1983 185S Not Running? Puzzling.. help please

[nouseforaname90]

So my grandpa has a mildly nice 1983 185S that was sitting for about 6 months and when he went to fire it up, it ran fine for a couple minutes and then began to idle crazy and die. It kind of.. sputters while it idles and dies but it runs fantastic when you are throttling it. Even the slightest crack of the throttle makes it idle much better.
So, I tried adjusting the throttle screw on the carb and no go.. still did the same thing. After that, I figured it may be the slow jet? So I tore apart the carb, cleaned it, and put it back together. I am fairly certain I did this right because I have done it quite a few times before on carbs.
Well anyway.. I put the carb back on and it started to leak gas out of both overflow tubes. So I was like "CRAP!" and took it back off and dismantled it to make sure I had it together right and surely enough, I did. So when I put the carb back on the bike for the second time, it began leaking gas again. I tried starting the ATC a couple times and no go.. but after about the third pull I heard a gurgling sound and the leaking stopped but the ATC still wouldn't run.
This is where it get perplexing, though. The spark plug gap is fine, by the way. After it wouldn't start, I checked the plug.. it was ok but I figured I wouild toss a new one on anyway. So I did and I checked the spark. The spark seemed a little weak to me, but there was still an ok spark. So, I put the spark plug back in, tore off the air filter, and tried to start it while I sprayed a little starting fluid into the intake.. no go.. it didnt even attempt to fire. After that, I removed the spark plug again and put a little gas into the cylinder.. tried to fire.. no go. I did it again.. no go.. it didn't even try to fire. After this, I decided to test the compression. I do not have a compression tester, but it seemed ok to me.. atleast ok enough that it should be able to fire up. I placed my finger over the plug hole and pulled it through and it popped my finger off the hole with a nice bit of compression.
My question is.. what is wrong? It worked fine before, just didn't idle. Now it won't even start? Not even with starting fluid/gas being manually put into it?
Could it be timing? An electrical problem?
Please help me here.. I'm rather confused.. lol.
Thanks,
Ben

[j.Lawson]

So my grandpa has a mildly nice 1983 185S that was sitting for about 6 months and when he went to fire it up, it ran fine for a couple minutes and then began to idle crazy and die. It kind of.. sputters while it idles and dies but it runs fantastic when you are throttling it. Even the slightest crack of the throttle makes it idle much better.
So, I tried adjusting the throttle screw on the carb and no go.. still did the same thing. After that, I figured it may be the slow jet? So I tore apart the carb, cleaned it, and put it back together. I am fairly certain I did this right because I have done it quite a few times before on carbs.
Well anyway.. I put the carb back on and it started to leak gas out of both overflow tubes. So I was like "CRAP!" and took it back off and dismantled it to make sure I had it together right and surely enough, I did. So when I put the carb back on the bike for the second time, it began leaking gas again. I tried starting the ATC a couple times and no go.. but after about the third pull I heard a gurgling sound and the leaking stopped but the ATC still wouldn't run.
This is where it get perplexing, though. The spark plug gap is fine, by the way. After it wouldn't start, I checked the plug.. it was ok but I figured I wouild toss a new one on anyway. So I did and I checked the spark. The spark seemed a little weak to me, but there was still an ok spark. So, I put the spark plug back in, tore off the air filter, and tried to start it while I sprayed a little starting fluid into the intake.. no go.. it didnt even attempt to fire. After that, I removed the spark plug again and put a little gas into the cylinder.. tried to fire.. no go. I did it again.. no go.. it didn't even try to fire. After this, I decided to test the compression. I do not have a compression tester, but it seemed ok to me.. atleast ok enough that it should be able to fire up. I placed my finger over the plug hole and pulled it through and it popped my finger off the hole with a nice bit of compression.
My question is.. what is wrong? It worked fine before, just didn't idle. Now it won't even start? Not even with starting fluid/gas being manually put into it?
Could it be timing? An electrical problem?
Please help me here.. I'm rather confused.. lol.
Thanks,
Ben

sounds like your float on your carb is stuck open, Hence the gas running out your overflow. And probly flooded it too??? If it ran before you took the carb off, and does'nt now, I'd check into the carb. it's most likely an air/gas issue...

[nouseforaname90]

When I took the carb off the second time I made doubly sure to take the float off and clean everything I could and then put it all back together exactly right.
I also thought it was a gas issue.. but why didn't it even try to start when I put gas directly into the cylinder?

[sandpuppi101]

It sound's like the float too me,You need to Mic the height of the top of the bowl,via the flat on the carb body.You should see the float closing at 14mm I think .But look in your manual ,I ain't 100% sure on the height,It will show a procedure in there.

[j.Lawson]

one thing i always do is blow through the gas inlet on the carb. (where your gas line goes), and manually push the float up slowly with your hand. Then you can get an idea of where and if it is stopping flow in the bowl. It may not of started when you put gas in the cyl. because it was already flooded???
start small, heres what I would do,
make sure the carb is working right, ie. the float.
check for air leaks
check for spark.

I know you'v probly done this, but it really sounds like your float is stuck open...