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After almost being late for work because the bike won't start I spent about two hours the next day looking for a problem and checking connections. The damn run switch was off. I sure know how to make myself feel stupid. Anybody ever do anything like this?
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something like that...
Don't feel bad. Its just like looking for your reading glasses that are perched on your head.
JohnJohn is in an anonymous city with an Alamo (N29.519227,W-98.678980)
Go ahead, click on the bikes - you know you want to...the electrons are ready.
'81 XS1100H - "Enterprise"
Bob Jones Custom Navy bike: Tkat brace, EBC floating rotors & SS lines, ROX pivot risers, Geezer rectifier, new 3H3 engine
"Not all treasure is silver and gold" -
Few weeks ago I was going to ride to work. Started her up, got ready, got on, tried to go and she dies. Wouldn't restart. Gave up and drove my pickup. About half way to work I remembered....forgot to turn the petcocks on.....Nathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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I did that with a 77 sporty one time. ONE TIME.Originally posted by XJfan1 View Post
Walked all the way home and came back with a buddy to get it. He walked over to it flipped the kill switch and it started on the first kick.
Greg
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.
The list changes.
Comment
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When I was 19 I bought a project camaro. I spent a few weeks getting her running. I drive her around some while I was building a new motor. A couple of months after I got the new motor built I was looking for some time to put it in. I was out driving it around and it died and would not start. So I changed the motor and it still would not run. That when I realized the gas guage was wrong.it was out of gas. Long story short ran the car out of gas and changed the motor. I have my moments.Comment
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I never use the kill switch on any bike for that reason,......unless its laying on the ground.Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas.
1980 XS1100G 1179 kit, Tkat brace, progressive springs & shocks, jardine spaghetti, Mikes coils, Geezer's rectifierComment
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I use the kill switch every single time I turn off the bike. The key is an afterthought. That's the way MSF teaches it.
I have gotten down to the end of my street, only to have the bike die. Took me several minutes to realize I had left the petcocks turned off.1980 XS850SG - Sold
1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special (Sold) - purchased 9/29/08
Fully Vetterized and Dynojet Kit added, Heated Grips, Truck-Lite LED headlight, Accel Coils, Irridium plugs, TKAT Fork Brace, XS850LH Final Drive & Black SS Brake lines from Chacal.
Here's my web page devoted to my bike! XS/XJ User's Manuals there, and the XJ1100 Service Manual and both XS1100 Service manuals (free download!).
Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot - You're right.
-H. FordComment
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What exactly is the reasoning behind that?Originally posted by CatatonicBug View Post
Greg
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.
The list changes.Comment
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It keeps your hands on the bars until the engine is dead. Doing it every time trains your mind to go there first in the event of an emergency. Page 23 of the MSF manual outlines this concept.Originally posted by BA80 View PostWhat exactly is the reasoning behind that?1980 XS850SG - Sold
1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special (Sold) - purchased 9/29/08
Fully Vetterized and Dynojet Kit added, Heated Grips, Truck-Lite LED headlight, Accel Coils, Irridium plugs, TKAT Fork Brace, XS850LH Final Drive & Black SS Brake lines from Chacal.
Here's my web page devoted to my bike! XS/XJ User's Manuals there, and the XJ1100 Service Manual and both XS1100 Service manuals (free download!).
Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot - You're right.
-H. FordComment
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Hi Greg,Originally posted by BA80 View PostWhat exactly is the reasoning behind that?
it's to remind you that the useless waste-of-space thing is there so that when the bike is parked and some interfering do-gooder wanders by and flips it you check it's position first when you turn on the gas, insert the key, push the button, see the dash light up but the bike don't crank rather than have one of those now WTF's wrong with it? moments.Fred Hill, S'toon
XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
"The Flying Pumpkin"Comment
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They teach the FINE-C starting procedure also. Fuel, Ignition (Key Switch), Neutral, Emergency stop (right handlebar switch) - Choke. Procedure to go through before you start the bike. Eliminates the petcocks not turned on, or e-stop switch not on, no choke for a morning start, issues.
No I am not telling anyone how many times I have forgotten tot turn on my petcocks, but I have the procedure to turn them on while riding down pretty well.
And yes, this is a fat heavy friggin pig of a bike to push a mile or so while your brain recalls to check them.
I almost never use the E-stop switch to stop the bike. While I get the MSF reasoning, I can tell you form experience that when the guano really hits the rotary device, that button ain't on the checklist. Figuring out where you are, and what time of day, of what day it is, that is first. Really, you will most likely not be with the bike anymore. With the age of these bikes and those switches, I prefer not to break the stupid thing by overuse. JMOLife is what happens while your planning everything else!
When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.
81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection
Previously owned
93 GSX600F
80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
81 XS1100 Special
81 CB750 C
80 CB750 C
78 XS750Comment
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+1...........from first-hand experience also.........that kill switch was the fartherest thing on my mind.......as should be. Also understand the MSF reasoning, but 'real-world' is totally different......just sayin....Originally posted by DGXSER View Post81H Venturer1100 "The Bentley" (on steroids) 97 Yamaha YZ250(age reducer) 92 Honda ST1100 "Twisty"(touring rocket) Age is relative to the number of seconds counted 'airing' out an 85ft. table-top.Comment
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My hands are on the bars until the bike stops anyway. I pull in, put in neutral, turn petcocks off and run a few seconds to get some of the fuel out of the bowls before i turn it off. At lest that way, it runs the fuel out of the lines and dont have a full bowl in case my float valves are sticking i wont get gas in the oil. I need to replace my float valves someday.Jeff
77 XS750 2D completely stock
79 SF XS1100 "Picky" stock with harley mufflersComment
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Brain dead?
If you can't figure out what happened before you push it a long ways, maybe you shoudn't be astride something that's gonna bring things to you quite so fast. I've tried to start many times after leaving it in the off position. Takes me less than 5 seconds to figure what's wrong. If you were an AMA member, they would come rescue you for free.You can't stay young forever, but you can be immature for the rest of your life...
'78E "Pathfinder" Show bike...
Lovingly restored by Dave Delzell
Drilled airbox
Tkat fork brace
Hardly mufflers
late model carbs
Newer style fuses
Oil pressure guage
Custom security system
Stainless braid brake linesComment
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did the kill switch thing once,now I don't use it.FOXS-XS11SG
2009 Suzuki V Strom 650,Adventure in Touring,I call her "Smooth" SW Motech engine guard,Coocase top case w/ LED brake and tail lights,20" MRA touring screen w/adjusable bracket,Grip heaters,fender ex-tender,Givi hard sidebags
1980 XS11SG-sold
1999 Vulcan classic-sold
1982 XJ 650-sold
Old is only a state of mind......JohnComment
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