my carbs are leaking fuel

[jamessiegel]

I have a Kawasaki 550 Zephyr (i spelled that wrong i know). It has been sitting for a year and im trying to get it going again. It ran fine berfore i put it up. Here is what it does not do right
1. wont idle without the choke at any time
2. Leaks gas out of the number 1 carburator
3.wont exerlate right when in gear

Please help

[jim schmidt]

1. Gummed up jets and air passages.
2. stuck float or float needle or debris in float needle seat.
3. See #1.

You'll need a carb cleaning and since your bike is almost 20 years old, you should rebuild them. Rebuild kits are about $12 per carb. I don't recommend this job for people who don't know anything about it. It's not hard but amateurs find it complex.

If you do decide to do it, don't attempt it without a shop manual and the phone number of someone who knows how do it. You won't need any special tools except for a float height gauge or vernier caliper. Also, don't disassemble all of them at once. Leave one for reference until the others are done.

A lot of people screw this up.