WTB: 1979 XS1100 Special Carbs

[Haarstad]

I have a 1979 xs1100 special and i'm looking for a set of carbs. I found some on ebay over a week ago for my year and model and by the time i got my federal tax return, they we're past the deadline. They were $300 but now there gone and i can't find anymore anywhere. Riding season is here and i can't even ride yet If anybody could help me, it's greatly appreciated. Thanks

[natemoen]

I have a 1979 xs1100 special and i'm looking for a set of carbs. I found some on ebay over a week ago for my year and model and by the time i got my federal tax return, they we're past the deadline. They were $300 but now there gone and i can't find anymore anywhere. Riding season is here and i can't even ride yet If anybody could help me, it's greatly appreciated. Thanks

Mind if I ask what is wrong with the carbs that you have, if you have some at all?

[Haarstad]

This used to be my brothers bike and they were working on the carbs last winter and the needles got jammed in the carbs so they had to drill them out and put in oversized needles. even if i only turn out the needles 1/4 turn, it's still running too rich. i've tried smaller mains and pilots and these carbs are still giving me trouble. i've spent money taking it into a bike place to get them to adjust it, they put a thing in the exhaust to tell what the fuel/air mixture is, and even they can't get it running right. i'm sick of messing with it and i'm ready to start with different carbs that are completely stock.

The reason that my brother was cleaning and working on the carbs was because it has 4 to 1 header with kerker exhaust with pod filters and it was running on the stock jets, so he was going to try the recommended jets for these mods and ran into some problems.

Needless to say, it ran better before than now, so i want to go back to stock and work from there. I've spent too much time and money on these and i want to start from scratch, it at least ran properly then.

I've tried everything from moving the floats up and down, to different jets and i got it as good as i can, if i adjust anything one way or another it gets worse. I have to have the jets and floats adjusted where it is best, but it still isn't right. it will idle at 3k rpm to 1100 rpm to 500 rpm(and kill) randomly and it drives semi-normal now, but i'm sick of messing with it. it still gives me problems at idle and i don't like having to feather the throttle at a stop light, or have it running at 3000 rpm, it's annoying.

I'm ready to spend the money and start from scratch, i've put enough money into these and i should've bought new ones from the get go. I guess you don't know till you try though. It's extremely frustrating.

[Haarstad]

Also, are there any other carbs that are the exact same? Are the carbs in the 1979 standard the same as the 1979 special?

[tom clisham]

78-79 basically the same

Just slightly different jetting, which you're going to change, anyway.

There are 2 sets on ebay right now for around 4100. I think 1 of them might be 80-81. But, check ebay.

Remember, any you get will need something. basic cleaning, synch, etc. Bolt on & go really doesn't exist with these. You're better off buying a complete set that needs to be redone for cheap than buying redone ones for big money & having to redo them anyway.

[Haarstad]

So even though the carbs are 80-81, everything will bolt on though right? The throttle cable and everything else? If you could give me a list of all of the years that will work, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Say i were to get the 80-81 carbs... would i need different jets or can i use the ones off of my old carbs. Basically, are the jets interchangable between years and if so, which years are interchangable?

I'm fine with re-syncing and re-jetting, i've done a bit on these carbs so i'm staring to know what i'm doing now.

[Haarstad]

Will these carbs work? It doesn't say what year they are and i don't know if you can tell from the picture. They don't seem too bad though.

[natemoen]

Yes those would work, I feel they are quite overpriced though. They are from a '78 or '79 XS11.

Any carbs from any year/model XS11 or XJ11 will work fine. The XJ has a different choke setup but that is pretty easy to overcome.

The jetting for the carb though follows the carb year/style (they changed through the years) and does not matter what year/model bike it is on.

[natemoen]

Try sending the original poster in.this thread to see if he still has his.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35929

[Haarstad]

I looked at those carbs on ebay more and they have a chip in the body of carb #4... i don't want to pay that much for carbs that have a chip in it.

I messaged the OP of that thread that you gave me, thanks for that.

Hopefully he still has them, Do they have a jetting formula for the '81 since i have a couple mods?

[tom clisham]

Will these carbs work? It doesn't say what year they are and i don't know if you can tell from the picture. They don't seem too bad though.

Those are definitely 78-79 carbs. good luck