I've owned a 1996 cbr 600 f3 for two years. It has about 12,000 mi. On it. I've always wintered it in an attached garage (massachusetts) with a full tank of 93 octane gas stabilized with startron. I never had any problems starting it in the spring until this year. It started, but gas came leaking out of the "vent filter drain tube" which connects to the solenoid valve. Everyone i talked to said pretty much the same thing- your float or needle valve is stuck causing one or more of the carbs. To flood. I did some troubleshooting and found that if i disconnected the electrical connector to the fuel pump, the bike ran fine and didn't leak any gas. If i had float or needle valve issues, wouldn't the leaking continue even after i shut off the engine if the fuel valve was still on? My first question is: Is the fuel pump supposed to be running all the time when the engine is running, or is an "on demand" type of deal? If it's not supposed to run all the time, what controls it? From what i've read, there is a points switch in the fuel pump itself, as well as a relay switch for the fuel pump. Can anyone tell me where the relay is located, and can it be tested? Also, would gas overflow from the carb. Back through the solenoid ruin the valve or anything else? Would it hurt anything to run the bike with the fuel pump electrical connection disconnected?
Your input is much appreciated.