XL250 carb help please

[neels]

I've just reassembled my XL250Rc (that I got as a kitset) and fired it up, all good except for a fuel seep from the carb, not a lot but enough for a drop of fuel every few seconds off the screws on the bottom of the carb. Any suggestions as to what the cause might be, before I start pulling things to bits randomly?

Also, there is a hose off the side of the carb about half way up which looks like a vacuum hose but doesn't appear to have anywhere to plug into. Can someone tell me what it's for?

[tri boy]

Sounds like the bowl gskt is leaking, or the bowl hasn't seated properly, or the screws are a little loose.
The hose is probably the one that is open to atmosphere/overflow hose. Doesn't connect to anything. Just hangs about doing fuck all. (bit like a few KB members I can think of).

[neels]

The hose is probably the one that is open to atmosphere/overflow hose. Doesn't connect to anything. Just hangs about doing fuck all. (bit like a few KB members I can think of).

There's a hose off the bottom of the float bowl, which I think is the overflow judging from the amount of fuel that poured out of it until I gave the carb a smack to get the float needle seating properly. The one I don't know about is half way up the carb, kinda looks like it should go to a vacuum petcock except that the bike doesn't have one.

[tri boy]

If the XL is an RC (early/mid eighties) then it will be an atmospheric hose half way up on the single carb models.
If it is an RFVC head, with a twin carb set up, then it possibly is a connecting hose. (I worked for a Honda franchise or two in the past, dim dark, prehistoric past).
If it is running properly with it open to atmosphere, don't fret.