End of Season Carb Woes

[Ace]

Yesterday the wife and I took a nice long run as the riding season is coming to a close. I parked the bike in the garage for the night and this morning I thought I could smell raw fuel when I peeked in the garage. I never thought much of it but when I got home it smelled gassy around the bike. I looked around the bike and didn't find anything so I tried to fire it up, it started but ran very rough and I had to use lots of throttle to keep it running. Then the gas started to pour out the vents that exit by the air cleaner, not just one side but both sides!

Bike has ran great all year since I bought it, I went through the carbs in the spring and they were just like new inside and I have run sea foam a few times throughout the season so they should still be clean. I am thinking that the needle valves are leaking by but why all of a sudden and both sides to boot! If I turn the key on the pump will tick, tick, tick and gas starts running out the hose on each side, keeps pumping until it times out. Anyone have any ideas? The bike only has 34,000 miles on it but it is pretty much 15 years old so probably time for a complete carb rebuild on all 4. Thoughts and recommendations are both welcomed and appreciated.

[Peder_y2k]

Check the fuel tank for rusting. Rust has a way of passing through a fuel filter and coating the inside of the carb, including the inlet check valve.

Also, the check valve that is sealed into the casting by a small o-ring that may have deteriorated allowing fuel to flow around the valve. A complete rebuild, as you put it, is not likely necessary.

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[Ace]

The tank does not look rusty, at least not as far as I can see, I plan on pulling the carbs to get a good look inside. Thanks for the tip on the orings.

[Condor]

A load of bad gas???

[Ace]

Not sure. I filled it before heading home in a city 30 miles from home, the bike was running sweet after the fill up and all the way home. the station that I fill at in that city always has fresh, clean gas.

[Ace]

Just an update: Peder y2k was right. Fuel was getting around the orings that seal the seat to the body of the carb. I replaced all 4 needle and seat set ups, set the floats, no more leaks. I did have to re-sync (would have checked anyway) as it idled terrible when I was done, the sync was way off. I attribute this to breaking the carbs partially apart, this is necessary to get the float pivot pins out of 2 of the 4 carbs.