VF500 Carb troubles?

Well, after a long wait for my VF500 to be reassembled, I roll it outside and prepare to start her up.

She needs just a little help from the starter fluid, but she really wants to start.

And then I look down and find gas on the rear 2 cylinders.
I pop off the air box assembly and investigate...

....to find this!

As soon as I push the starter button and/or blimp the throttle, the gas drips rapidly from this piece of tubing.

Can it be removed without taking the carbs out? Please tell me yes, cause these are a pain to get in, even when there all
oiled up!!

Do I have to split the carbs just to get this piece of tubing out??

I couldn't find the proper name for this piece, but I'm hopping whatever is wrong with it, it will just need a new gas resistant o-ring.

Thanks for the help

LL

 

There are two plastic 'T' tubes on the carbs that have black rubber lines that route into the area right behind the transmission, kinda where breather/separator drain is. These T tubes are rotateable. If you have gas coming out of the rear T-Tube, it means your rear floats are stuck open, you'll have to wrestle the carbs out of the boots (might want to replace the boots while you're there) and follow the proper cleaning/float height adjustment procedure.

You do not want to remove these tubes. Gas leaking is an indication of a problem, removing parts doesn't usually solve problems unless you fix them or replace them. At least, that's what common sense would dictate, :unsure:

EDIT: Whoops, sorry when I read your post I thought you intended to remove the tube and leave it at that to solve the problem, I realize now that that is not the case.

If I remember the carb diagram correctly, there are two O-Rings on the long ends of the T tube, though, if there is any gas getting into that tube at all, regardless off the o-rings being bad (which is highly doubtful now that I think about it), would mean that your floats are stuck.

Also, removing the carbs from the carb plate (which would be necessary to replace the tube) is really tricky due to the linkages, fuel path to each of the 4 carbs and high risk of breaking the T tubes. I would inspect the floats first, which can be done with the carburetors on the plate. there may be a piece of dirt/rust/grime/etc. stopping the float from closing properly. The fuel pump cannot force fuel into a carburetor with a properly functioning float (the float will close when the bowl is full). If the float remains open and the fuel pump is pumping (it pumps non stop when the start button is being pressed), you'll get gas coming out of the overflow, which seems like the situation you're describing).

 

I've got the carb removal/installation procedure outlined in the 'How To' section of my site. If you use that I think you'll find the process a little easier to handle.

As mentioned, you'll need to pull the carbs THEN remove them from the airbox base plate to replace the o-ring(s). Be careful, those tubes break easily!

I didn't see any pictures in your post, can you try again?

 

I'm sorry...I had a long night that day.

Here's the picture. As you can see, it leaks out of the middle section.

I just removed it yesterday, and replaced the 3 o-rings with Napa's Gas
resistant o-rings.

Later today I will be trying to start her. Here's hopingope2:

And thanks for all the help!

 

Well, all is tight and not wet. YAHHOOOOO

Now all I have to do is find where the vacuum lines go for the petcock on the gas tank....

Thanks

LL