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Leaking carbs
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 3:43 pm
Author: dynodave
I have set of 26mm Mikuni's and I can't stop them leaking out of the float bowls! I have tried float heights, new float valves everything I can think of but still petrol seeps through the gaskets and runs down the bowls. Any idea's anybody?
Cheers
Dave
Re: Leaking carbs
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 7:54 pm
Author: kev edwards
float levels wrong or float valves not seating properly.
Re: Leaking carbs
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 11:00 am
Author: Ultim8pc
When on the side stand this is normal as the fuel is now high on the left hand side of the carb.
If this is occurring when on the centre stand then you have slightly incorrect float heights/fuel level or float valve slightly leaking.
If they were massively out, or the float valve was leaking badly, you'd have fuel coming out of the bowl overflows too.
Fuel weeping out of the float gasket is a common issue with the card gaskets, I use the Keyster ones, which are made from some sort of rubber based compound.
Re: Leaking carbs
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 12:17 pm
Author: warren3200gt
I've always used a very LIGHT smear of rtv on carb gaskets. Seems to do the trick.
Re: Leaking carbs
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 9:18 pm
Author: Ultim8pc
warren3200gt wrote:I've always used a very LIGHT smear of rtv on carb gaskets. Seems to do the trick.
That just made me shudder....
Re: Leaking carbs
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 11:02 pm
Author: warren3200gt
Ultim8pc wrote:warren3200gt wrote:I've always used a very LIGHT smear of rtv on carb gaskets. Seems to do the trick.
That just made me shudder....
Why, whats the down side? Stops the side stand issue. I don't put enough on to squeeze out into the bowl when tightened, just enough to take up any tiny imperfections in the surfaces and it reduces the chances of stripping the threads due to overtightening to get the gasket to seal.
Re: Leaking carbs
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 9:15 am
Author: Pigford
warren3200gt wrote:Ultim8pc wrote:warren3200gt wrote:I've always used a very LIGHT smear of rtv on carb gaskets. Seems to do the trick.
That just made me shudder....
Why, whats the down side? Stops the side stand issue. I don't put enough on to squeeze out into the bowl when tightened, just enough to take up any tiny imperfections in the surfaces and it reduces the chances of stripping the threads due to overtightening to get the gasket to seal.
I thought it may have had "sexual" connotations?
Re: Leaking carbs
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:00 am
Author: warren3200gt
Pigford wrote:warren3200gt wrote:Ultim8pc wrote:warren3200gt wrote:I've always used a very LIGHT smear of rtv on carb gaskets. Seems to do the trick.
That just made me shudder....
Why, whats the down side? Stops the side stand issue. I don't put enough on to squeeze out into the bowl when tightened, just enough to take up any tiny imperfections in the surfaces and it reduces the chances of stripping the threads due to overtightening to get the gasket to seal.
I thought it may have had "sexual" connotations?
My mind is obviously a lot purer than the rest of you mucky sods!

Re: Leaking carbs
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:32 am
Author: Ultim8pc
I've seen too many sets where problems have been caused by application of too much RTV.. It only needs a tiny bit to some off and get lodged somewhere to cause a problem.
So use at your own risk IMHO.