xlt flooding - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

Polaris87 · 09-06-2009, 07:21 PM

My xlt is flooding gas into the base when I let it sit more than an hour. I have to drain the base everytime I want to start it. The needle and seat must be stuck open but the whole base is filled with gas. How could all 3 needles in the carbs be stuck? I`ll have to take the carbs off and clean them I suppose. Pain in the butt lol. Any other possibilitys?

**smallengineguy** · 09-07-2009, 08:41 AM

Definitely remove and clean the carbs, but if the fuel pump diaphragm is ripped, it'll fill the crankcase with fuel using the vacuum line.

Ktankker6 · 09-07-2009, 10:16 AM

Needles and seats need to be changed or cleaned up. Cheap fix but yeah pain in the but to pull all apart and do. Little time consuming but not hard. $15 bucks for set of needle and seats so cheap. I know on the tripple there is a drain on the bottom end for the fludding not sure if yours does. Good luck and have fun

Polaris87 · 09-07-2009, 10:57 AM

Never thought of the fuel pump and vacuum line! I betcha thats what it is! I have another fuel pump I'll stick it on and see if theres a difference before I haul the carbs off. It just started doing it one day last winter...I'm sure its the vacuum line now! Thanks!

**RJ Gleason** · 09-07-2009, 11:26 AM

In the mean time, always shut off the fuel valve by the tank.

**BC_Dan** · 09-07-2009, 01:11 PM

You should be able to rule out the diaphram just by disconnecting the vacuum line from the engine. If you have raw gas inside the rubber line from the pump to the crankcase, you have a leak in the diaphram. With that much fuel, it will be easy to see it dripping out from the pump.

Polaris87 · 09-07-2009, 05:07 PM

took the pump apart..nothing cracked or looking out of place and the line to the base was dry as a bone. took all 3 carbs off and there was still fuel in the bowls. Took the bowls off and the needle valve was working. and not stuck...blow in through where the gas goes into the carb and work the float arm and the air would stop and start...I don't know where the gas is coming from....And I run the sled by a pop bottle full of gas in the summer to make sure its fresh fuel. So it's only whats in the lines and whats in the carb that can go into the base... I'll let it sit tongiht and tomorrow and see if it will start...

p057 · 10-18-2009, 12:48 AM

is there anything special you would need to do to the engine since gas got into it? my pump went in my sled im toying with and a whole bunch of gas got into it. I drained it all out and blew the air compressor into it to try and dry it all out. fogging oil maybe?

Polaris87 · 10-18-2009, 09:50 AM

leave it in there,...its only gas. It only becomes a problem when theres so much fuel in the base its flooded before you even try and start it. Drain the base and it should start right up..

p057 · 10-19-2009, 02:29 PM

alright, i wasnt sure with all that gas in there if it would wash away so much of the oil from the bearings that it would take a bit of runtime to re-coat them with oil

Polaris87 · 10-19-2009, 03:57 PM

the oil mixes with the gas at the throat of the carb. It doesnt take long to burn that excess out of the base. If theres too much sitting in the base it wont start and you'll have to pull the base plugs out and let it drain out....or take the plugs out and pull it over and over. Sometimes that gets the gas out. Its not hard to take the base plygs out though. Three 10mm bolts under the head pipe..