Yellow Fluid From Starter Motor

[mluk1]

There is some battery trouble on my 77' CB750F, but I can still ride it around by kick starting it. Just no electric start, but sometimes when I kick it and it won't go I see a Yellowish fluid surfacing on the starter motor cover. Does anyone have any idea what this is?

[Re-run]

Have you smelled this fluid? Gas can have a yellowish color depending on additive packages.

[vern401]

If you have new oil it could be oil. It could be gas like stated above.
I'd pull the starter and see if I can figure out why it is not working.

[mluk1]

So it is gas and it's coming from my first Carb? I think it's coming out of the Float Bowl, not the run off. How does this happen if I turn the petcock off and let the engine burn off all the gas when I'm parking my bike?

[Re-run]

Well Hard to say. Does it only leak a little bit? Couple thoughts to try.
Park on the center stand and see if it still happens. You run the engine a bit with petcock off but maybe 1:when you lean the bike on the kickstand, the fuel level is high enough to seep around the bowl gasket. On the center, it may not be able to do that.
2:The bowl has a crack. Not likely but maybe a small chance.
3:It might not be leaking from the carb itself so to speak. Maybe it builds up around the manifold rubber(engine side) and drips off.
4:Fuel tubes between 1 and 2 may have cracks or are leaking in some way.

Best I got at work.

[vern401]

One other possibility could be the petcock is not stopping the fuel but slowly leaking.      
This would slowly fill your carbs back up with the bike just sitting there.
oh to see whear it may be comming from I use brake cleanerand air compressor to dry the carb.
it also helps clean it too but thats just a + for me.

[mluk1]

So I parked it on the center stand and it still leaks out of Carb 1. It only started when I replaced the needle so could it be the needle isn't sitting on the seat properly?

[vern401]

Yes or the seat is dirty. There is a setting for them too. It is in the manual. 15 or 17 mm I think.
It is the measurement from the Carb body whear the bowl sits to the top of the float. It is measured without the plunger being pushed in.
The seat can be cleaned with tooth paste and a Q-tip.
I suggest checking all 4 carbs.
Ya I know that means pulling the rack

[mluk1]

So I switched the 3rd and 1st needle with each other and measured all the floats and they were all level. I've had it on the kickstand and no more leaks. Thanks for all the help, this forum is great!

[vern401]

I never have figured out why but when you pull the needles out of carbs the must go back in the same carb or you will end up remeasuring each float to get them to close at the right time.

[Re-run]

Yeah you wouldnt think it would be a big deal but minor things are frustrating!