Help with hoses after carb cleanup

[Darkening]

Hello to all the community! Hope you're doing fine wherever you are.

My ninja was some months without use at all so after I tried to start it, it would crank but no joy. I removed the carbs, cleaned the gunk that formed, everything pristine.

I put the carb in the bike, put new fuel in the tank after draining the old, crank and... nothing. And nothing, nothing. I started smelling fuel so I thought I flooded it but boy, it was more like a tsunami. I quickly removed the main hose, drained a lot of fuel (was even in airbox) and now I'm thinking what went wrong.

Seeing this picture , looks like I have the vacuum hoses inverted. I was following the service manual and they look different. In the picture, the 3 way hose goes to the right carb and I guess the other carb gets connected directly to the fuel tank. But according to this, the 3 way hose goes into the left carb!

So, here comes the question. What do I do? Do I need to get the carbs out again and drain fuel from everywhere? Just switch the hoses, crank again and all good? Does the hoses position it even matter? Maybe the floats are not closing and the hoses are unrelated? Please, help!

[DannoXYZ]

There many ports, you may have some mixed up. Functionally, I don’t think switching vacuum ports would change anything. You may just have leaking float bowl valves that aren’t shutting off fuel.

1. Left carb vacuum port
2. Right carb vacuum port
3. Fuel inlet port (actually goes to both carbs if you follow tube)
4. Bowl vents

Try this picture

[Darkening]

Originally Posted by JacRyann

There many ports, you may have some mixed up. Functionally, I don’t think switching vacuum ports would change anything. You may just have leaking float bowl valves that aren’t shutting off fuel.

1. Left carb vacuum port
2. Right carb vacuum port
3. Fuel inlet port (actually goes to both carbs if you follow tube)
4. Bowl vents

Try this picture

Great! I'll try this. Curious, I think I had this setup before disassembly. Why does the manual have it reversed? Also, the hose to the gas tank is too short this way. Those damned circlips too. Any good thing to replace them?

Problem is, now I have to remove carbs again to check the floats. You win some, lose some I guess.

Many thanks for the picture and help. I'll update on my progress.

[maverick9611]

also check your tiny fuel filter located in fuel line inlet fitting. i removed it and put a regular fuel filter in. to me it's way to small and could easily clog up.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by Darkening

My ninja was some months without use at all so after I tried to start it, it would crank but no joy. I removed the carbs, cleaned the gunk that formed, everything pristine.

I put the carb in the bike, put new fuel in the tank after draining the old, crank and... nothing. And nothing, nothing. I started smelling fuel so I thought I flooded it but boy, it was more like a tsunami. I quickly removed the main hose, drained a lot of fuel (was even in airbox) and now I'm thinking what went wrong.

If switching the hoses to the positions in the photos doesn't work, I would say there could be something assembled incorrectly in the carbs.

A float may be hanging-up, or a float valve may not be seating.

Also check your oil and oil level for signs of gas. It it was overflowing that much, it may have dumped a significant amount in the oil.

[DannoXYZ]

Originally Posted by Darkening

Great! I'll try this. Curious, I think I had this setup before disassembly. Why does the manual have it reversed? Also, the hose to the gas tank is too short this way. Those damned circlips too. Any good thing to replace them?

I replace all those wire clips with wider finger-operated clips like these: Briggs Stratton clamp

Be sure to get correct diameter.

[Darkening]

Originally Posted by jkv45

If switching the hoses to the positions in the photos doesn't work, I would say there could be something assembled incorrectly in the carbs.

A float may be hanging-up, or a float valve may not be seating.

Also check your oil and oil level for signs of gas. It it was overflowing that much, it may have dumped a significant amount in the oil.

I can't put in words how much gas was in there. Engine wouldn't even turn anymore. That's when I panicked and removed gas tank hose inmediately. I cranked after draining and it turns, hope everything works after all this.

I'll change the oil just to be safe, didn't see anything strange at first glance but it's cheap to do.

Originally Posted by JacRyann

I replace all those wire clips with wider finger-operated clips like these: Briggs Stratton clamp

Be sure to get correct diameter.

Excellent! I'll see if I can get those! Many thanks!