Carb Leaking, Rebuild help or?? 1973 Thing 34Pict3

[amishman]

Noticed I get fuel drips on each side of the carb. 34Pict3. I guess I need to stare at it longer to tell exactly where it is coming from but a quick look looks like around the throttle area on each side of the carb. Now this Thing has sat for 3 years. Gas is about same age. I don't know if and when carb was rebuilt last. Reading some threads on TS, I see bushings can fail and you get leaks from the throttle area. Before I go through sending it off and have rebushed, etc... is it possible I can get leaks as the carb needs a rebuild. Buy a $30 rebuild kit and do all that first? I was going to drain the gas tank and chuck the 1/2 tank worth and then clean the tank and put new gas in. It seems to run fine though so the gas may still be OK and I don't see crud in the filter (yet). Just installed new filter and hose in engine bay. Filter now outside.

If the carb needs rebuild, is it possible something is sticking and that is why I am getting leaks or is this a 99% chance the bushings need replaced and also a carb rebuild? Or, just buy a new carb.

tj

*I even just remembered I had a carb rebuild kit so that is nice. Just need to decide if I use it or not, and at the same time, remove the fuel tank and chuck that precious gold and clean the tank. I don't even have a gas lawn mower to use it in. Mine is battery cordless.

[spiffy]

If you can't see excatly where it is coming from pop the top off the carb and check the float for leaks and the needle valve for proper on/off operation. When my float went bad it looked like fuel was coming out of the throttle bushing area but it was just dripping off the bowl area and getting blown backwards by the cooling fan.

[amishman]

If you can't see excatly where it is coming from pop the top off the carb and check the float for leaks and the needle valve for proper on/off operation. When my float went bad it looked like fuel was coming out of the throttle bushing area but it was just dripping off the bowl area and getting blown backwards by the cooling fan.

When I saw the leak earlier today, I had just filled the bowl of fuel as I had just replaced the fuel filter and needed to get the engine running again to suck more fuel into new filter and hoses. I had not tightened the clamp that holds the air tube that goes over to the filter assy. After I tightened it later, and ran engine again for about 10 minutes, I no longer saw any leaks. I wonder if fuel can come over the top and drip down. I guess I need to keep an eye open on it. I think I will rebuild carb as I have the kit anyway but will wait until current old gas is about done before I do so. I may pull the tank and clean since it sat 2 to 3 years. I am not seeing tons of stuff in the filter but maybe I should do this anyway.

Thanks

tj