Aaargh! Carb pissing petrol!

**Matt Cartney** · #1 26 Jul 2006

Hey guys!
Loaded up my 2003 XT600E this morning to head off on a two weeker to Norway, was just about to swing leg over bike when I noticed liquid dribbling out of the bottom of the bike.
Closer inspection revealed it was petrol dribbling out of the pipe that runs straight down out of the carb. It only stopped when I turned the petrol off at the tap. It restarted when I turned the tap on again.
It only just happened now so I have not taken the bike to bits or anything but thought I'd ask on here to see if there was anyone who could point me in the right direction! Any ideas?

Yours,
Very close to Faulty Towers whipping bike with tree reaction!
Matt

**Atwoke** · #2 26 Jul 2006

I had my 2004 Brazilien built XT600e run out of fuel on top of Paso de Jama in Chile. Went onto reserve after 180km (should have been 250ish) with fuel for another 20km. Next petrol station 70km!
Thank God there was a 50km downhill run towards San Pedro!

Turned out that the carburettor started leaking from an unused terminal at the bottom. Looked to me like the screw belonging to the terminal fell out and left a nice little drain for the fuel....

Fixed it with Turatech Liquid Metal... Obviously, that screw/terminal will have some sot of purpose, and I don't envy the guy that will have to fix it properly...bike is running fine, though and fuel consumption is back to normal...

Jens

**MikeS** · #3 26 Jul 2006

Are you sure that wasn't just you getting a bit over exited about going to Norway??

Hope you get it sorted though, had something similar happen on mine but it was the fuel quick release connector breaking.

I'd recommend a good bit of birch to give the bike 'a damm good thrashing'

Cheers

Mike

**Bill Ryder** · #4 26 Jul 2006

And after you thrash it if it still leaks try turning off the gas, opening the drain screw on the bottom of the float bowl (hopefully the new ones still have a drain). After the fuel drains out of the float bowl completely turn the gas back on and flush some gas thru. Sometimes this will dislodge a bit of crud from the float valve and keep the carb from overfilling.

**Matt Cartney** · #5 26 Jul 2006

Have removed the carb from the bike and dismantled the float bowl. The drain screw does not seem to be leaking and I can spot no crud in the valve having removed the doodah. Am going to try blowing through the petrol inlet with compressed air, reassembling it and seeing what happens.
Matt

**wonky** · #6 26 Jul 2006

My mates TT600r did this quite regularly, i think its just the float sticking a bit. We would drain the carb and refill it, as mentioned above dislodging crud.
Mine sometimes sticks in the low position, not letting enough fuel in, after being dropped. In this case smack the float bowl on either side with a suitably heavy thing.
good luck

**Matt Cartney** · #7 26 Jul 2006

Have put carb back together post cleaning, now seems fine (fingers crossed!). Hopefully will get to Norge just a day late!
Matt

***Touring Ted*** · #8 2 Aug 2006

Sounds like a stricking float or float valve.

if it happens again, tap the side of the float chamber and it "might" stop.

**uganduro** · #9 3 Aug 2006

sticking float. quick solutions:
Either tapping gently, ... or closing fuel tap but starting the engine and let it run...wait a few seconds, open fuel tap and the leaking should've stopped.
The vibrations of the engine get/keep the float mobile, I hope.

**Melancholy67** · #10 8 Aug 2006

I reckon so. My float used to stick regularly evey time I rode off without switcing the fuel on. Sharp tap or run the engine with the fuel pouring out. Vibes usually sorted it.

Cheers

George