Flooded Engine, Leaking Camshaft Gaskets

Well, gotten the carbs all put back together, had all the pieces in the right places, took it out for a spin around town but didn't want to do anything crazy till I had a chance to have my mechanic look it all over and give me a thumbs up or a big bill.

While waiting on my next paycheck to follow through on this, left the bike sitting and 2 or 3 days ago, noticed a puddle forming under it. Took a whiff and it was gas. Pulled it into the garage today and when I drained the oil - probably about a gallon of gasoline came flooding out.

The left side camshaft gasket has obviously got to be replaced (as I can wiggle it and see air).

The real question I have is this: How did so much gas get into my engine? None of the float lines were dropping fuel, but the only way for gas to get into the engine is to go through the carbs. But the air box wasn't flooded either and it didn't exude fumes of gas when I stuck my nose in it.

Thoughts? Ideas? Insights? Any and all would be muchos appreciatos.

 

I would say the float needles are not seating. Maybe float level setting.

Your petcock may also be suspect. But the carb floats should stop the fuel even if it is leaking.

Maybe the bike was setting at a level that the fuel went into the carbs rather than the airbox.

You can get new carb kits fairly cheap, with new needles and seats.
I would check the float levels first.

I'm not sure of your model but most are set to 3mm +or- 1mm from the bottom edge of of the main carb body.
Good luck

 

If you leave the petcock set to PRI (prime) the needle and seat can't hold the headpressure of the gas in the tank and will flood the carbs and into the cylinders and around and thru the rings and BINGO gas in the oil and also on the ground.
This process usually takes a couple of days (if you have good needle and seat valves) :evil:
I've been told this is a common problem with people unfamilliar with this petcock. (no off position, not Yamahas best idea, my opinion)
I can't tell you much more about the cam seal, sounds pretty shot, but that's how the gas in the oil thing works.
If you need new needle and seat valves there is a guy on E-bay out of New Zeland who sell them quite cheaply, I bought 4 with bowl gaskets, shipping and all set me back about $45.00USD.
By the way I had the order in my hand 3 days after I paid.....I was sooo impressed!!

Hope that helps you out
Good Luck :!:

yup I got carried away trying out the emotioncon things

 

Well you have the carb answers so I'll chime in on camshaft seal. If you can wiggle it and see air then it isn't in place. If you have one of the old gaskets with sseperate camshaft seals then I would invest in a new valvecover gasket with the seals made into the gasket. But if your current gasket is in good shape then you can keep them in place with RTV. This holds them while sliding the valve cover in place.

 

maybe one of y'all has some insight into the foreign object i found in my tank. take a look at the post about "found this in my tank". I took the petcock off tonight and the gaskets are really out of shape, the o-ring is bent out to hell and such. So I'm ordering a petcock rebuild kit, but in the process of getting it off - heard something rattling around inside. I've posted a scan of the object - I'm hoping somebody knows what it is and what its supposed to do. Thanks!

And definitely - getting some new sealant for the camshaft and going to take the carbs off and re-check/re-adjust float levels. Figure I'll probably go ahead and order some rebuild kits. Thanks for all the insight guys!