[metal249]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum, and new to ATV's. I just picked up a 2003 TRX 250ex Sportrax, which I have rode everyday for the past two weeks with out any problem what so ever. Yesterday, I tried to start it and it would not, so I checked the tank and it was empty! I then switched it to reserve and it started right up, but then, began leaking gas. I traced the leak to a small tube coming from the bottom of the carb. I have no idea where this tube goes, so I looked at my roomate's 250 Enduro(which has the same 230cc motor as my TRX) and it also has a tube coming from the bottom of the fuel bowl and it just goes up and connects to nothing. So, I wedged the tube under one of the plastic body panels. Now it doesn't leak, but it runs terrible, lots of sputtering. After running for about an hour, it began to run like normal again, untill about two hours later when it cut out and would not start again untill I put it on reserve, and it ran terrible again. When I loaded it up on the truck, I could hear liquid glugging from somewhere, so I turned the fuel to off and it stopped. The fuel bowl tube also started leaked again, which it had not done since I stuck it up under the plastic. When I bought it, It had old gas in the tank which I should have drained, but didn't. That's all the relevant info I can think of.

 

[mud99]

You may have to go and give the carb a good cleaning. Taking it apart and cleaning all the jets and the carb itself. Welcome to the forums.

 

[tomgodd]

Agree^^^^ When you ran it low on fuel it picked up the dirt at the bottom of the eank and clogged up some stuff in carb.
Welcome to the Family!!!

 

[mud99]

I forgot to mention that you should clean the tank out also and a inline filter would also be a good idea..

 

[jimgodfreyaz]

I have 2004 250EX I have the leak out the hose, stops if I turn off gas. Have had the carb apart, took to a dealer. It didn't leak for him though he took my money to clean the carb. There is no adjustment on the float which I think it has to be problem.

where is the easiest and least expensive place to buy just those 2 parts ?

thanks

 

[Here 2 help]

The hose on the bottom of the float bowl is the drain/overflow for the carb. If fuel is running out of it, it indicates one of a several possibilities that include: the float needle is not shutting off the fuel due to either a bad float, bad float needle, damaged float needle seat, debris is preventing the float needle from seating, the overflow stand pipe inside the float bowl is damaged, the drain screw is loose or the drain screw seat is damaged. There might be a couple of other possibilities, but the ones listed are the most common.

When you routed the tube above the carb, it quit leaking because the fuel level inside the carb was not as high as the end of the tube and it ran like crap because it was forcing the engine to run rich trying to burn the excess fuel that would have run out of the tube.

The vehicle needs to be serviced by an experienced technician.

 

[jimgodfreyaz]

250ex carb problem

At this point I am going to just change out the float and needle as there is no adjustment and the carb was cleaned at a shop

Is there a way to check if the seat is damaged?

thanks

 

[Here 2 help]

Yes, and just having the carb "cleaned" does not solve all problems. Replacing the float and needle will not fix it if the problem is not either the float or needle. A damaged seat can be repaired by a skilled technician and a defective overflow pipe can be replaced by a true craftsman.

I know a lot of people that can take a motor apart and put it back together, but that does not make them a mechanic and not all mechanics are technicians. You might need a true technician or a craftsman to exact repairs to your carb. Good luck.

 

[www.mygunschool.com]

I don't see much mention of the overflow screw just above the hose being tight enough. I had that leak today and tightened her down 1/4 turn and the fuel stopped (that's what I'm hearing when you talk about wedging the hose in between some parts to get it to stop). Find the screw, usually just above that hose, and tighten it down. Honda guys, is this a model without one of those screws???? Is that possible?

 

[Here 2 help]

www.mygunschool.com - the "overflow" screw you refer to is the float bowl drain screw. The screw should only be "snug" - it tightens into a tapered seat - if it is over tightened, it makes it difficult, if not impossible to loosen when you want to drain the carb, but you are correct - if the screw is loose, the carb will leak even if there is no other problem. If the screw is snug and still leaks, the carb might be damaged from corrosion caused by alcohol fuel and the carb may need replaced. Hard call to make in a forum where the part cannot be physically examined. Just guessing going on here.