Got home from riding today, stopped for gas a mile from home. When I arrvied home the overflow on the S&S carb was pouring major gas. Is that a stuck float? I guess I need to pull it to see.

This old motorcycle is kicking my butt. Every ride contains some issue. It's still a bear to start on a cold day with a warm motor that's been sitting for ten or more minutes. Today I rode over to the dealership. It was about 40 degrees out. I stayed in there about 15 minutes, came out, cracked the throttle open a bit, no start, not so much as an attempt at starting. So, I rolled the throttle open a couple of times, held the throttle open a bit, nada. I tried all different options for quite a while and never an attempt to light off. So, I pulled the plugs and rolled it over for a couple of seconds. The plugs were dry and didn't seem to be fouled at all. Then, a few more tries and she lights off with a couple of backfires, cuts off. Then roll the throttle, hold it open 1/2 way and she will start and run but hard to keep running. Finally, I was able to get her running enough to ride off. I road it a bit hard and it rode fine all the way home. Of course, the carb overflow is now pouring gas. Great... I'm going out to the garage tonight in the cold and pulling that carb off and apart to see what's what in there.

 

Mine overflows too when I don't cut off the gas at the petcock.

 

How are the fuel lines? I couldn't tell from the outside that mine were losing chunks on the inside...... found pieces where the needle seats in the bowl. Gas EVERYWHERE!

 

That could cause the needle valve to stay open/not fully close and cause an overflow.

OP, the two are probably related. I'd pull the carb, check for debris, and replace the lines if they're old.

 

don't need to pull the carb, just drop the float bowl and clean it.

 

That's only half way doing it. I'd pull the carb and go through it...

 

Or, disconnect the fuel line from the carb and squeeze it in your fingers.

That's when I discovered the rotten line. Then, I removed the bowl and found the chunks inside.....

 

I agree with the above, but I would start at the tank, drain and clean it, replace fuel lines etc. A rebuild kit for the carb will complete the 'spring clean'!

 

That is a problem you should fix...it should never do that.

 

It has done it from brand new.
I've reset the float level and done everything else I can think of and it still does it.
I just make sure I shut off the fuel when I stop the bike.