Residue on carbs

[TZOLK]

Ive noticed over the last two years of owning this bike(see below) that there is this small residue of gas and whatnot that gathers around the base of the carbs above the float bowl. The bowl gaskets are the cork type -oem. I just rebuilt the carbs last fall with new seals/ orings.
Q: do the cork gaskets breath enough to let some bleed out at speed leaving this residue?
Otherwise, it runs great.

[rocketman]

Mine tend to gunk up some too, i just spray 'em down when they get to dirty even for me. :D
Could be that cork. being porous is just prone to a little seepage.
Check your wire clips that hold the bowls on, make sure everything is snug and that the bowls are seated square in the grooves.

Then go riding...

RM
(The way i see it these bikes weren't made for being looked at, they were made to be ridden.)

[flash412]

Take a good look at your float bowls. They have a little tube sticking up from the bottom that is open at the top. That is an overflow tube. If your float levels end up being too high (from worn needle & seat or float absorption), the overflow does not go into the cylinder where it can cause hydraulid lock (if you park with the petcocks on). Instead, the overflow goes onto the ground. If you are riding, it goes onto your foot.

Check your float levels. Do not do this by turning the carbs upside down. Do it by immersing them in a big glass container of gasoline so that you can SEE what they are doing. BE CAREFUL... gasoline is both flammable and explosive. But gasoline has the specific gravity of gasoline. Water does NOT.

[BMWRich58]

Hey David Hassel.... I mean Todd.... :dunno... when you did your carb rebuild,do you also replace the needles?? Was your gas mileage improved?
Currently, I'm getting 38-41mpg's. Carb's have 50K on them,and the only thing I've done was clean and replace O-rings. Someone told me the needles will wear and effect mpg's...

[TZOLK]

How-D Rich :wave
Last fall I put that Bing re-jet carb kit that the Bing Agency recommended for our bikes. Came with jet needles, needle jets and everything else has been replaced. My last tank was 36mpg with city and high wind highway riding. The kit enrichened it up a bit. Last year on our NY trip I was getting 40mpg before the kit. Heck, Liz on her F650GS was getting 65-70 mpg. Bike runs fine, just curious about the grunge. You?

[BMWRich58]

Bike runs fine, just curious about the grunge. You?

No grunge,had some yellow discoloration around the bottom of the bowl 'bout 2 years ago.....

Bought new "cork" bowel gaskets last year, just don't remember whether I changed them or not......

[James.A]

Been riding airheads since 1987. 5 different ones. They all had it. Don't know why. Doesn't seem to matter.