I have a 2001 fxdl, tried to start it yesterday to ride to work and fuel ran out of the air cleaner and poured down the engine on to the ground. It started doing that as soon as i cut the petcock on. The fuel tank sounded like it had alot of built up pressure when i took the gas cap off this evening. Could pressure in the tank cause fuel to gush out like that?

 

that could cause it, also a stuck float.

 

My money's on the stuck float scenario.

 

also could be stuck vent in gas cap -- seeing how so much pressure

 

Mine did that before. It was the float needle.

 

gas caps vent into the tank (vacuum)...there's a vent hose for venting out

 

Try tapping on the bowl of the carb with a large screwdiver handle. This may dislodge the particle that is keeping the float needle from seating completely.
If not, then remover bowl and clean out the clinkers. Manually work the bowl, then remove it for cleaning. Unless the float doesn't float anymore...

 

Just went through this on my 02, I took the float bowl off and sprayed some carb cleaner up inside the bottom of the carb and into the jets from the throat. I moved the float up and down real easy to clear the float needle and seat. Put it all back together, worked fine. This the first year I put the bike away for the winter and ran the carb dry. Coincidence who knows, I won't do it that way again.

 

Thanks for the replies, messed with the bike after work and got it started. Cut the fuel on it pored out, opened the gas cap it stopped pouring out. Started bike and ran fine , a little sputter at first but thinking that was due to flooding. Now to find the blockage in the vent or drill one in the cap.

 

Yes, find the blockage in pressure vent, don't drill the cap