Triumph Repair: weber dgv, weber dgv, radiator fans

Question
I have a 1976 TR6 with dual weber dgv carbs.  I have been smelling strong fuel smells from the engine bay and check lines etc.  When I pulled the air cleaners off, there was fuel on the rubber parts of the air cleaners and they smelled pretty strong of fuel.  What can cause this and how can it be fixed?

Answer
Hi Jim,
There are several possible causes that I can think of. The carbs may be getting "Heat Soak" from the engine etc when air stops coming through the radiator and boiling the fuel in the float chambers which will usually not vent fast enough out the float chamber air vents, thus it applies pressure to the fuel and blows it out the jet into the carb. Another possible is that when the engine is shut down there is remaining fuel pressure on the fuel line that can leak past the float needle and flood the carbs. Also it can be both. Some car manufactures have the electric radiator fans continue to run after the engine is turned off so as to quickly cool the engine off and prevent that heat soak to the fuel system. Other cars had a small fan blow on the carburetor after the engine was shut down. As a test you can do this, just after a hot run quickly use a fuel line clamp to clamp off the fuel line feeding the carburetors. And note if it stopped doing it. If not try putting a large fan directly on the carbs as soon as you stop along with the clamp to see if it is a heat problem. At least then you will know what steps to take to try to correct the problem.