Carb leak

[SJones]

this is on a kohler 301A. It started leaking last year so over the winter, I got a carb rebuild kit. I had no issues until this week. went out thursday and found it leaking. turned off the fuel valve (also replaced) and found today the carb was still leaking. It is coming through the choke and out through the filter. now lea any where else. I can not fathom what is going on, since the carb was rebuilt and wasnt any issue until now. ANy ideas?

the rebuild had all new seals, new needle, and such so that the only original parts is the carb core and float in the boal.

Shane

[Ambush]

Sounds like your float has sunk or the needle seat has junk on it.

[RustyShackleford]

Yep, fuel coming out the throat of the carb means that the needle isn’t seating, due to either a deterioration of the rubber tip or a bit of debris preventing it from sealing.

[ol'George]

One can try running the engine and then shutting off the fuel.
When the engine quits, the bowl is near dry and the needle should be fully open and off the seat.
Then turn the fuel back on, taping lightly on the carb near the fuel inlet.
If the crud is small it will be flushed from under the seat into the bowl.
if it is bigger it will remain.
The next trick is doing the same procedure but leaving the fuel off, and removing the fuel line from the carb and try sucking on the fuel inlet with your favorite vacuum device. (handy vac, shop vac vacuum pump,etc.)
Sometimes that will get the debris out.
If all that fails, (which most times one is successful) then remove the carb and clean the chit out from under the needle/seat.
If one is careful the bowl gasket is not damaged and reusable.
let us know how it works out.

[darkminion_17]

Be sure to check the float level, if too high it will do as you say it does. It should be 5/32" from the carb body.

[SJones]

Since it is a new needle and seat , i can go with dirt since it was fine and now an issue The float is original. it could have sunk. It did measure to the 5/32 clearance for the tab that controls the needle. I will start with dirt before taking all that apart again

[Gary C]

I always like to wipe silicon grease on the gasket, it stops the sticking if you need to disassemble.

[Tom Dowling]

It's a good practice to turn off the fuel and let the carb run dry each time you shut it down just in case you don't start it for a while with the low quality fuel available nowadays that likes to crud up the carb. You are lucky the fuel is dripping out of the carb and not into the cylinder. I've had that happen on my 682 with a kt17, when the float sticks open all your gas ends up in the block! Thank goodness the first thing I do before start up is check the oil level.

[ironman]

If it's a brass float, check it for leaks.