Can anyone tell me what is going on?

Ugh, sorry for the repeated posts, but
xj700 airhead....carbs, ugh. I've had them off probably in excess of 12 times. Issue now?
The float heights won't stay. I had rebuilt needles and seats, and the same thing was happeneing. Set them dry, then wet. Too low, then overflow and I'm talking about 1mm at a time. I had it right once, and that is only because I tapped the side of the bowl. It appears my needles are sticking, but with 2 different sets of needles and seats??

Either that, or something is wrong with my floats...they might be sinking. I've never run up on this before and the bike now sits wantingly in the corner of the garage...it's that or something bad was going to happen to it.

 

you can try putting your bowls in a fuel filled container, force them under and wait for bubbles. if they're good at least you'll have another peace of mind factoid

 

First you should see if the floats infact actually float (not so hard to figure out how to do that test)
Another idea is to clean those small inlets where the float needles go in and out (or up and down) I clean mine with a Q-tip and carb cleaner to get any gunk out so the needles slide freely. That may just be the problem. Make sure the floats move freely on the pivot rods also. They have to be centered properly also before installing the flaot bowl or the bowl will hit them or bend the rod just enough to keep the float from moving freely. I mean it's not like working on a swiss watch with boxing gloves on, but you do need to use some care and patience when working on them.

 

The floats are solid.

 

I read on a different topic that they were filled with foam. Hopefully someone see's this that has opened one up

 

it occurred to me the other day that a plugged gas tank vent could cause flooding - as the day warms up and the tank heats up, the air in the tank will expand - if the air can't get out the vent, it will push the gas down into carbs.

i think, maybe, now i'm second guessing myself as i think the petrooster would "beat" the pressure - assuming that also is working properly.

 

Thread jacking here (sorry) I know that the tank vents thru the cap, but is it normal for it to hiss while venting, or is my vent getting plugged?