Leaking Carb's

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Bohdan
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Leaking Carb's

#1

Post by Bohdan »

Greetings Gents,
I have reviewed the issues everybody has on GL1000 bikes (GL1100 carbs actually) with regard to leaking. Mine naturally leaked apparently on through the float bowl seating. Could tell because of the yellow stains from the gas. SOmebody suggested to maybe bang on the float bowls and maybe that would make them work again. I did that and lo and behold, it stopped leaking. The question I have is this a band-aid repair? or would this happen again? and if so, would the float bowls need to be re-adjusted? Mighty obliged.
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wingrider
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Re: Leaking Carb's

#2

Post by wingrider »

Banging on them and stopping the leak meant that the needle was staying open for some reason. Perhaps some speck of something in the seat, or the float was just stuck. It may not do it again, but if it does, I would pull the carbs off and do some inspection to see what might be causing your issue.
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Oldewing
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Re: Leaking Carb's

#3

Post by Oldewing »

We have been banging on carbs since the dawn of time, you should be fine.
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Bohdan
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Re: Leaking Carb's

#4

Post by Bohdan »

Thanks Gents, Mighty obliged.
'77 GL1000 Blue
'77 GL1000 Botina
'77 GL1000 Roadkill
93 GL1500 Big Red
13 GL1800 Nepper
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desertrefugee
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Re: Leaking Carb's

#5

Post by desertrefugee »

Oldewing wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:33 pm We have been banging on carbs since the dawn of time, you should be fine.
:-D

Why yes, we have! My preferred method is a 3/8 extension rapped with the butt of a screwdriver.
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wingrider
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Re: Leaking Carb's

#6

Post by wingrider »

desertrefugee wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 5:15 pm
Oldewing wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:33 pm We have been banging on carbs since the dawn of time, you should be fine.
:-D

Why yes, we have! My preferred method is a 3/8 extension rapped with the butt of a screwdriver.
I gave a chinesium 4 wheeler to my niece and nephew for Christmas a couple years ago….carb was gummed up when I got ahold of it. Cleaned it like q well used whistle, and the darn thing started leaking…figured float is stuck somehow, started banging on it, and figured it would break before the darn thing stopped leaking. Still haven’t gotten time to fix it.
2002 1800 Wing
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
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redglbx
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Re: Leaking Carb's

#7

Post by redglbx »

Personally, once the float is unstuck I’d run some carb cleaner like Lucas through it for a couple of tanks. Good chance things are just varnished up.
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NotSoLilCrippseys
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Re: Leaking Carb's

#8

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

redglbx wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:30 am Personally, once the float is unstuck I’d run some carb cleaner like Lucas through it for a couple of tanks. Good chance things are just varnished up.


Agreed. I use Seafoam, likely because I have used it with success. Other products also work. You may need to pull the carbs if the issue keeps resurfacing, but maybe you can put it off for a good while. And you might change out the fuel filter.
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Big_Blumpkin
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Re: Leaking Carb's

#9

Post by Big_Blumpkin »

Where was it leaking from? I have a similar issue after re-installing the engine and the leak seems to be coming only from the right side and from where the fuel lines run in the right rear and front carb. I tried banging on it and it didn't seem to do anything.
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