filter....

[kwaka_crasher]

Did you by any chance fill up with Mobil? I had a weird situation a few years back where whenever I filled there, my carb (road legal trail bike) would leak from the float bowl o-ring when it was parked in the garage. As long as I filled up elsewhere it was fine.

[R6_kid]

Did it by any chance happen to coincide with recently running the bike on reserve? My CB650 carbs used to leak like sieve after running on reserve, ended up being that the in-tank filter for reserve on the fuel tap was buggered, cleaned the carbs out and installed an in-line fuel filter - never had the problem again.

[Bren]

It was first run after a weeks hiatus....well In line filter here we come!

[sinfull]

seeing you ride to work during the day this won't help , however when you go to ride home later that night, should it dare to happen again and your unsure, strike a match, i'm sure you will see which carb is leaking immediately, then woooof, the problem will be gone !

[Bren]

seeing you ride to work during the day this won't help , however when you go to ride home later that night, should it dare to happen again and your unsure, strike a match, i'm sure you will see which carb is leaking immediately, then woooof, the problem will be gone !

Try lighting a match yesterday afternoon......Bloody hosed down on way to work!!!