Carbs

[CarolynS]

Okay. I think I'm ready now. I've read all of this sites info about this...asked specific questions...the Bruins beat the Canadiens Thursday...the Moon is waxing...Mercury isn't retrograde...
Tomorrow I remove the carbs and clean them. Hopefully, after that it will start. How bad can I screw it up? I have all of you!
I printed out the info for the carb removal/cleaning-with that and the manual-I should be ready. Courage....It's just so many GDam little parts! Scary!
HWMBO thinks I'm nuts. He also thinks I can't do this and is waiting for me to fail. I won't.
The orthodontist gave me a really cool piece of wire-He should, he's the one with the Ferrari!-I will bend it to get the little O-rings off so they're not damaged by the cleaner. And I know not to submerge the carbs-butterflies T.C.! I don't really have access to compressed air, so that stuff we use to clean the keyboards at the office will work, I think. Plus, I can really direct the flow of it with the little red straw. I'm such a girl.
The more I look at the 80 with the fairing, the more I love it. The bikes-HD-have been out recently, and I can't wait to get the new one going and show them what a classic looks like. One of the nice things about HD owners is that they may need their status symbol, but the true bikers always appreciate an old bike that someone has cared for-no matter the make. Even my Gucci loafer-wearing, V-Rod riding boss thinks the old girl is cool looking.
I shaved the seat down tonight, am looking for 11" shocks and planning on sliding the forks up. I'm 5'9" but it's still too tall for me at stock height. I don't feel in control when I'm balancing the bike. If I get it running tomorrow, I can't even ride it because it's too tall and I'll kill myself if I drop it.
I can't wait for tomorrow! Wish me luck.

[malber]

Re: Carbs

Originally posted by CarolynS
I'm 5'9" but it's still too tall for me at stock height. I don't feel in control when I'm balancing the bike. If I get it running tomorrow, I can't even ride it because it's too tall and I'll kill myself if I drop it.
I can't wait for tomorrow! Wish me luck.

Good luck with the carbs.

About the height: you don't really have to worry about lowering it that much as long as you can get both balls of your feet on the ground when you're stopped. Heeled riding boots help too. I'm 5'9" too with a 30" inseam and I was a bit intimidated at first with the height of the bike. It made it difficult to maneuver walking it around the driveway. I'm sure having a fairing will make it a little heavier than my '81 Special. But once you build up those motorcycle leg muscles it won't be such a big deal.

And as for riding a bike that tall: it only matters when you stop...so don't stop!

Seriously, if you can get your left foot fully down you're in good shape. You'll want to put that one down first as the right will be operating the back brake.

[prometheus578]

"Hockey...!"

I used to play hockey after school.
Had to be dropped from the team... grades were slipping.
Especially english... and spelling.
Something about mispelling puck and puke.

[CarolynS]

You're in my neck of the woods

Malber, I'd love to have your opinion of the bike. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by. The bike is at the old Lucent building in N. Andover. That's where the school is. I figure it's a good idea to have 125 paved acres to practice on before I take her on the street. You know how these A*^#(les drive around here! Send me a PM. Plus, if you want any parts off the "Donor".
Are you going to the Pocono's?

[planedick]

Carb cleaning...

Most of the time it's not necessary to go so far in cleaning the carbs like taking them apart so much. I wouldn't take them apart to the shaft seals. Just remove the bowls and make sure the idle jet in the bowls is open. Remove the jets and make sure all the passages are open using spray carb cleaner (with the straw) to squirt through all the openings and don't forget to wear safety goggles as that stuff will burn really bad. I can't imagine carbs so bad that you need to go that far. Getting the idle jets open will get it running, removing the emulsion tubes to check the little holes in them, check diaphrams and clean idle jets and idle air jets. I thought the hardest part was getting them back on the bike.

PS I wasn't aware there was a '70 XS1100 standard........

[81xsproject]

I wouldn't go to full disassembly either. You can soak just the bowls, jets, and emulsion tubes and you would probably solve the not starting issue IF it is the carbs.

[wa407mpp]

It's better to do them right the first time , then over a second time.

[mason79]

oh don't worry there will be a second or even a third time.

[planedick]

O rings

Those "O" rings require removing the butterflies which entails removal of the screws holding them to the shaft and they were installed and then peened so they won't come out. Removal usually destroys more parts than you want to. Believe me, this is something you only do when absolutely necessary, like when the "O" rings are destroyed by a soaking in carb cleaner. All the parts necessary to a clean carb will come off the carbs for soaking without removing the butterflies.

[Ken Talbot]

On the later-model carbs like Carolyn has, there are small o-rings on the pilot air screws that need to come out for cleaning out the low-speed circuit.

[planedick]

Know it all

Well, I guess I've been told. My bad, I thought I knew all about these carbs, but I guess I've lots to learn yet..... Thought she was gonna get in real trouble.

[Wildkat]

Oh -he- of little faith...

Ummmm.. yeah... I get that sometimes too... Go ahead... prove him wrong... that'll show him...



Good luck!

Oh hey... when you lower the bike, you may need to (read that as - most probably) shorten your kickstand... lowering the bike will cause the kickstand to keep it almost straight up if not leaning over the wrong way.

There are several posts on this topic - which you've probably already read... but in case you haven't... it's worth the search...

[fredintoon]

You may need some kit & some used parts

Hi Carolyn,
I'm sure you have done your carb homework but here's some little wrinkles that may not have been covered.
The jets are made of really cheesy cheap brass and the slots get ruined real easy.
Buy a set of cheap screwdrivers and custom grind them. Each one to an EXACT fit for one of the different slot sizes.
If you do not have access to a bench grinder buy one of those too.
And eye protection.
The Phillips head screws holding the carbs together are (IMHO) only fit for the scrap bin. Replace them with metric Allen-head screws.
Only clean one carb at a time, then you have known good ones as a reassembly guide. Until the last one. But you should remember how they go by then.
About lowering the bike:- Lifting the fork tubes lessens the trail and so quickens the steering. Lowering the frame lets it drag on corners easier than it did before. Once the frame is lowered the side stand will not let the bike lean over far enough to be safe and the center stand will need a gorilla to lift the bike up. The side stand can be torch-bent to a better angle while the center stand has to be cut and welded. I'd suggest you get used replacements for those items and modify them. You may want to raise the bike up again as you gain confidence or offer the bike for resale and keeping the stock parts will help with that.

[planedick]

Screwdriver modification

Better to cut the screwdrivers with a file. Easier to keep it square and doesn't generate the heat that takes away the hardness.

[Wildkat]

Some pros and cons of lowering

John really had to do some work when he lowered Something Special for me...
Here's a quote from his post on it...

I installed 11 inch shocks, installed the handlebar risers, and raised the fork tubes up 3/4 of an inch in the triple clamps, and it looks awesome! The steering is a bit quicker, and there are side and centerstand issues. It will lean to the left on the side stand still, but it is hell getting it up on the centerstand. I will need to shorten each by about one inch.

He did shorten the centerstand by about an inch and I can get it up and down with a little effort... One of the problems I have at the moment, is an aftermarket exhaust system that hangs a bit lower than stock and it not allowing the centerstand to rise any higher... it can be a bit of a nuisance going over speed bumps and road dips with the lowered bike...
Even with the shortened kickstand, it still stands fairly upright... but not a major problem...
As far as the handling issues... I haven't had any of the problems that some have complained about with their stock height bikes... ie. wanting to dump in a turn... It handles very solidly in turns... but like planedick mentioned... it does scrape more easily in a lean...
I love the way it handles and it's an extremely comfortable bike...
I would think though, with your height (assuming you have a long inseam to go with it), that it would only be a matter of time before you were able to handle it as it stands now. Definitely what YOU feel most comfortable with though...
(of course)