Leaky Carbs

i Have a 1981 kz 550 and my left Carb Is dripping Gas. As this is My first bike i need some suggestions as to the Repair. The leak is coming out of the bottom and dripping on the transmission. Please help!

I'm not familiar with the carbs on a 550, but I might suggest that you have a look at your petcock function and the float valve in the leaking carb. I would guess that neither is doing a proper job of sealing the flow of gasolene when the bike is not running. Make sure that you get this fixed. It could lead to a fire.

The leak only happens while the bike is running.

IIRC the carbs on the 81 550 are TK 22s and they have an overflow pipe in the bowl. Fuel enters the bowl via the float needle/valve which is supposed to close onece the fuel reachs the proper level and the float closes the valve. If the valve is not closing correctly then fuel will continue to eneter bowl. The over flow tube is there to drain fuel that would take the level higher than the proper level.

So I would check the valve and its needle, the float and the over flow tube for the carb that is leaking.

You might also want to check out this site that member loudhvx has on these types of carbs.
home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html

I've had the same thing on my 550. You will probably need to get the float needle replaced.

Search loudhvx he has a ton of info on the 550's and those specific carbs in his signature line.