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My 1979 XS1100 special gallops like an old horse. I have no idea why, I’ve tried everything, and nothing changes. Mid throttle (or really any level of throttle) surges and lags and ridiculously jolts forward when I try to accelerate. It clunks and bounces, and feels like constantly about to stall. It also won’t idle unless I’m on the throttle. It somehow seems to be running both rich and lean at the same time.
It all started when I took my project out for the first time and it was idling high. Messed with the mixture screw, nothing happened. Figured it was lean so I ordered bigger jets. 45 and 147.5. Now before you make comments on the jets (which I’d still highly appreciate feedback on), the problem started before I even installed them. While waiting on them to arrive I took the bike out again and it started doing this weird galloping, which was a huge change from the loud high revving lean it was doing the few days prior. When the new jets arrived, I installed them, and nothing changed whatsoever, which was highly concerning seeing as they’re a few sizes over stock. The same exact unridable surging and jolting and weakness. After that I realized something was seriously wrong or broken. I checked my slide diaphragms, slightly cracked, so I replaced them. No change. Blew compressed air through all passages. No change. Break cleaner test for vacuum leak. No change. All 4 spark plugs are sparking, but fouling quickly. I adjusted the needle, no change. One of the T connectors is leaking fuel, so I ordered another and am waiting on it, but it doesn’t seem like that would cause such extreme symptoms.
It feels and sounds like I’m riding a V-twin. Not even actually, more like a V-step siblings, because none of the cylinders seem to be related in any way besides being stuck in the same engine block. I’m extra confused because it started happening without me changing anything. I feel like I’m losing my mind and i just cannot figure out what’s going on. Any advice is welcome and thanks for reading my rant.
It all started when I took my project out for the first time and it was idling high. Messed with the mixture screw, nothing happened. Figured it was lean so I ordered bigger jets. 45 and 147.5. Now before you make comments on the jets (which I’d still highly appreciate feedback on), the problem started before I even installed them. While waiting on them to arrive I took the bike out again and it started doing this weird galloping, which was a huge change from the loud high revving lean it was doing the few days prior. When the new jets arrived, I installed them, and nothing changed whatsoever, which was highly concerning seeing as they’re a few sizes over stock. The same exact unridable surging and jolting and weakness. After that I realized something was seriously wrong or broken. I checked my slide diaphragms, slightly cracked, so I replaced them. No change. Blew compressed air through all passages. No change. Break cleaner test for vacuum leak. No change. All 4 spark plugs are sparking, but fouling quickly. I adjusted the needle, no change. One of the T connectors is leaking fuel, so I ordered another and am waiting on it, but it doesn’t seem like that would cause such extreme symptoms.
It feels and sounds like I’m riding a V-twin. Not even actually, more like a V-step siblings, because none of the cylinders seem to be related in any way besides being stuck in the same engine block. I’m extra confused because it started happening without me changing anything. I feel like I’m losing my mind and i just cannot figure out what’s going on. Any advice is welcome and thanks for reading my rant.
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