Carb leak question

[Hotrodwing]

Finally pulled the bike out of a long 7 month sleep.  Turned on the gas and she fired right up.  I  let it run about a minute when I smelled gas . Turn it off and saw gas dripping from center carb right side while sitting on bike.  There was quite a bit of gas on the engine block in the valley near the reed valves.  I t doesn’t drip unless the bike is running.  I seem to recall reading the carbs my leak until gasket swell.  I start and stopped it a few times no leak.  Took it for a few mile ride and all is good.  Question what next?  Carb rebuild? keep riding if not leaking?   I am northeast Pa.  No sure if anyone around here would work on her.  Ha te the thoughts of a stealer working on it. Ps. I always run non ethanol before she is put away.

[sandy]

Maybe a stuck float but not likely. More likely it’s the connectors between the carbs. Swelling seals usually fixes the problem. If not, the rebuild will be needed.

[da prez]

  S T A Y  A W A Y  from dealers. Unless they have an old mechanic , the kiddy mechanics do not know carbs.  Ride the bike and keep an eye on the carbs.  If they leak again , get them repaired.

                                                da prez

[98valk]

end nuts of the thru bolts that hold the carbs together do get loose. tighten them.
also the o-rings are designed to swell some when in gas. so good chance the shrunk some. tomorrow tighten those nuts and then see if it still leaks. good chance the o-rings swelled overnight and not leaking now. had to do this last yr after it sat for 2 months. next day zero leaks,, ridden over 5k miles since then.

[Hotrodwing]

Ok will check end nuts.  Thanks

[longrider]

As these bikes age some of the rubber components degrade a bit.  The o-rings at each end if the fuel tubes joining the carbs shrink a bit when dry over the winter.  Now that you have fuel in there they are sealed and good to go provided the bike is run regularly.   I did have an issue with one if the carb diagrams and so a complete rebuild did solve that issue for me

[Hotrodwing]

Took bike to work today. No leaks, carb nuts all tight except for1 just snugged it up.  Will keep an eye on it.  Looks like a carb rebuilt is in my future.  FYI  97 standard   96,000 trouble free miles on her. Cant complain.

[98valk]

Took bike to work today. No leaks, carb nuts all tight except for1 just snugged it up.  Will keep an eye on it.  Looks like a carb rebuilt is in my future.  FYI  97 standard   96,000 trouble free miles on her. Cant complain.

sounds like the o-rings swelled as designed by the gas.
 a rebuild will not be required unless seafoam and some other fuel cleaners are used which have chemicals that oem buna-n o-rings don't like.

only carb cleaner/lubricate I use is TC-W3.  see how to use here https://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91206

[Hotrodwing]

Interesting read 98 valk.  I have been running Berryman B12 on and off for years also add a shot of star tron fuel additive for those times when I cannot find non ethanol

[LadyDraco]

+1 on StarTron and B12 ! 
As a matter of fact, I put startron in all the gas cans when I fill them up for the farm.
The farm only runs on 100% fuel..

[98valk]

Interesting read 98 valk.  I have been running Berryman B12 on and off for years also add a shot of star tron fuel additive for those times when I cannot find non ethanol

there are some reports out there that todays gasoline is so poor that it starts breaking down after a few weeks. reason I use sta-bil almost every tank. It was advertised that new formula emits fumes to coat exposed areas of the tank. I have never tried star-tron.

interesting swell test, shows berryman's actually will stop fuel leaks.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/my-o-ring-swelling-test.129732/

[Hotrodwing]

  Good to know on the B12.  I guess I 'll keep doing the same as usual .  As of today no leaks.

[Joe333x]

Interesting read 98 valk.  I have been running Berryman B12 on and off for years also add a shot of star tron fuel additive for those times when I cannot find non ethanol

I had my first experience with the B12. I rebuilt my carbs last year and the bike ran the balls all season, put her away with stabil in it and let it run so it got through the system. Started her up this season and I was getting back fire popping on the left side exhaust. Ran a half can of B12 and it cleared up what ever was going on. Next winter I'm draining the carbs dry.

[98valk]

Interesting read 98 valk.  I have been running Berryman B12 on and off for years also add a shot of star tron fuel additive for those times when I cannot find non ethanol

I had my first experience with the B12. I rebuilt my carbs last year and the bike ran the balls all season, put her away with stabil in it and let it run so it got through the system. Started her up this season and I was getting back fire popping on the left side exhaust. Ran a half can of B12 and it cleared up what ever was going on. Next winter I'm draining the carbs dry.

u didn't put enough sta-bil in your fuel. mine has sat 3 months during winter. started right up zero issues.

the way the bowl to drain is configured there will still be some gas in left in the bowl.

[John97]

 S T A Y  A W A Y  from dealers. Unless they have an old mechanic , the kiddy mechanics do not know carbs.  Ride the bike and keep an eye on the carbs.  If they leak again , get them repaired.

                                                da prez

My former dealership had an older tech who knew these and most other 80/90s bikes very well. And he’s  retired now but works out of his garage. It might be worth asking your local dealer if they had a similar situation. Our tech was old enough to retire but liked fixing bikes and simply wanted no more of the headaches. We would always pass the word to him about customers in need. Also the going rate on carbs, any carbs, was $200 each. Cleaned, rebuilt, synched and good as new. But Valks ain’t cheap!