Flooded cylinder/won't start

[Fritzkrieg]

So after starting my '97 M750 with the choke out, it was idling a bit high at 4,000 RPM so I reduced the choke a bit and let it warm up for about 5 minutes. . . then it sputtered and died, with a strong smell of gasoline. She wouldn't start back up. . .I checked the spark plugs and the plug for the lower cylinder reeks of gas and looks fowled. Installed some hotter plugs and she's still not starting, and each time I hit the ignition, I get a strong smell of gas again. So basically my cylinder is flooded. . . the service history is unknown on teh bike so I don't know if it's just running rich or if the carbs are leaking/gummed up. Any pointers on what to check? I've also tried a push start/compression start, adding more gas incase it was out/low, etc. One thing I noticed was that the overflow tube from the tank was leaking a small amount of gas as well. I really don't want to take my Doomcati back to the dealership (since the problem only happened after getting my timing belts installed at Seattle Ducati), so any help would be greatly appreciated! 

[clubhousemotorsports]

If they only did the belts there should be nothing related. make sure that you do not have a stuck float that is filling you crankcase with fuel. oen your oil fill and smell for gas. you may have  piece of crud from the carbs stuck in a float.

[hooligan machinist]

  +1 to what ducvet said.
Also, if your bike still has the vacuum fuel petcock, it may be shot. Pull the vacuum line at the petcock and see if fuel is seeping through the diaphram. If so, it will go straight to the horizontal cylinder via the line.

[Howie]

Do the same check with the fuel pump.

[Fritzkrieg]

If they only did the belts there should be nothing related. make sure that you do not have a stuck float that is filling you crankcase with fuel. oen your oil fill and smell for gas. you may have  piece of crud from the carbs stuck in a float.

Ah, good to know, I'll check that. Problem is, the Duc is stuck at my work so I'll have to yank the carbs and then bring 'em home to check.  Thanks!

[Fritzkrieg]

  +1 to what ducvet said.
Also, if your bike still has the vacuum fuel petcock, it may be shot. Pull the vacuum line at the petcock and see if fuel is seeping through the diaphram. If so, it will go straight to the horizontal cylinder via the line.

That's another weird thing about my bike. . . it has no petcock. Looks like the fuel line just goes straight from the fuel filter to the carbs. . . could that be an issue?

[hooligan machinist]

  The filter should be the first thing the fuel goes through after leaving the tank.
If the line really does go straight to the carbs then someone has by-passed the pump and the petcock. They have made it a gravity feed and used the floats as a shut off.
  Definately not something i would consider a good idea. So, yes, that could be the issue.

[Fritzkrieg]

  The filter should be the first thing the fuel goes through after leaving the tank.
If the line really does go straight to the carbs then someone has by-passed the pump and the petcock. They have made it a gravity feed and used the floats as a shut off.
  Definately not something i would consider a good idea. So, yes, that could be the issue.

Welp, I'm blind. The line does not bypass the pump BUT I think i found the problem. There is a broken tube of some kind on the right hand side. . . it was a black tube with the wire spring over it. It attaches to the back side of what looks like a wedge-shaped frame slider, and to the carb. Guessing that goes to the airbox. . . hopefully that is the source of my problem. Ring any bells?

[hooligan machinist]

  That "wedge shaped frame slider" is in fact a carb vent pod.
There should be one on each side of your bike, but most people get rid of them and tuck the lines. Mine are down between the needle jet diaphrams.
They're there to give the carbs a source of ambient air. If the line was broken the bike would probably run a bit crappy at speed. But i don't think that is the source of your problem.

[Fritzkrieg]

Nuts, oh well. Thanks for the info at least!    I'm hauling it back home tomrrow so I can take a look at the carbs and fuel pump. . .

[Fritzkrieg]

Just wanted to post some resolution info here since I got her up an' runnin'! I cleaned out the carbs, unstuck the float bowl, recharged the battery, changed the lower cylinder carb needle to the 3rd notch, kneaded all the fuel lines to remove clogs, changed the oil, installed hotter spark plugs and cleaned off the gunk from the cylinders around the spark plug holes with WD40. . .  and I cleaned and lubed the chain just for good measure. She runs fine now!  [moto] Thanks for the tips and info, folks.