Finally nice & sunny, so I decided to take the bike out for a spin. (We don't have polar bears here, but three weeks ago you could still go skiing).
I had drained the float bowls in the autumn, and when I connected the battery and turned ignition on the fuel pump buzzed quite normally. The bike started ok with choke on, but after a few seconds started running kinda odd, wouldn't keep going except on throttle, and then I noticed I was standing in a fuel puddle.
Here's what I've found out so far:
- Fuel just oozes out of apparently from the front of the carbs, with no clear source of where it comes out.
- Tapping the float bowls didn't seem to help, tried that twice after draining the float bowls. I've had a stuck float once earlier, right after I put the Holeshot kit in, but that was easily rectified by tapping the bowls (thanks Mike!). But that time the excess fuel spewed out of a carb overflow hose.
- If I drain the float bowls and then switch ignition on but don't start the engine, after a while fuel starts to seep out of carbs 3&4 while 1&2 seem to remain dry. I don't know if waiting longer would start the leak also from 1&2.
The bike's got a Holeshot kit in, and at the same time I at least tried to adjust the float levels as per Pat's instructions. Apart from the first problems, it has run fine with the kit for 3,000 miles and one spring start before this.
Any ideas?
(God, how I hate pulling carbs... Any suggestions as to how to get especially the 2&3 airbox side rubber boots to seat easily on carbs are also welcome. Nearly drove me crazy the last time before I got them straightened and clamped.)