Front carb full of fuel?

[yorkie_chris]

No, vacuum tap diaphragm splitting would fill rear one but the front carb valve would stop it filling the front

[Geodude]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Float or float needle sticking is the obvious likely cause.

If i follow the haynes manual how difficult a job is this likely to be and should it be attempted by myself i.e. could i make it worse due to lack of mechanical know how?

[Sid Squid]

Anything can be made worse if you're not sure of what you're doing .

However, if you have a Haynes manual or similar, follow its advice, work methodically with brain engaged, perhaps make notes or take pictures about what goes where and how. And don't forget that stopping and asking questions if you are even slightly unsure won't break anything or cause the situation to become irredeemable, and that ploughing on regardless can cause the opposite only too quickly. A bit of thought and a careful assessment will very probably mean you'll be just fine and be twirling the spanners like a pro in no time!

[Geodude]

Thanks for the reassuring reply Sid Ive gone as far as taking carbs off before to fix stuck plungers but never took the leap into poking around in its internals so was a bit worried about taking the next step as it were, so thanks for easing my mind.

[Geodude]

Reply to pm from spanner man

Good morning George.


As Sid said, it sounds like you have a sticking float, or crap under the float needle inside the carburetor.

You could try draining the carb. You will need a long 5mm ball ended Allen key to access the drain screw. It's a bit of a sod to see, so a small torch would be handy. The manual should show you where it is.
Once the carb has drained, you will need to wash the carb through with clean petrol. You can do this by briefly starting the engine. It will only sart on the rear cylinder run it for 5 seconds or so, this should allow fresh petrol to run through the front carb. It just might wash out any crud that may be stuck under the float needle.
Do up the front carb drain screw, start the engine again. it should chime in on two cylinders after a few seconds.
If you have the airbox off, you will be able to see if the carb is flooding again quite quickly.

On the subject of 'hydrolocking' you must make sure the front cylinder isn't full of juice before you do anything else. Remove the plugs, & turn the engine over by hand. Or push it up the road in gear. This should expel any fuel that has entered the cylinders. (Mop up afterwards)
If one cylinder was full of fuel, an oil change would be a good idea.


Cheers.


Stewart.

[Geodude]

Carbs off but soaking cheesium screws on float chamber in penetrating oil over night just to be safe before i attempt to remove them as they look nackered! Heres a picture of what the front cylinder looked like full of fuel and im guessing caused by float/needles sticking, would this be the hydrolock thing i was warned about? Ps very big thanks for the help so far

[Spanner Man]

EEEK! Better check your engine oil level before trying to turn the engine over too!


Cheers.

[Richie]

yep, fuel might have got passed the piston rings and filled up your oil gallery :0)
thats impressive George !

[yorkie_chris]

One way to clean any carbon out the intake tracts I suppose!

[fastdruid]

I would personally advise not even turning it over with that much petrol in there, very good chance of oil being washed off everything internally, syphon it out, drain and replace oil, remove plugs and *then* turn it over (by hand).

Don't want to worry you but last time I had a problem like this the engine went pop 9 miles later...

Druid