Fuel overflow

[invalidsession]

Hey guys, the last couple of times I've ridden the Max there has been a cylinder misfire from cold which goes away after about five minutes of riding. my wife (following me on her Bonneville) said the bike smelled a little of unburnt fuel. This morning I started the bike and was rewarded with fuel overflowing from the the front left carb. I figure the float may be stuck but don't know why since the bike has been running perfectly up until now. Any quick fixes/tips to set it right or is this a carbs out job ? Typical for this to happen just as the weather is improving :bang head:

Chris.

 

[marsmax85]

float just might be stuck others have tap lightly on bowl of carb.

 

[Bill Seward]

Mine puked gas last season, and a tap on the carb body to loosen a stuck float worked for a while. I wound up running a couple tanks of Seafoam mixed half a can to a tank of gas. This helped a lot, but the problem recurred later in the season. In my case, it wound up being the original 29 year old fuel lines starting to fall apart, letting tiny bits of rubber foul up the needle valves. I replaced every bit of rubber hose to all 4 carbs, from the tank through the pump and filter to the lines to the carbs. Problem, so far, fixed.. This spring there was no fuel leakage out of the carburetors, and things ran well from the first startup.

 

[alorio1]

Open the drain screw and catch the fuel that drains out, look for little particles in the fuel. If you don't see any let the carb drain completely. Withe the drain screw open cycle the key on and tap on the carb at te same time. With the float level that low it may flush out what ever it is causing the needle valve not to seat. You may have to do this several times to flush the needle and seat. You may have succes and mabe not. If you see a lot of particles from draining the carb, I would change the fuel filter.

 

[invalidsession]

It's kinda tricky to get to the drain screw. This is the small brass nut on the inside edge of the fuel bowl yes ? I did give the carb bowl a tap and everything was back to normal for a while but it started overflowing again after a short ride I reckon there is some dirt in there that is preventing the needle from seating correctly. I'll order a fuel filter and run some Seafoam through the system and see where that takes me. Thanks for the tips fellas, much appreciated


Chris.

 

[jfeagins]

It's kinda tricky to get to the drain screw. This is the small brass nut on the inside edge of the fuel bowl yes ? I did give the carb bowl a tap and everything was back to normal for a while but it started overflowing again after a short ride I reckon there is some dirt in there that is preventing the needle from seating correctly. I'll order a fuel filter and run some Seafoam through the system and see where that takes me. Thanks for the tips fellas, much appreciated


Chris.

The drain screw should be accessable from each side of the bike. It is a Phillips head screw and when opened, the fuel will follow the drain tubes to the side of the bike. Two tubes on each side coming through the carb rack side trim.

 

[invalidsession]

The drain screw should be accessable from each side of the bike. It is a Phillips head screw and when opened, the fuel will follow the drain tubes to the side of the bike. Two tubes on each side coming through the carb rack side trim.

Aah, I see. Since the fuel was flowing out of the tubes at the rear of the motor I jumped to the wrong conclusion. Thanks for pointing that out mate

Chris.

 

[invalidsession]

Just to end this little saga I'd like to say thanks to those who responded and shared the collective wisdom. Tbh, I have had no issues with my 07 until this episode and with that in mind, (although I have read many of the threads here) none until now have hit home.

Just to reiterate I did as several posters recommended and drained off the offending bowl into a clear glass. I then cycled the fuel pump and dumped a 1/4 pint of fuel. I did observe some tiny pieces of dirt in the drained fuel but hard to tell if these had come from the bowl or had collected in the outlet tubes from riding. I then put in a pint of Seafoam and ran the bike today for around 200 miles and thus far the issue has gone. Thanks again to all who took the trouble to post .

Chris.

 

[alorio1]

I like happy endings................