float bowls draining themselves?

[gimpy limp]

can the screws wear on these? ever since I put the bike on it's side the other day it's been draining itself of fuel unless I cut off the fuel from the tank from the tank switch. I can't see how putting it on it's side would do this, but it might have also been from when I undone the screws to drain any old fuel that was in their. I've tightened them up as much as I can but it's still dripping out. It was fine before I done this.

https://img59.echo.cx/img59/4173/carb8dt.jpg

red one is what you unscrew, then it drains from the blue one.
____________________
-=[Sam/b]=- cx500's the only way to travel, we do it in style just like jimmy saville
msn addy - sam.barwick@ntlworld.com
https://pre-auto.com/cx500/rat_and_survival_gallery_2006

[gimpy limp]

on the red one at the top of the screw in the picture is that an o ring? I didn't notice any rubber o rings when i took it out?
____________________
-=[Sam/b]=- cx500's the only way to travel, we do it in style just like jimmy saville
msn addy - sam.barwick@ntlworld.com
https://pre-auto.com/cx500/rat_and_survival_gallery_2006

[stinkwheel]

The two most likley causes are either the floats sticking or some muck having got stuck in the needle valve seat after dropping the bike swirled all the crud that likes to lurk in the bottom of your tank.

Try tapping the side of the float bowl with a deadblow hammer and see if that stops it. If that doesn't work I would be thinking about taking the carb off and checking the needle valve.

If your bike has a vaccuum fuel tap, you would have to question why this isn't working too as no fuel should go through it with the engine off unless you have set it to 'prime'.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[gimpy limp]

kk i'll give that a go next time it starts, it's actually stopped now but last time it stopped and come back again.

i actually blocked off the drain tube earlier-on with some wire and the petrol started coming through one of the carbs turned the tank off, took the wires out, turned it back on went away and when I came back seemed to be back to normal.

Hate not knowing what the problem is, if theirs somethign dodgy going on i'd rather fix it now rather than fix it when it's on the road. I think it's pretty easy to take the carbs off anyway. Might be worth doing if it starts again.


____________________
-=[Sam/b]=- cx500's the only way to travel, we do it in style just like jimmy saville
msn addy - sam.barwick@ntlworld.com
https://pre-auto.com/cx500/rat_and_survival_gallery_2006

[bish777]

if you overtighten them they can distort and crack the bowl causing leaks.
____________________
GSXR1100J

[Aikman666]

It could be a problem with the floats not closing the valve properly, when you take the carb off, take off the cover on the floats chamber, push the floats up and blow through the petrol pipe, if air is escaping then the valve isnt closing properly. Also check that it isnt just the seal on the chamber thats bust. good luck
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Will work for petrol
My Design Blog

[gimpy limp]

so far so good, still hasn't started leaking and i've rolled it in and out of the garage a few times.

this is why I had to put it on it's side - dropped a blooming socket bit down the cylinder head and couldn't get it out with it upright:

https://img155.echo.cx/img155/2758/cx500seatoff0010ji.jpg

that's a socket bit down the head not the spark plug
____________________
-=[Sam/b]=- cx500's the only way to travel, we do it in style just like jimmy saville
msn addy - sam.barwick@ntlworld.com
https://pre-auto.com/cx500/rat_and_survival_gallery_2006

[stinkwheel]

Dare I suggest you invest in a magnet on a car ariel. Available for 99p at any car boot sale or flea market nationwide?

https://magnet-eze.com.au/images/All_Products_Gallery_300/images/Telescopic_Pen.jpg
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[gimpy limp]

lol yeh I tried one of those but it wasn't having none of it

I got it off with a coping saw blade in the end, only needed a little pursuation with that came right out.
____________________
-=[Sam/b]=- cx500's the only way to travel, we do it in style just like jimmy saville
msn addy - sam.barwick@ntlworld.com
https://pre-auto.com/cx500/rat_and_survival_gallery_2006

[mr.z]

Check 100% all the tubes and connecings are on in the right place, i seem to remember somehting to do with that, or something blocked... somebody had the same problem... can't remember what it was i'll have a look see, might be worth posting on the boards (once everyone is back from scotland)... it was was at the last rally.. ummm....
____________________
>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[tonyyzf]

Its more than likely to be dirt in the needle valve seat, this is the little valve controled by the floats that cuts your fuel supply when the float bowl is at the right level, a bit like the float in the toilet cistern. Take the bottom bowls off your carbs, turn the petrol tap on and give the floats a little tickle, this should clean any shit out. Turn the petrol off and refit the bowls. If it continues to be a nuisance then you'll probably have to clean the whole system out, that includes the tank. Don't adjust anything inside the carbs unless you know what you're doing, you'll upset the way the motor runs.

[tonyyzf]

Just a little warning to anyone with fuel leaks, some years ago a mate of mine had an early gsx750, it was fitted with one of the vacuum fuel taps that have a 'prime' position to let you fill the carbs after its been sitting or run dry, well he put it on prime and left it, the needle valve seals must have been dirty and leaking the same way yours are, the petrol flooded through the carbs into the bottom end of the engine. He took it for a run and the fuel diluted the engine oil causing every bearing in the crank to burn out. The engine had to be binned!

[gimpy limp]

worth changing the oil you reckon to stop that happenning? seems to have stopped completely now, I just fired the engine up for the first time too runs nice. if I change the oil in theory any fuel that's got in their can't mix if it's fresh oil? not sure?

the engine hasn't been started for some time btw and it's only had fuel in the tank for about 3 days (was empty before)
____________________
-=[Sam/b]=- cx500's the only way to travel, we do it in style just like jimmy saville
msn addy - sam.barwick@ntlworld.com
https://pre-auto.com/cx500/rat_and_survival_gallery_2006

[mr.z]

i'd reccomend puting a filter on anyways, if its been empty for a long time it can get rusty, petrol keeps it free of rust believe it or not..

Has the oil been changed anyway? first thing should be done is an oil change + filter, be carefull of the filter bolt (are easy to round off) and be sure not to miss the spacer in there...

Did you get that manual off dave? my internet connection is working again now btw
____________________
>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[gimpy limp]

eye, the oil's been changed but I don't mind doing it again if it insures the engine's safe, would one of them fuel filters for the car do the job you reckon? I've got a few of them i've never used.

yeh got the manual, so useful it is, if anyone else asks you for it zero let me know and i'll let them have the link to it on me server for them to download, i've got plenty of upload/download bandwith on their.
____________________
-=[Sam/b]=- cx500's the only way to travel, we do it in style just like jimmy saville
msn addy - sam.barwick@ntlworld.com
https://pre-auto.com/cx500/rat_and_survival_gallery_2006

[stinkwheel]

An inline fuel filter will certainly help keep muck out of the carb. I have used those orange paper car ones with no problems before although I believe some bikes don't like them. A maggot lump is virtually a car engine anyway so I wouldn't forsee any problems
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[bish777]

yeah i find if you get the clear plastic brown filter car ones and cut the spouts back as not to restric the flow too much they work fine. But if the filter doesnt flow well nough its arestrictor lol it restricted my GSXR till i figured it out.
____________________
GSXR1100J

[tonyyzf]

If your tank was dry for some time before filling it then it could have developed a bit of rust that lifted when you refilled it causing some dirt to fall straight into the carbs, fit a filter, clean the carbs out and it shouldn't give you any more probs. You'll soon see how much dirt you have in your tank once you fit a filter. If there's no noticable change in your oil level then you might not have to change it, if you're in doubt you could always drain it off into a large clean bowl and let any petrol evaporate overnight, you can then put it back in if its clean.