Leaking fuel return valve on Zenith carb - how worried do I need to be?

[MajorBenz]

Sun is out and I’m back tooling around on my 280s after another long hiatus.

Noticed steady trickle of petrol coming from around the fuel return valve on forward carb.

I know replacement valve units ain’t cheap. (Barely anything w108 related is cheap anymore!)

Two questions:
1) How dangerous is it to have little bit fuel loose in engine bay. Freaks me out a bit, bit maybe I should chill?

2.) If it is dangerous, is there a cheap and easy fix that can be done until replacement unit is acquired?

Typing on phone so forgive any errors.
Thanks in advance.

[Bartman4800]

If the valve is the same as on the Solex carbs, then there is a solution

return valve 1.GIF

return valve 2.GIF

Ruddies Berlin sells these, I purchased one before.

https://www.ruddies-berlin.de/index2.html

Having dripping fuel above an exhaust manifold is never good....

[MajorBenz]

If the valve is the same as on the Solex carbs, then there is a solution

return valve 1.GIF

return valve 2.GIF

Ruddies Berlin sells these, I purchased one before.

https://www.ruddies-berlin.de/index2.html

Having dripping fuel above an exhaust manifold is never good....

Thanks Bart.
:)

[John Green]

Sun is out and I’m back tooling around on my 280s after another long hiatus. Noticed steady trickle of petrol coming from around the fuel return valve on forward carb.

1) How dangerous is it to have little bit fuel loose in engine bay. Freaks me out a bit, bit maybe I should chill?

Well it is directly above the exhaust manifold. I would get it sorted ASAP.