1982 Yamaha XT 550 Gas leak?

Question

There is a hose that leaks gas as son as I tun on the Petcock. This hose is under the carburator. Is it sopose to be hooked up somewhere or is my carburator needs overhaul?

Answer 1

The hose doesn't hook up to anything. It just hangs there. It serves 3 pouposes.
1 - to allow air to escape the float bowl when it fills with fuel. Here's an example using a drinking straw. Put your finger over one end of a drinking straw and submerge the other end straight down into a glass of watter. The straw won't fill with water, until you release your finger, alowing the air to escape. Well, enough with the science class. LOL
2 - when you open the drain screw, to drain the float bowl, the fuel is directed away from the hot engine and exhaust pipe (on bikes with low pipes, like most street bikes).
3 - when the float valve won't turn off the fuel, the fuel leaves the float bowl via the over flow tube.

As for your problem, the carb needs to be "overhauled".
- Remove the carbs from the bike and remove the float bowls.
- Attach an auxilary fuel supply.
- Adjust the float level. Use a rubber band or tape to hold one float up while you adjust the other.
- Turn on the fuel and lift a float by hand. The fuel should stop when the float is level with the carb/float bowl mating surface. Bend the tang of the float to adjust.
- If the fuel won't stop when lifting the float, change the float "needle & seat".
- Before putting the carbs back on the bike, turn on the fuel again with the float bowls installed.
- If they still leak, make sure the drain screws are tight and sealing.

Answer 2

try an ebay search for for 'XV550' or 'XV750' (as many elements on the 750 are an same because the 550). if you're prepared to purchase from the united kingdom then your bike is frequently a 'Virago' over the following. sturdy success!

Answer 3

it sound like the overflow hose , this may be a bad float or needle valve

Answer 4

Yeah , it sounds like one came loose somewhere. That or a crack.