leaking carb!

i have a 78 kz650 with mikuni carbs. the carbs are leaking fuel between the housings and the plate where the boots are attached.

i cant get the bike to fire! i am not sure if fuel is making it into the cylinders. where should i start?
thanks
david

Try a search in the carb section here and at kz650info (link in my signature) for similar problems.

You gotta fix the leak first. Abetter description of where it's leaking would help.
The spark plugs will look wet if gas is making it into the cylinders.

i have determined that the petcock is leaking slightly. it must be filling the carbs with gas. and i think the floats are stuck. should i be able to move them freely from the exterior of the carbs? i hope all this gas sitting in them doesnt gum them up too bad.

thanks
david

Would sniff-test crankcase oil and examine its condition to determine whether fuel has entered the crankcase and contaminated the oil.

Good Luck!

sounds like you will need new needles and seats for sure.they are available from sudco and are actually very reasonable to buy. get those and a petcok rebuild kit or go with a new pingel petcock and your problems should be solved.