General Carb leaking

[jtrashy]

My carb is leaking from this pointy drain at the base of the carb, enough to ruin the paint below. Engine is running poor, hard/impossible to start after cold start ....stuck float?? Little bit of gas in the tray below carb also. Plugs black and a bit wet.
Also noticed a drop of oil coming out of exhaust safety bolt. I know its function and that its not supposed to have oil, are these related or separate issues?

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[the hobbler]

Morning Justin;
Your carb problem sounds as if you are running very rich, particularly as you say that the plugs are black and wet. Are you having problems hot starting? Personally, I would check the float in the carb as it sounds as if it is is over-fuelling. The floats are known to get slight cracks in them, which allows fuel to get into the float,which will alter its weight. The float then floats lower, so the fuel level in the carb is too high, and floods the engine. When you have the float out (simple job) give it a gentle shake---if it 'rattles' there is petrol in it---replace it; you cannot get the fuel out of the float and if you try and repair it you will alter its weight which will, again,alter its floating height. They are very cheap. When that problem is sorted, check the 'safety bolt' again, although I can't see how they are related.

 

[berkeleyman]

Sometimes if the engine has not been run for some time the float valve can pass petrol, this has happened to my car once or twice, generally a sharp tap or two on the top of the carb is enough to make it shut off correctly

 

[jtrashy]

The float was nearly full of gas

New float installed