how far up in the bowl does the fuel settle?

when the bike is on the side stand and you prime the carbs, does the fuel go up to the gasket area of the bowl?

My problem is primitive and I'm friggin blown away it's still happening.

Turn the petcock to Prime, after a minute or so when the bowls fill up fuel starts dripping onto the starter. I already sanded the inside of the needle valve seats with fine grit and installed new needle valves. I really don't think I ever changed the bowl gaskets and I was going to replace them. But now I'm thinking maybe the fuel shouldn't even be making that high.

and I used the clear tube method for the fuel level.

Does it happen on the center stand, probably. I'll figure it out I guess, I just want the question answered in the topic title. Thanks guys. Enjoy this season!

 

I don't know for sure...but probably. The height of the fuel from the midline of the carb is going to be what you measured using the clear tube method, but the sides will be higher/lower.

If you figure out your lean angle, and measure the width of the bowls, if (sin(leanAngle)*carbBowlWidth/2 > fuelHeightFromGasket) then fuel will reach the gasket on the side stand.

Also, fuel sloshes around when riding, so you should replace those gaskets anyway. If you do a clear tube measure after the leaking, and everything it still in spec, it's definitely your gaskets.

 

Your needles are still not seating and letting the fuel overflow. Using sandpaper in the seats probably put grooves in then and your new neelles will not seal. They should be replaced. Seats can be cleaned but only with a liquid or paste polishing conpound to brighten them up. I use a Q-tip and spin it with my fingers with compound, clean well with water to remove all the compound. You should replace your seats and reset the float heights.

 

Thanks, even if I used 1000 grit and its Super smooth?

 

1000 grid does a good job but there is still small scratches in the seat. The time and effort to make them work reliably again , just get new ones. Then wet set the floats on the bench and go through the rest of the carb setup and tune.