Cold Starting Problem

[Pat K]

My 81 XS1100H just doesn't want to start when it's been sitting for a few days. I'm going to burn out the starter at this rate.
Once it starts is fine I can restart with no problem. The idle is a bit high at 1700. I'm ordered a carb rebuild kit.
Am I on the right track?
Could it be the innition coil?

[trbig]

If your boots are in good shape, sounds to me like the choke is clogged. When you take the bowls of your carbs off, you will see a long brass tube that goes into a hole that is actually in edge of the carb bowl. At the bottom of this hole, there is a small jet. First, open the choke and spray some carb cleaner through the brass tube and see if it sprays into the carb. If so, then the little jet in the bowl is probably clogged. Some people have recommended using a toothpick soaked in carb cleaner, but I feared wedging a piece of the tip in a hole. (Like they do in my teeth!) Some recommend a sigle piece of brass wire. Mine was clogged pretty good, and it took a sewing needle to do the trick. Just be careful. It wouldn't hurt to clean everything else while you're there. Just follow the tech tips to the left. After you're done, follow up with a carb synch. I don't think you'll need the rebuild kit, but I am sure not the carb guru in here (Or any other one to be exact!), this is just a problem I had in the past myself.

Good Luck.

Tod

[trbig]

Before you pull the carbs off, try to start the bike... and with it running, spray some carb cleaner around your intake boots. The engine RPM will change if it is sucking air.


Tod

[Pat K]

Thanks for the advise. I'll try starting it again but my starter has been taking a beating lately. If it starts I'll spray the carb cleaner like you described. If not I'll choke my clogged choke with a needle.
I already ordered the rebuild kit, they were $20.00 each so I guess I'll put it in. Should I not do that?

I'll let you know how it turns out

Thks,
Pat K

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Pat,

The thing we like to recommend is to use your OLD cleaned jets. Depending on where you get your kits from, the PILOT jets are known to be the wrong type, look very closely at them, verify the same number of aeration ports on their side, where the metering hole narrows...at the threaded end, or the pointed end. Be sure to use a proper fitting screwdriver to get them out, you may also want to spray/spritz a little penetrating fluid JUST around the Pilot jet, let soak, to enable easier removal, the brass jets and slots are easily broken!

Also, if the Pilot Screw caps are still in place on the top front of the carbs, then you'll need to drill them out to be able to remove the pilot screw(not the jet) for proper cleaning the pilot circuit, and then for readjusting the pilot idle setting!

Check out the Tech Tips, carbs section and read thru ALL OF THEM! The 81H uses the press in float valve seats and a rubber O-ring, be sure to replace it, check the screen under the valve seat for clogs, etc.! IF the kit comes with pilot plug caps, DON'T use them. Be very careful removing the float pins lest you break off a float post!

DO NOT SOAK the entire carb in carb cleaner, several rubber components will melt away, ie., the butterfly shaft seals, the choke rod seal.

Post back with any other problems, questions, AFTER you read the tech tips!

[Pat K]

Mr trbig -
Regarding spraying carb cleaner into the small copper tube with the choke open. It should not be able to pass thru into the carb.

When I look thru the small tube with the choke open I can see thru into the choke, when I close the choke the passage is blocked.

Did you mean to say the carb cleaner should go into the carb with the choke open?