EXUP Worldwide

I found out the hard way today.<br><br>I noticed a fuel leak on my 88 FZR1000 last night,so I shut off the peckcock. I figured it was a float bowl gasket,WRONG.<br>I had just clean my carbs the other day and thought it was the bowl gaskets.<br><br>I found out how wrong when I tried to start it today. <br>I wanted to fire it up to try and locate the leak,but that was a no go. It wouldn't turn over,as if it was locked up or had to much compression. It was the latter. Fuel had leaked from at least one carb into the cylinder.<br><br>I took the carbs off and seen fuel puddled by the butterfly in the #1 carb(the side it leans the most on the kick stand) and a little in the # 4 carb. <br><br>I took the spark plugs out at cranked it to blow out the excess fuel,most of it come out of #1.<br><br>I then took off bowl #1,hooked the carbs to the fuel pump w/a long hose and placed them over a bucket at the approx. angle as if they were on the bike. <br><br>I wanted to see if the fuel needles were shutting off like they should. They were on # 1,but I noticed that fuel was still pouring in from around the brass housing that the needle goes into. Just to make sure I took the float/needle out and covered the hole with my thumb. Same result fuel was bypassing the O-ring that was supposed to seal it. Same with # 4,but to a lesser degree.<br><br>It seems when I clean the carbs apart that I "disturbed" the gunk that built up over the years and sealed these things.<br>I went to the hardware store and got new o-rings and these things were tight to get seated,so they should hold.<br><br>As of now I have them back together over the buket under fuel pressure. I'll keep them there over night,periodically repriming the pump to see if they can hold the pressure.<br><br>Hopefully no fuel made it past the rings and no long term damage was done. The O-rings cost .34 cents each and couldv'e saved my a big hassle,but by not replacing them and not finding the problem untill it was too late couldv'e cost me an engine.<br><br>There's no difference in oil level and no gas smell,but I will most likely change the oil just to make sure.I'll at least drain it and take a look.<br><br>So,as I stated replace ALL gaskets and or O-rings even though they worked fine before you worked on your carbs!<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

I am surprised that fuel didn't flow out of the overflow tubes...<br><br>My FZR did the same recently on one cylinder, but I ended up with a puddle on the top of the gearbox where the hoses end.<br><br>You're very lucky not to have done a conrod in. <p></p><i></i>

Yea, hope no long term damage was done. I'm just glad it DIDN'T start and run! That could've made a bad situation worse. as I thought it was a simple bowl gasket leak.<br><br>I changed to oil since it did have a slight gas smell to it after I drained it. That was costly since I just changed it less than a 1000 mi ago,but I had no choice.<br><br>The carbs appear to be holding pressure and I runs fine,so hopefully this matter is cleared up.<br><br>I don't know if there are rebuild kits from the factory or aftermarket for these carbs,but that would be a wise chioce for anyone going through and recleaning. May say some headaches and money down the road. <p></p><i></i>

What size O rings did you buy? <br><br>I ask because I plan on cleaning my carbs in the moring after I get off of work. If I knew the size, I could buy them on the way home.<br><br>I only need 1 per carb, right? <p></p><i></i>

Sorry,didn't check this post untill tonight.<br><br>Don't remember what size. It was a standard size though. The metric size the hardware store had were too thick.<br>I just took one of them out and took it with me to size it correctly.<br><br>Yes, one per carb. <p></p><i></i>