I have gas dumping out the carb over flow hose and also out the carb. any suggestions? bike stopped runnning, I asume it just choked out on the huge amount of fuel dumping in the carb....could it be a stuck float? Any help appreciated.

 

Yes, stuck float or needle valve. Short term fix: Kick the carb. Proper fix, take the carb apart and clean the valve or replace it.

 

Edit--I just re-read your post and I stand corrected. They don't all do it to the degree you mention. However, it is common for them to leak out the overflow when parked.

At the risk of sounding like a dealer--they all do it. At least my 90 FXR did as well as many others I was familiar with. I cleaned the needle/seat, blew it out with compressed air, rebuilt the carb, you name it over the course of several years and the only long-term fix was shutting off the gas when I got off.

 

tried kickin the carb...think I'll just rebuild it.

 

Make sure your gas tank is properly vented also.

 

Good suggestion. Check for blocked vent pipe etc.

I have owned my 1990 bike from new and my carb never 'did it'! Suggests to me that age has caught up with it, so a strip, clean and rebuild seems in order.

 

It is not a common thing, not at all.
No such thing as "they all do it" when it comes to fuel leaking from carbs.
That is totally insane.
If the bike leaks when parked on the side stand after running, you have either not turned your fuel off, or in the case of a vacuum tap, it is not working( This especially when combined with poor tank venting, is a problem), or the float is set too high. Who would manufacture a motorcycle, with a fuel bowl height that caused a flammable leak when parked?
Remember.......... the petcock turns the fuel on and off.
The needle and seat is a fuel regulatory device that has nothing to do with TURNING THE FUEL ON OR OFF.

In the case of the OP, first thing to do is check for dirt.

 

when my 85 started to leak like that i just replaced the float needle. the original one was triangular in shape and they tend to get stuck on the needle tube after they wear a bit. the newer type is square and it fits in the needle tube a lot better.

 

well I took apart the carb and found that the slow jet was quite loose. I tightened it up put it back together. no more leak. being loose the gas must have been flowing freely up the treads into the carb.float needle looked ok. firedup nicely only problem now.....it coughs.. backfires at the carb at idle and will cut off at an idle.. any suggestions ??

 

I want to thank you all for your help with this it is much appriecieated !