Carb problem

[Bota58]

Hey guys,I just pulled the carbs off the Valk,cleaned them and rejetted to go with cobra pipes also put new needles in while I was there and carb bowl gaskets.now it's all back together and leaking gas out of both air vent tubes at the top of the carbs on both banks as if the needles aren't seating,is there anything else it can be besides the needles.
Thanks

[sclark]

Sorry to question, but are you sure the leak is coming from the air vent rail and not the fuel rail which is below it?  Many (to include me) have found that the o-rings in the fuel rail will slightly contract when dry.  I recently started mine after "dry" fuel storage and the fuel rail leaked like a sieve. The next day, there were no leaks. 

[Bota58]

No it's definetly coming out of the air vent tubes,that's what puzzled me.
Thanks

[uturn]

beat on the bowls with a small hammer, screwdriver or knuckles to knock some sense into a sticking float...before you tear it all apart again...

[Bota58]

I did try tapping,just didn't want to get to carried away and break something,I wish there was a way to eliminate which carbs was causing the problem so I'm open to ideas
Thanks

[Bota58]

Also forgot to mention it only leaks when it is running.
Thanks

[uturn]

hmmmm...sounds like its gonna be one of those character building experiences where we get to tear apart what we just put back together....

i put mine back together, had dumping fuel, couldnt seat it by banging on them...tore it apart to find i had missed a float with the pin...i put it in, just missed engaging the float! felt like an idiot, put it back together, bench checked this time, and then....MORE fuel dumping!!! aaaaauuuuurrrrrrggggghhhhh and cuss words. my poor six year olds sunday school teacher...oh well. then i tapped and i hear two of the floats pop up...no leaks.

whew.

anyway, it was fun figuring out creative ways to put the airbox back in.

[Bota58]

How did you go about bench testing them?

[rugguy]

I had similar problems and found a VERY low tech way to find which carb was the offender. I started the bike and got to maximum leakage, then shut the bike off, turned off the fuel flow and drained each carb. The amount of gas out of the #4 carb was substantially more than the rest. Hope this helps.

But I agree sclarkfam on the fuel/air rail "o" rings. But I had both, stuck carb float AND leaky "o"s. Good luck.

Now I am chasing a skip.....I'm always chasing something.

[Bota58]

Ok Thanks I will give that a try and see if I can find the culprit

[Bota58]

I used K&L float needles anyone had any problems with the fitment of these or leaking.
Thanks

[uturn]

i bench checked the carbs by hooking up fuel, turning it on, hearing them all fill up then stop, drain, repeat. then i put them on and two still stuck so im not sure how effective my method is!! anyway, a couple taps knocked the offenders free to shut so happy ending. well, so far. wish you were closer, i love working on stuff like that.

[Bota58]

Yeah I hope to get together a meet with a few guys down at Inzane ,It's always nice to see who you've been talking to.I put audiovox cruise on it while I had it apart so that's something eels to take loose if I have to pull the carbs back off.Hopefully if I peck enough they will break loose.
Thanks

[Bota58]

Is there anything else that could possibly cause gas to come out the air vent tubes,The bike runs great but gas pours out of the vent tubes,it doesn't act like it's overloading at all.
Thanks

[fordmano]

I had similar problems and found a VERY low tech way to find which carb was the offender. I started the bike and got to maximum leakage, then shut the bike off, turned off the fuel flow and drained each carb. The amount of gas out of the #4 carb was substantially more than the rest. Hope this helps.

But I agree sclarkfam on the fuel/air rail "o" rings. But I had both, stuck carb float AND leaky "o"s. Good luck.

Now I am chasing a skip.....I'm always chasing something.

Hey rugguy, can you elaborate on this skip you speak of? I think I have a "skip" also. well a slight miss at idle and gets a bit worse all the way up on the tach.

[Attic Rat]

I use K & L float valves all the time. My dealer tells me that they make the float valves for Honda. That is all my dealer sells. I have never had any problem with them

[TDL]

I had the same problem once. I left it sit to long after cleaning before starting it. You can check them on the bench by using a primer ball from an outboard boat motor and a hose, just don't pump too much pressure. The primer will get firm when carbs are full. It works great. I put mine back together and had no problems. I also replaced the needle valves with oem.

[Skinhead]

I don't mean to insult anyone here, but I didn't read where the float level was checked/adjusted when the new needles were installed.  This is usually done by inverting the carb, bowl off with the float needle and seat in place and measuring the distance between the bottom (top as installed on the bike) and the carb housing.  If that distance is too small, the fuel level in the bowl will be too high.

[rugguy]

Fordmano: I don't want to hijack this thread. But I will say my skip seems to be the worst at idle when the vacuum is highest. I am replacing the intake "O's" tomorrow and will report back.

[Ricky-D]

Valkyrie carburetors have non-adjustable floats.

***

[R J]

I don't mean to insult anyone here, but I didn't read where the float level was checked/adjusted when the new needles were installed.  This is usually done by inverting the carb, bowl off with the float needle and seat in place and measuring the distance between the bottom (top as installed on the bike) and the carb housing.  If that distance is too small, the fuel level in the bowl will be too high.

Hey Skinhead, has ya ever adjusted the float level on a Valkyrie carb?

If not, then I'll clue ya in, dar ain't no adjustment that I know of.

If'n I'm wrong I hope someone hurries up and clues me in, and gives me the measurement.    All the carbs I've had apart, Valkyrie ones that is, I've never adjusted the float level.   Last I heard, they were all running good.

Updated post:

Oops, Ricky-D beat me to it.   I hadn't read his post before I responded.  Sorry.