Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Fuel Leak Under Bike After Carb Cleaning

While cleaning my carbs out I found both valve needles stuck up. I cleaned them up and put it back together. Now fuel runs all over the ground from the overflow hose from the carbs. A lot comes out too. I've double checked the valve needles for free movement and bad tips. All good. Any ideas? Also local dealer want $21 For a valve needle. Sounds a bit excessive.

Sounds like you need to get back inside those carbs, the floats are bound up in their travel, would be my 1st guess.

If mine, I would replace the float valve needles.

I agree, $42 is a bargain compared to the price of most of the purchased parts remedies for problems we have to deal with from time to time. I still find it odd that both carbs developed the fuel issue at the same time, almost like both sides were reassembled wrong after the cleaning. You'll figure it out, I'm sure.

check fitment !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am leaning to reassembled wrong too, very unlikely for both to fail at once and to fail only after disassembly. Maybe you knocked the floats out of adjustment would be another possibility if you pushed on them or anything.

I went back and pulled the top end and bowls apart to make sure all was good. The float travel is at 17mm and the valve needle movement is good. Did another cleaning and put it back together. The one thing that I did notice is when I squirted carb cleaner down the fuel line to the T between the carbs the fluid trickled in from elsewhere and not from where the float/valve needle is located at. Is that correct?

No, the fuel should come in where the float needle seats.