Any ideas - Solved

[1NorthRyder]

I have a 2000 IS and three years ago I started the bike and gas was pouring out on the front of the bike. I shut it off and the next day it was fine, I've ridden all over North America since then. Yesterday I was going to head out to get some bike parts for my daughter and started the bike up so it could warm up and gas was pouring, not dripping, out the front of the bike. I couldn't see where it was coming from but shut the bike down. This morning I decided to put the bike up on the lift and look for the issue. Started the bike drove it onto the lift and noticed no leak so I let it run for a while. Does not appear to be leaking any more. I did check the choke when it was leaking yesterday and it seems to slide ok. The only other thing I can think of is a stuck float but I rebuilt the carbs two years ago and the bike is ridden regularly so they shouldn't be gummed up. Any thoughts?

[Foozle]

05-06

Assuming the gas is coming from one of the carb bank overflow tubes, sounds like it could be a stuck float valve.  Check out the recent thread describing a very similar issue:

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,111016.0.html

Terry

[Jims99]

If you let the fuel system dry up, the o-rings and gaskets can shrink. Once you apply gas through them they will leak, but over time can swell back up and stop leaking. If you let the bike sit for more than a few weeks at a time, I would replace the o-rings and gaskets. Most likely the fuel rail o-rings. Red eye has the better kits to use imo.

[burple05]

Sounds like you got the same problem I did.  If the fuel is pouring out the the front, it's more than likely coming out of the right side bank vent hose.  And yeah, it pours out.  I got lucky.  I pulled the plugs and cranked it over.  Right side cylinders all had a little fuel in them blow out.  All I did was take a 3/8" long extension, put the female end on carb bowls and gave each one a few taps with a hammer.  I'm sure I had a float stuck wide open.  I rode over 300 miles over the weekend.  No problems at all.  I think it stuck because I had started the bike without turning the fuel on and probably ran the bowls low on fuel and one of the floats stuck in the down position.  Note to self...don't run it out of fuel.  Hope you find an easy fix.

[1NorthRyder]

After reading the comments I remembered that I did indeed start the bike while forgetting to turn the fuel on and as a result drained the bowls which likely caused the stuck float.