XS850 Fuel Leak continued:

[ucdyamaha]

Well, it seems that the following things are still true. I have fuel leaking when the tank reaches a certain level, the leak is entirely through the black overfill tube, haven't removed and disected carbs, but the tank looks to be fine, the acceleration seems to be irradic and somewhat unpredictable indicating carb mixture output problems, everyone seems to agree that carbs are the first thing to remove/clean on old bikes. Now all I need is a manual and some carb cleaning tips, which I have found online:

Carb tip from this site

Bike is rideable, and recently got an oil change. Below are some recent pics of this particular Yamaha XS850 (Is it overengineered ? it weighs 550 lbs !@!)


I appologize for barging onto this board and not showing off pictures of my midnight special




In its dented glory:

[ratbyk]

Tired XS850

Don't want to hurt your feelings but I see a very tired M/C. It looks like it needs about $2000. and 400 hours of sensible work to put it back into good shape.
Try and find another one in better shape and turn this one into your parts bike. Just experienced advice. You will do what you will do though.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"

[ucdyamaha]

Needs Work

That is true--It does have a few deficiencies !! I need it in one piece for the riding test in a couple of weeks, but I might try to procure a smaller, easier to handle bike for that. But as for its functionality:

Brakes work
Engine leaks no oil (but recently gas)
Carbs need rebuilding perhaps
but the rest ? (its ugly ...)

[Czekus21]

ugly bike

When I bought my XS1100 3 years ago for 500.00 It was UUUUUGGGLLLYYYYY. It took a little to get it road worthy. critisism about your bike is a good motivator. get the mechanics working, take your road test, get licensed, The cosmetics will happen in time. you'll be glad you kept it. Get a good repair manual. When you take your road test, if you are not sure about you fuel leak. only go with a half tank of fuel

[ucdyamaha]

Thanks, M1 passed as of 5/19 !!

Thanks !!

I am really excited about the bike and have been riding it often -- ugly or no, it sure feels good. And as for the fuel leak, it was my misunderstanding of the petcock settings !! I had been leaving it on PRIM, which I mistakenly thought meant "Primary Tank" or something.

This Memorial Day Weekend I say a lot of bikes gathering in San Fransisco, that makes me want to get it into shape all the more !!!

As for simple repairs, I also fixed a head pipe leak that was making the bike sound like a harley. The person had put this exaust pipe "spacer" (hardened steel semi-circular to press against flange) in backwards and the exhaust was leaking around it. This, added to the fact that the other spacer was missing made the thing run really rough. One or its 3 cylinders was essentially venting substantially around the pipe. What a fiasco. But my friend's father helped me re-fit it and replaced the missing spacer -- now it sounds like a sports bike !@!

This is so exciting for me ...

Cheers,

Eric

[Czekus21]

Thats great. The prim setting on the fuel petcocks mean that your bypassing any shutoffs and constantly sending fuel to the bowls. This was ment for if you run out of fuel, to be able to fill the bowls quiker then having to waite for gravity or in a case where there would be a vacume diaphram, to bypass it. You may want to give your bike an oil change as with the petcocks in prime, you probably got fuel in your oil whiche should have cleaned the engine quite well. I would't run it till the oil is changed. I had this problem with my 79sf . The guy I bought the bike from had it plumbed totaly wrong and the fuel would't shut off. I learned about the prime the hard way. Lots o luck. Wish I was back home in Cali right now( south Bay area) ( San Jose)