For a while now (maybe 3-4 months) the bike hasn't started without the choke being out, even when the engine is warm. The choke won't stay out by itself; it pops back in. So you have to hold it until the bike's ready to go. Other than that the bike has been running fine. I thought I was smelling gas a little bit here and there when I went to get on it, but not enough to concern me. Then day before yesterday, I went out and gas had leaked out all over the engine. It had puddled in some low spots and there was a puddle underneath the bike. From what I can see, it's dripping from something behind the air filter. I took the air filter off and it was damp with gas. Seemed to me like there might be something stuck in the carb. Sprayed some carb cleaner. It doesn't seem to have helped anything. I took the bolts out and got back behind where the air filter attaches and saw that a hose was loose, but I think i may have done that when I was messing with it the day before. I reattached the hose and gas is still dripping. I'm pretty handy and have done some very basic mechanic work, but I haven't done much of anything with carburetors. And I can't figure out what's going on with this. Any help would be much appreciated.
Sounds like you need to do some work on the carb... sounds like a stuck float... I'd think about rebuilding the carb personally.
Gotta agree with Chief on the stuck float. If you don't know your way around the inside of a carb very well, dig out that digital camera and take pics of every step; that way, you have a visual aid when reassembling.
Regards and such,
49Reo
and lay the parts out left to right so when reassembling it all fits back togather correctly helps.