1981 gl1100 fuel issue!

[Mdyson4]

I bought a bike that wasn’t running as a project. I discovered the crank was full of fuel, drained it, replaced the oil&filter and it cranked right up!! But ran rough. Rebuilt the carbs (found totally clogged idle jets), adjusted the floats and now it doesn’t leak gas into the crank when it’s off, but it consumes a ridiculous amour is gas (a 16oz Gatorade bottles worth in a minute or two) and runs great for a few seconds, then terrible. Gas is being somehow thrown into the crank and I’m assuming fouling plugs etc. what could it be?!? I’ve checked to make sure I didn’t forget to put a needle back in.. etc. but I’m super frustrated cause I feel like I must be missing super dumb. I’ve done a lot of searching online and most people say floats... but I’ve adjusted them well. Any thoughts?!

[DenverWinger]

Could be the fuel pump. Normally when the mechanical fuel pump springs a leak it comes out the weep hole and drips on the ground. But they can leak internally, too, and you'll have fuel running down the pump actuator lever, into the fuel pump mount, thru the right head and ultimately into the crankcase.

Unbolt the fuel pump from the "elbow" the pump mounts to, and with the fuel lines connected work the pump lever by hand and see if the pump is leaking. You can also look into the "elbow" and see if there's evidence of it being nicely washed by gasoline.

[dingdong]

Did you check and set the float adjustment? They have to be adjusted to the exact correct level. Close doesn't count with these carbs. There is also a possibility that the float valves are bad and leaking.

[indianakid]

check the air cut off diaphragms. if they are leaking it will draw fuel from the idle circuit side directly into the intake tube and will not allow the idle circuit to work. also verify that the two air jets that feed the idle circuits (each carb) are clean.