carbs leaking

[mrmessy]

Went out to take the Valk for a ride today and noticed the smell of gas. When checking closer, noticed gas spewing out the carbs on the right side. Bike has been sitting for about three months while I healed from surgery. Never had any problem like this before. Any ideas what could cause such a bad carb leak after sitting for only a few month. Do the carbs need to be rebuilt? Could have caused a bad fire, gas and hot engines don't mix.

[BonS]

A carburetor float(s) is likely stuck. You can likely pop a stuck float loose by tapping on the carburetor bowl with the handle of a screwdriver. After getting the floats to float the gas leak will stop. There's an outside chance that it's the fuel rail that's leaking and tapping the bowls won't stop the leak. However, just letting the bike sit for a bit with fuel in the lines may swell the o-rings enough to stop a fuel rail leak. If your carbs have never been rebuilt then I'd recommend considering getting it done. You can also put an additive like Seafoam or Techron in your gas help clean out your carbs. That said, miracles in a can are rare.

[mark81]

with the ethanol in gas now sitting just a couple of weeks can cause problems.  a lot of people here have used b12 chemtool with success to fix gummed up carbs

[hukmut]

I'll tell you this: any time I read about carb problems, I always recommend replacing the float needles. After having experienced the very same problem you just described, I simply took others advice from this forum and waited overnight, and the leaking rails simply stopped leaking. Maybe one of these days I will actually replace those old "o" rings.
Ride safe.

[longrider]

I purchased a new to me valk this last spring.  It had the same symptoms as it had been sitting for some time.  It was the fuel rail o-rings.  They did swell up after sitting with fuel in the lines and has not leaked since.  Try it again today I'll bet you'll be OK

[mrmessy]

tried tapping bowls and running it after 24 hours twice, still leaking. afraid it's either tear down time or pay someone to do the carbs for me. thanks for all the advice.