What did you do to your bike today?

[mspivey1566]

I sat at work all day thinking of ordering parts tomorrow.

[BA80]

I sat at work all day thinking of ordering parts tomorrow.

So, do you THINK they are here yet?

[mspivey1566]

So, do you THINK they are here yet?

just waiting on the paycheck to go through... lol

[motoman]

just waiting on the paycheck to go through... lol

"checks in the mail"...........

[mspivey1566]

wake up and try to find a decent cheap tank!!! then hit order

[3Phase]

I did basic tuneup stuff to Columbo, then swapped in a set of stock XJ1100 carburetors.

Over the last few months it's been getting harder and harder to start the engine in the morning. When it catches, it idles rough for a few seconds like it's missing on one cylinder, then smooths out and idles fine. It seems like #1 carb is losing fuel overnight after a long ride and a heat-soak then cool-off overnight.

It's parked on the newly-repaired center stand and there is no fuel in the oil or in the airbox. Everything looks cleaner than the proverbial whistle.

This afternoon it just cranked and cranked and refused to start. Well now, that's annoying. I was planning on cleaning the fuel tank this weekend not troubleshooting the engine.



Check standing battery and TCI voltage -- AGM battery, ~13V check
Check TCI voltage during cranking -- ~11.5V check

The engine started during the cranking test but ran like Chinese goldfish.

Swap in my handy-dandy known-good spare TCI -- check
Check static and dynamic ignition timing -- check
Clean spark plug and check gaps -- check
Set plugs on valve cover and watch for spark during cranking -- chHeCKKK! (HoLY mOLy! ACcEl cOiLs ArE fNu tO PLaY wITTh! )

(sigh) It's probably the carbs... I hate pulling the carbs but I've gotten really good at it so, thirty minutes later, the old '80G carbs are off and the spare XJ carbs are on.

Set the tank to Prime and fill the carbs -- check
Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed -- check
Hold the XJ's enrichener out with one hand and press the starter button with the other hand -- fires up at the first touch of the button!

Set the idle and go for a test ride -- check!
Grin re-installed! -- check!

I'll wait overnight to see if it's "needy" again tomorrow. I stumbled across my compression tester while I was digging around in the garage so I'll check the engine before I dive back into the carbs.

"Just one more thing...."

[motoman]

Nice! That set of perfectly working XJ carbs has sure come in handy since that's your main mode of mobility.

[mstic2000]

That's a very nice bike mstic. I Like the fairing, I would love to have that kind. Is that a windjammer? I know it is common but I don't know my fairings yet.

. Yes, it's a windjammer.

[3Phase]

(A long string of unprintable characters goes here)

The good news is that the engine's healthy. The cold compression numbers with wide open throttle are 147/149/150/149.

The bad news is that it did the same thing this morning and was hard to start.

It didn't used to do this. Maybe it's time for a new thread.

[XJkid]

It didn't used to do this. Maybe it's time for a new thread.

Mine does the same thing when it is cold and NOT on the batt trickle charge. If it is on the charger, it fires right up. I don't know what is going on. I've checked my voltage while running and it is good, my batt is new, but if I start it cold just off the batt itself, it acts like one cyl is not firing for about 10-15 seconds and then it kicks in.

[motoman]

The good news is that the engine's healthy. The cold compression numbers with wide open throttle are 147/149/150/149.

The bad news is that it did the same thing this morning and was hard to start.

It didn't used to do this. Maybe it's time for a new thread.

Hmmm........could get interesting, specially since your accel coils gave a pre-4th of July lite show off the plugs when cranking. My vote is for a new thread.....and grin when the culprit is found.....

[jwhughes3]

Shakedown weekend...

I rode to Houston for my shakedown on Great Ranger. What I discovered so far:

1. Those Michelin Commanders are way better than anything else I have had on the XS.
2. The Windjammer is way more stable in wind at speed than Plexifairing. Will likely only use Plexi for town riding on another bike.
3. Kudos to Greg for proselytizing the XJ Air Shock upgrade. It is a different bike.
4. I still am getting slight decel pops in left side, hmmm.
5. My speedo is much closer to actual speed now.
6. I need to setup hard bags. I feel naked without them.

John

[3Phase]

... If it is on the charger, it fires right up.... if I start it cold just off the batt itself, it acts like one cyl is not firing for about 10-15 seconds and then it kicks in.

XJKid,

Turn the fuel taps to the Prime position and wait a minute or two. If the fuel is leaking out of the float bowls, they'll refill when you Prime them and the engine should start and run. Then you have to find out why the float bowls are not staying filled and where the fuel is going.

If it's not a fuel problem and the engine starts and runs with the battery charger attached but doesn't do well with the battery itself then you may just have loose battery terminal connector(s). Check and double-check the battery terminals and connectors to see if they're loose, dirty, or broken.

When it's clamped to the battery, the battery and charger together (or just the charger itself) can supply enough current for the starter and the ignition. After the engine starts, the alternator will provide enough current when the charger is removed from the battery. Go ahead, ask me how I know....


If the connections are tight then you'll need to get serious and start measuring some voltages and voltage drops. It's fairly easy but it can take a lot of time if you're not familiar with the individual parts of the circuit or circuits you're testing.

Use a "divide and conquer" procedure and measure a complete circuit (voltage drop from the battery to the TCI, for example) to find out if anything is wrong. If there is a problem then find a midway point in the circuit and start measuring each half to narrow down which part of the circuit is causing the problem.


I hope it's just a loose battery terminal connection, so -- good luck and good hunting!

[motoman]

I rode to Houston for my shakedown on Great Ranger. What I discovered so far:

1. Those Michelin Commanders are way better than anything else I have had on the XS.
2. The Windjammer is way more stable in wind at speed than Plexifairing. Will likely only use Plexi for town riding on another bike.
3. Kudos to Greg for proselytizing the XJ Air Shock upgrade. It is a different bike.
4. I still am getting slight decel pops in left side, hmmm.
5. My speedo is much closer to actual speed now.
6. I need to setup hard bags. I feel naked without them.

John

#4: Look exhaust over VERY closely for a leak, then may wanna back each idle mix out an 1/8 of a turn as It'll be runnin a bit lean as it is ridin' your LD trip runnin' a constant 4-5K. Would hate to hear of a ventilated piston. #6: IMO, the theme look now screams for some nice black leather soft cases to thro over/ under the seat. That and stack the larger stuff on seat for a 'kicked' back LD ride....you'll be golden.

[BA80]

I have 3 sets of hard bags here John. 1 set needs some minor repairs (latches) and paint, another set needs paint, and the set I just got you can't have.

Are your brackets still good?