Another new guy, looking to living a little on XS

[XXV]

So I just purchased one of these great bikes, specifically a 1981 XS1100 H. I've always love the Yamahas of this era and am excited to do some riding. It needs a little work, so I imagine I'll be floating around this site reading about some of the nuances of this bike. The first thing I have to do is remove and clean/tune carbs. I've never dealt with a bank of 4 carbs before, 2 at a time was always enough work!

[IanDMacDonald]

Wow!!! That looks incredibly amazing to see the bike blacked-out like that!! First time I've seen it, and I like it! Don't get me wrong, I like it blue too, but that looks great as well! I wonder how it'd look in a Hunter Green?

[BA80]

What are the pliers for?

Nice bike.

[MarkD]

Hey 25, Congratulations on getting a really cool looking bike, and welcome to the XS 11 site. You will love it! As far as cleaning the carbs, I watched this video before I tackled the rebuilding/ cleaning of mine. It will help a lot. Word of advice, and I'm sure others will plus 1, no need to replace the jets. If you buy rebuild kits, ( I did), DO NOT use anything but genuine Mikuni jets, which don't come with the kits, they are a separate purchase. There's no need to replace, anyway, unless there are running problems. Don't soak the bodies in a caustic solution either, it ruins the butterfly seals. I have my bike running great, thanks to the gurus on this site, they know tons of useful info, and I couldn't be working on my bike without them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95nlrP-yn2I

Good luck, and enjoy your XS!

[XXV]

What are the pliers for?

Nice bike.

ah yeah the pliers. I was attempting to remove the windshield in order to fit the bike in the van, but opted to take of the entire fairiing for an easier fit.

[XXV]

Hey 25, Congratulations on getting a really cool looking bike, and welcome to the XS 11 site. You will love it! As far as cleaning the carbs, I watched this video before I tackled the rebuilding/ cleaning of mine. It will help a lot. Word of advice, and I'm sure others will plus 1, no need to replace the jets. If you buy rebuild kits, ( I did), DO NOT use anything but genuine Mikuni jets, which don't come with the kits, they are a separate purchase. There's no need to replace, anyway, unless there are running problems. Don't soak the bodies in a caustic solution either, it ruins the butterfly seals. I have my bike running great, thanks to the gurus on this site, they know tons of useful info, and I couldn't be working on my bike without them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95nlrP-yn2I

Good luck, and enjoy your XS!

Yeah I am going to remove the carbs tomorrow and set up a little carb clean& rebuild operation in my house. Thanks for the video link and all the tips. I also read some good advice on this site that gave a much better method to removing the carbs than the method outlined in the Haynes manual...so needless to say, I'm already finding this site to be a great resource.

[BA80]

Don't worry about the 4 vs 2 carbs. Just be sure all 4 are cleaned and internally adjusted the same. Syncing is just 2 sets of 2.

2ync 2 then sync 2 then sync the 2 sets.

[XXV]

Don't worry about the 4 vs 2 carbs. Just be sure all 4 are cleaned and internally adjusted the same. Syncing is just 2 sets of 2.

2ync 2 then sync 2 then sync the 2 sets.

Well I am happy that these Carbs are so familiar to me. I have had several 70s Honda 350s with the Mikuni CV carbs and they are very similar.

The boots looked a little cracked on this bike so not sure if I should go ahead and preemptively buy new gaskets for the carbs and find some new boots as well. Thoughts?

[BA80]

I just had this same discussion with another new member.

Those boots might look bad from the outside but 99% of the time it's just superficial. There is a metal core.

Same with the carbs. 99% of the time a good cleaning or 3 (XSive triple clean joke) and they'll be fine. Just be careful and don't break the bowl gasket.

Replace the O-rings on the float valve seats and soak the Viton valve seat needles in gas overnight before re-installing them. They dry out and shrink from sitting.

[haywardguy929]

Nice looking bike for sure. Congrats. You'll love it. Always had thought about doing something with the white panels too but kind think it should stay original ..time will tell. Hang on they're fast :-)

[Pizzaboy]

Beautiful Bike, and I hope I made the right decision in going with my Current Harley. But who knows...maybe down the road I'll pick up another XS?! I want to follow you, so stay active on the post, and Too as I described, I Really Believe that this bike has "the broken off air bleed screw" Its in the xs11 info section under carbs. Help with link anyone. I'm TECH Stupid.

Make her work buddy, its an awesome looking bike!

[IanDMacDonald]

Well I am happy that these Carbs are so familiar to me. I have had several 70s Honda 350s with the Mikuni CV carbs and they are very similar.

The boots looked a little cracked on this bike so not sure if I should go ahead and preemptively buy new gaskets for the carbs and find some new boots as well. Thoughts?

Really? I have a garage full of CB's, and they all have Keihin(sp?).

[XXV]

Beautiful Bike, and I hope I made the right decision in going with my Current Harley. But who knows...maybe down the road I'll pick up another XS?! I want to follow you, so stay active on the post, and Too as I described, I Really Believe that this bike has "the broken off air bleed screw" Its in the xs11 info section under carbs. Help with link anyone. I'm TECH Stupid.

Make her work buddy, its an awesome looking bike!

Pizzaboy yes I am very excited to get this bike running well. Your Harley is quite the looker and since you can only ride one bike at a time, I thank you again for parting with this beautiful XS11. I am stoked.
Per your advice, I will look at the air bleed screw (I assume that is synonymous with a 'air mixture screw'?) when I take the carbs apart. Given that it is not broken, might someone be able to tell me how far to back out the mixture screw?

[XXV]

Really? I have a garage full of CB's, and they all have Keihin(sp?).

Yes you are right that Keihin are the CV variety on the old 350s. I have had 4 CB/CL 350s and three had the CV keihin carbs and one had the Mikuni round-slide carbs. So yeah, these XS Mikuni carbs remind me of the Keihin CV carbs from the 350s. I got the name mixed up. Whoops

[dpotter58]

might someone be able to tell me how far to back out the mixture screw?

Go here. http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36017

Lots of info can be found with the search feature. Look for member catonic bug and see the link for a manual in his signature. Down load it and read through it a few times. That and your fellow members on here will get you through most anything XS related.