Honda CB550 leaky carb

I just got a 77 CB550. I've only had 2 twins before (20 year ago) and never
dealt with carbs like this or this problem. All was fine with it for a
while. Then today I drove it about half a mile across the property where I
work. I went into a building and when I came out 5 mins. later, there was a
pool of gas under the bike.

I looked close and it's coming out of the leftmost carb (#1?) out a
'weephole' just above the bowl seat. Of course shutting off the petcock
eventually stops the flow. It doesn't seem to run as well either.

Is this just simply some dirt in the seat for the float? If so do I just
drop the bowl and spray some carb cleaner in there while exercising the
float?

Thx for any help.

 

Either you have a float valve that isn't seating properly, or your float
is adjusted too high.... I m thinking its the valve.... you say you just got
it, so I am not sure if you mea just as in today and started riding it for
the first time and noticed it , or its been running fine and all of a sudden
you noticed it... Either way, check your fuel filter to see if you see any
particles in the filter... if you do, your tank is probably rotting away on
the inside and you will need to take care of that problem so that none of
the particles get your float vales stuck open or even into the carb to clog
up the passages.... Its best to find the source now than to have to do the
same proceedure a few times....good luck.... and let us know what you
find....

fwed

 

Sticking float. Those old Honda carbs are notorious for it. My 550 did
it, as did my 750, and my 400 does it. I tend to give the offending carb
a sharp tap with a piece of wood - that usually sorts it.

 

I just got a 77 CB550. I've only had 2 twins before (20 year ago) and
never

Ya. Just got it Monday, but it was OK for the first few trips.

Thanks.

 

I just got a 77 CB550. I've only had 2 twins before (20 year ago) and
never

Thanks. I'll try that before opening it up.

 

Either way, check your fuel filter to see if you see any
I took the fuel bowl off and if I pushed the float all the way up it would
stop the flow. I operated the float several times and it didn't change. I
noticed there was a tong that pushes the valve needle so I bent it up just a
very small amount so that the flow would stop a little earlier and that
seemed to fix things. After seeing that the floats are foam I suppose it
could be saturated so if it acts up again, I'll probably replace the float
if I can find one.