Stalling and running rich

[apsteinberg]

I have a 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan 800a. On the way to work the bike ran out of gas so I switched to the reserve tank. I filled up with gas and then it would not start. It then leaked gas onto the ground from the gas overflow. Still would not start. After a few tries it started, but kept stalling. The choke would not work and the bike was running very rich, load, and sounded wrong. I took off the air filter and there was gas on the air filter and in the air box. I rode it back to work and it ran better, but still bad. My friend said it seemed like a seal on the carb or the carb needed to be rebuilt. Three questions: -What is causing this problem? -Should I ride it home (20miles), what damage will I do by riding it?
Is the jet kit I currently have ruined?

Please help...Thanks

[Ericthejet]

Sounds like a sticking float.
I would pass on the ride home.
Jets kit would be fine. I would pull the carbs and clean them.

[Used2fly]

I'm not one to give advice as I haven't fixed my problem yet, but....

I have a 93 500 and about two weeks ago it started idling rough and then a couple of days later I had the same problem as you. After checking all of the simple stuff (kinks in hoses, drain gas tank, check for air and vacuum leaks) I pulled the carbs and cleaned them. It ran great, then happened again... and again.... and again. I have pulled my carbs off at least six times in the last week and each time the same thing. It runs great for about an hour. The last time I found that the previous guy had put some glue or something underneath the bowl gasket which was deteriorating. I thought I had it fixed, but it did it again to me this morning. So now I'm with you, looking for help.

I do know that after I clean the carbs, it runs great. I also put a fuel filter on so I know it's not the gas to the carbs. I have read elsewhere on here that if you do run it in this condition, you might be putting gas into your oil. Fortunately for me, every time it happens, it's in my driveway. I haven't been forced to ride or take a cab. I would probably ride it though if it's not too long of a ride.

[Used2fly]

I found my problem. There was a piece of something floating around in the carb that kept getting stuck in the fuel cutoff needle preventing the cutoff and flooding my carb.

[apsteinberg]

Replaced the float...Worked fine, got RPMS up to around 6-7K before I took it out. Not leaking gas. Then I went out for a ride to test it out. Got home and smelled gas. Sure enough it was leaking into the air box again. Someone told me I needed to set the float level...do not know how I could do this since I did not see any adjustment area. Any Suggestions? I plan to take it to the shop if I can not figure it out by the end of the week. Thanks for the help. I do not think I messed up the install. Think there might be an issue with the carb since in the housing of the float there was a ton of red build up. Any suggestions are welcomed

[QKENUF4U]

if you had crap in the bowl/carb float area then its prob. varnish and will need to be cleaned out. sounds like you just have more crap under the needle.
as for float height check.
i hold carb upright with float hanging down,
take gas line in mouth and blow,
you will hear the air coming around the needle,
push float UP SLOWLY/GENTLY until air stops,
then hold it in place while you look at the relation ship of the float arm to the bolw gasket area,
if they are parallel to each other then i call it good (ive NEVER had a problem setting them this way)
if they are NOT parallel then you have to bend the small metal tab that sits against the needle up/down till parallel (its attached to the float arms)
you can also do it the service manual way.