Fuel Leak

Hi guys, had a 2002 thunderbird for three years. It has just started to drip fuel from a pipe connected to the air filter. It happens when I have been on it and turned the ignition off. It doesn’t leak when I stop and leave engine running on stand. It has also been really difficult to start after I’ve started it for the first time from cold, I now have to give it full throttle to start. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Hi thanks for the advice, I will certainly put some photos up in the newbies forum

 

Hi Ken,
Assuming it's a 900 thunderbird (?), as chiari1 said, switch the fuel off and let it run for a bit to drop the levels in the carb bowls.
If they're full when put on the side stand they flood to the left carb and overflow into the air box.
Its probably the first characteristic I learnt of these bikes when I bought mine.
Note characteristic, they're full of it, I wouldn't worry about the starting issue, it'll soon sort itself out and a other problem will crop up

 

How can it be resolved, do the carbs need to be stripped down and cleaned ?

 

It's not sticking floats, necessarily. Just the lean when on the side stand makes the fuel in all 3 float bowls flow to the left, then flood into the air box.
I find it happens more often (when I forget to drop the levels) with a full tank.

 

Ken Burns
Pretty much the best answers you are going to get here. But you could also throw a carb cleaner into the fuel and let it flush the carbs.
Regards
Joe.

 

Thanks Joe, will probably try that, any particular one ?

 

Ken Burns
I use the Lucas. But I think they are all pretty much the same potion.
Regards
Joe.

 

I use Redex in my Trident 900 which works very well. Availability, recommendation, personal preference and price will all have a bearing on your final choice.