FUEL LEAK - sugestions please

[pvt_mon]

Two weeks ago i started up my bike because i didn't ride it for a while. Apparently between then and now almost all my fuel leaked out. I tried to figure out what happened today and this is what i got:

Bike: '97 GSX600 Kat 11K mi.

1) Fuel leaks from the left side - looks like the carburetor.
2) Fuel only leaks when the bike is leaning as far as it can on the kick stand.
3) I wipe the area and leaned the bike again - doesn't look like its leaking from above.
3) Bottom of the fuel tank is dry and so are the hose connections on the tank.
4) Bike won't start - it seems like the carbs are flooded.
5) It's been cold lately (about freezing) so I'm afraid that its something with the carb frame (cracked or a gap opened).

Please send any suggestions, questions or past experiences.

[UFO8MyCow]

Sounds like one of the float valves is leaking. You can ususlly stop it by pulling it out and cleaning it or just buy a new one.

[chinto]

was the fuel petcock left in prime?

[Hodgy]

Could be a stuck float or valve, check there's no petrol got into the oil too, if its overflowed it could of got into the cylinders.

Ian

[UFO8MyCow]

was the fuel petcock left in prime?

It shouldnt mater if it was on prime or not the float valves shouldnt leak.

[md86]

Or float gasket ......

[pvt_mon]

what exactly do I have to do to fix the float valve?

[md86]

Depends on what's wrong and what you intend to do about it . Whole assembly ? Just pull out the old , put on new o-rings if you're unsure about the old , and pop it back in . 30 minute job TOPS . Just the needle ? Takes a bit longer to get the needle out and back in , and gotta be more careful . Cheaper , but takes longer . Same for JUST the float itself (reusing your old needle) . May wanna ckeck float height when you're done . Hardest most time-consuming part will be getting TO the part , which is just popping the carbs off and draining the one (no need to undo cables and drain them ALL , just don't flip the carbs upside-down . But the , in order to check float height , you WILL have to flip them ...) .

[2000kat600]

Check the hose in the prime!

Check the hoses emanating from the tank and fuel petcock.

You could simply have a loose hose, misplaced or cracked.

If everything looks good under the tank then the local experts may suggest looking deeper.

I had a primer hose cracked at the tank's end, I simply cut the cracked area and since there was plenty left reattached and secured it with it's metal thingy, this was over a year ago, now the hole hose's getting pretty hard and stiff so I'll have to replace it altogether.

Good luck!

[md86]

What's a "primer hose " . The fuel all runs through the same hose .There's not a separate one for prime .....