Gas coming out of overflow tube at bottom of the bike

I am trying to sell the beast but in the mean time I need to see if I can resolve the issue I am having with the motor bogging and gas coming out the bottom little rubber tube under the bike.

Any ideas of what could cause this?

 

You've got a stuck float.

 

lol would tapping on the bottom of the carbs with a rubber mallet help?
Thanks guys this is just something I will need to pass on to a new owner I learned recently that I am not a motorcycle mechanic.

 

It's been known to work.

 

Drain the crankcase. Do NOT start the bike with fuel in the crankcase. The oil has been thinned to the point that it will not be able to keep the crank and rod bearings from being damaged if the engine is started.

As stated you either have a stuck float, crud trapped between a float needle and the needle seat, or bad gaskets/o-rings at teh needle seat. The petcock is probably in need of a rebuild as well. Is this the same XJ that you have been working on/ riding this past year?

 

yeah it is was running great then I attempted to change the valve cover gasket and failed had to reseat the gasket using an allen wrench and forecepts on the side of the road. succeeded but now the engine runs super rough. I took it to a "motorcycle mechanic" he changed the oil and the spark plugs and probably adjusted the idle screw. it ran just ok for about an hour or so after I left the mechanic and started running supper rough like a fouled out cylinder. and on my last drive it is draining gas and spewing white smoke after it warms up. so I went to the dealer and bought a 2001 sport tour bike. Ill let this thing go for $500 at this point
I just want to tell someone what they are up against. I loved this bike until it melted down. I just wanted it to stop soaking my leg with oil.

 

Like K-moe said, you have a stuck float in your carbs. You need to take the carbs off, clean them out (would suggest replace the float needles and set your float levels).

It also sounds like you need to take care of the valve cover gasket.

 

You're gonna throw in the towel on a bike that has a fuel leak and a leaky valve cover? Wow.....I've picked up bikes in worse condition than that! Clean the carbs and replace the valve cover gasket.

Clean carbs and properly set floats will eliminate the overflow condition -

do the valve shims, and replace all the cover bolt donuts while you're doing it will eliminate the oil issue. - can be done in an afternoon or a morning. Our record is 8 in one day at a carb clinic--granted, there were several people working, but still--- it's a 1/2 day 1-person job.

Be careful with the mallet idea--I've seen several sets of carbs come through here with the edge of the lip by the bowl chipped, bent, and/or broken out.

 

Yes I am throwing in the towel on the bike. I cannot spend another dime on it. I invested any "extra" money I had and a good chunk of family savings to get my new bike. Beast gets to go to someone who is willing to take an engine apart. Sadly, I thought I was more mechanically inclined than I really am. She was a great starter bike to get my riding legs back. I may tinker with the bike a little more, but I will not be dismantling it.

 

Someone, quick-- grab yourself an easy project!!!!!

 

Too far for me to pick it up

 

I would totally sell it to one of youz guys for cheap!

 

..... And I'm even farther than Ecologito

 

I wish I could buy it. I'm in Washington.

Shipping options?

 

I had a scooter that I sold shipped via haulbikes.com. IIRC it was $400 from Kansas to San Deigo. The buyer reported that it arrived undamaged.

 

if I were closer, I might be all over it, but the wife wouldn't be too happy about it.

FU

 

She'd get over it---mine flipped out over bike #1. Then went ballistic with parts bike (#2), now doesn't really even notice when others come home..... Closing in on 30...... Some on the road, some projects to sell, some to restore, some just for parts

 

"What bike...... Oh--- THAT BIKE!?!? That's been there, for, like.......I can't even remember----- I've had that a LONG time"

 

I'd take her off your hands if it was a seca. What's the bottom dollar again?

 

lol!

FU

 

I'll take 500.

If you take the boxes off, everything goes right back to stock. I cut nothing to add the boxes.

 

Hey guys I'm thinking of picking up this bike but wanted to check to be clear, once the carbs are addressed and the valve cover gaskets and 12 rubber "donuts" are replaced that will fix the gas overflow (causing the bike to run poorly and fixing the white smoke I'm assuming) and the oil leaking onto the riders leg. Will I need to adjust the valve clearance or is that not something I would need to mess with to fix the stated issues? Sorry if this is obvious stuff but I'm a Harley builder and haven't worked on these types of bikes ever before.

 

If you build Harleys, you might want to leave this just the way it is. That way it'll run Rough, and it'll leak oil, just like you're used to!

Okay, seriously.... We are only going by a description, but based on the description we believe these are the issues. Fuel coming out of an air box indicates a float that is sticking open, Which will cause flooding issues as well as overflow. A leaky valve cover gasket obviously indicates the gasket needs to be replaced. When you replace that, check your valve clearances as well and do that all at the same time.

Based on descriptions given in the forum, carburetors need to be completely cleaned, thoroughly, and totally rebuilt. The valve cover gasket needs to be replaced along with bolt donuts, and valve shims should be checked and adjusted as well. Once the carburetors are back on the bike that you have to do Your colortune and carb tune a.k.a. running sync.

 

Again, this is based just on descriptions that we have received of the conditions of the bike. If you take care and time you'll end up with a fine running reliable Bike.

Rest of shored that we are right here, any questions you have We are right here to help you out.

 

Don't get me wrong I love my rough and oil leaking motorcycles but only when it's an old Harley not a bike like this that should run smooth and oil tight!

Thanks so much for the reply it's what I wanted to hear. One more question for you, do I need special tools to sync the carbs? Harley's typically only have the one carb so I've never done such a thing before and have no specialized synching tool.

 

Carbtune and a screwdriver

 

you might want to start by reading through this thread...

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/index.php?threads/the-information-overload-hour.27544/

and welcome to the forum.

FU

 

Carbtune? How about 2 glass bottles, some mmo, and some vacuum line?

 

CARBTUNE

 

CARB

 

TUNE

 

Whatch'ya trying to say, Dave? Don't be so cryptic................

 

"Do..... Not..... Seek.......the....... Treasure......"

Oh wait------ wrong movie.

 

i'll put my two bottles of water up against your carbtune any day. Oh that's right, i already did

 

Buy a service manual and do ALL the scheduled maintenance that hasn't been done in 30yrs.

Gary H.