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  • #1

    Call for Help.....

    Allright I give up.

    If anyone is within driving distance of Crockett Texas and has
    some spare time I would greatly appreciate some in-person help on my xs1100 special. I bought the bike for $800 with the "runs but floods" description. I've pulled the carbs and checked float levels but they seem ok. I just received a used set of coils from another member but still don't seem to have any spark. I've removed the tip over switch. I appear to be getting gas from the tank. The engine turns over strong.

    I just know that some of you other xs1100 owners out there could probably test it out real quick and figure out the issue.

    Please help me get this monster running before I have to take it back to the shop I bought it from and pay to get it running!

    Thanks in advance.
    79 Special Engine/80 Special Body - sold to bigray03
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Hurry! SWMBO just told me if it ain't runnin' in a week or so I have to sell it and buy a sportster "like that pretty one on the commercial"!

    (Ok, so she didn't say that. But it could happen.....)


    It could happen.....
    79 Special Engine/80 Special Body - sold to bigray03

    Comment

    • #3
      many things to look at...

      Hey Man,

      I live in College Station!

      Your floats might be OK, but what about the float needles and needle seats? That might explain the flooding.

      The ignition unit should be tested to see if its OK.

      Used coils could be bad. But you can measure the ohms on the primary and secondary and see if they are within specs. If they are not, replace them with new ones. There are a few options out there, I chose the expensive route, Accel Super Coils, just cause I like the product and they look really cool on my bike!

      Do a search on coils here and you will get a bunch of threads and tech tips on repair/replacement.

      Do you have the required Clymer repair manual yet? That is step 1 when owning the beloved XS11!

      You will have to put a lot of hours into get the beast roaring, but boy howdy is it worth it!

      Get the preliminary things out of the way, and we'll see where you are. Maybe Hippie Dave and I can blaze a trail up there one weekend. We always need a place to ride to. Of course, he may be rocking the new 'Busa.

      greg
      Gone but never Forgotten:
      1980 XS11SG - "Scorpion"

      Current:
      2006 Yamaha FJR1300A - "Orion"
      2007 Honda CBR600RR - "Twitch"


      "Life is not a journey to the grave, with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid on broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming:

      WOW - What a ride!

      Comment

      • #4
        Let's see:

        Clymers? Check!
        Coils? Had Accels on them (1.5 primary, 12.3K secondary) replaced with used stock from another member. Check!
        Float needles and seats? Pulled and cleaned. Check!
        Tip over switch? Removed. Check!
        Battery? New and charged to 12V. Check!
        TCI? Ok according to specs and my voltmeter. Check!
        Kill Switch? Hotwired to be on all the time by PO. Check!
        Air? Yes it's there. Check!
        Fuel? I can see it flowing through the inline. Check!

        The replacement coils came out ok on the primary, was in a hurry and didn't check the secondary. I'll do that later tonight.

        Right now I just can't get the thing to start. It cranks fine. But I don't have any fancy tools to check compression, etc. I've got hand tools and a voltmeter with Oreilly's Auto on standby.

        Pick a day when your favorite ball team is playing and we'll cool off in my home theater and watch it on my monster 120" screen in high defintion. Nothing like seeing the stitches on a knuckleball at 92mph!
        79 Special Engine/80 Special Body - sold to bigray03

        Comment

        • #5
          Pull all the plugs and then set them on the top of the engine with the leads connected. Turn her over in LOW light. You should see bright blue sparks at every plug. If that checks out MAKE sure the coils are hooked up properly as per the manual and the plug leads are going to the proper cylinders for proper firing order.
          If carbs are flooding and you are sure that the float needles and seats are good and sealing 100% then check for blocked carb venting. Blocked vents will cause flooding.
          Rob
          KEEP THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN

          1978 XS1100E Modified
          1978 XS500E
          1979 XS1100F Restored
          1980 XS1100 SG
          1981 Suzuki GS1100
          1983 Suzuki GS750S Katana
          1983 Honda CB900 Custom

          Comment

          • #6
            DO you have a kick stand kill switch? Guess it wouldn't be an issue though starting it in neutral.
            Good luck
            79 XS1100F "JINGUS"
            07 V-star 1100
            Do you want it done right or do you want me to do it?

            Comment

            • #7
              I don't think these bikes have a sidestand kill switch. Maybe someone else can chime in and let me know for sure.

              I'm now considering trailering this bike and bringing it to a member instead of the other way around. I have a replacement pickup coil/vaccuum advance unit but need an air hammer drill to get the old one off.

              So, if you've got the tools and the time I will look into bringing it to you. I really want to get this bike running and I know it's about 1 hr of good troubleshooting away from doing just that.

              Uhaul has bike trailers for right at $15 a day. I can go as far as Houston or DFW or anywhere in between on a day trip so if anyone feels like helping me work on my bike for a few hours just let me know!
              79 Special Engine/80 Special Body - sold to bigray03

              Comment

              • #8
                No spark at all? Good ignition?

                I'd begin going through the harness with a fine-toothed comb looking for breaks or worn out insulation causing a grounding problem. Trace the coild wires from the ignition unit to the coil plug-in point. If that's too tedious, go buy a couple of 10 foot pieces of 14 gauge wire and run a temp splice between the ignition unit and the coils. Check for spark then.

                Just a backyard mechanic's way to check it out. You might have a better solution, but I have no fancy tools or books. Just this forum and intuition...
                "Rat Rod"
                79 XS1100 Standard
                87 VMAX cans
                Cheap Japanese Tires
                Cobalt Blue Rattle Can Paint
                Custom Lighting on a Budget

                Perry Center Fire Department
                Perry Emergency Ambulance

                "If we don't do it, who will?"


                Some people have one of those days, I have one of those lives...

                Comment

                • #9
                  Thanks for the tip on the jumper wires. I should have posted back here and mentioned that I had found the coils on it were the wrong type and replacements were on the way. Should be here today or tomorrow. I'll post back of course. PO had confused CDI with TCI and put the wrong aftermarket coils on. If he'd bypassed the resistor I'd probably be replacing the TCI unit as well. Thank goodness they didn't know what they were doing with this XS!
                  79 Special Engine/80 Special Body - sold to bigray03

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Yeah no doubt! Good that you figured it out man, no GET OUT THERE AND RIDE!!!

                    RIDE, I say!!!
                    "Rat Rod"
                    79 XS1100 Standard
                    87 VMAX cans
                    Cheap Japanese Tires
                    Cobalt Blue Rattle Can Paint
                    Custom Lighting on a Budget

                    Perry Center Fire Department
                    Perry Emergency Ambulance

                    "If we don't do it, who will?"


                    Some people have one of those days, I have one of those lives...

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      I will RIDE!!!


                      Just as soon as the part comes in. Dang, who's more excited
                      about getting my bike running?!


                      Thanks for the enthusiasm. I plan on taking a video if it does start up of my inaugural (sp?) launch. Maybe this weekend you'll see the goofiest guy ever to ride an xs11 on youtube.
                      79 Special Engine/80 Special Body - sold to bigray03

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        That 'd be cool man, but how'd you get a cam hidden way up here??
                        "Rat Rod"
                        79 XS1100 Standard
                        87 VMAX cans
                        Cheap Japanese Tires
                        Cobalt Blue Rattle Can Paint
                        Custom Lighting on a Budget

                        Perry Center Fire Department
                        Perry Emergency Ambulance

                        "If we don't do it, who will?"


                        Some people have one of those days, I have one of those lives...

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          I guess that would be a good contest at an XSive rally. Goofiest looking rider.

                          Look at my father's day post for a sneak peak of my goofy grin and helmet.
                          79 Special Engine/80 Special Body - sold to bigray03

                          Comment

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