fuel pouring out my airfilter box

[Ken Talbot]

Re: What did you EXpect?

Originally posted by mro

TC and Ken, and others must be busy.

I'm here, and I'm pretty sure TC is too. Jim seems to be getting the answers he needs, and getting pointed in the right direction for a fix - no real need for me to leap in just for the sake of building up numbers in the 'number of posts' race.

[Ken Talbot]

... if you know what I mean..

[Jim Harrell]

I appreciate everyones' input concerning my FORMER leaking fuel problem. As I was not looking forward to removing the carb assembly for a third time, I thought it would be a good idea to remove the vaccuum four way do-hicky thing in between the petcocks and carbs and look for anything not normal. Apparantly the diaphragm was not doing its job because after re-installing it, no more leaks. Its possible too, I guess, that after running a half tank of new fuel, the debri causing the needle not to seat was dis-lodged somehow.
I really am amazed at how freakin powerful this bike is! I was in third approaching the crest of a hill and I cranked that throttle and YIKES... I am nearly purpendicular to the road. I have a fairing with a tape deck and speakers and that is a lot of added weight. If I had no fairing I probably would have looped the sucker. Anyway its just tooo much power for me. I decided to sell it. What is a good asking price? Its got 27,600 miles and is real clean with new tires, battery, brakes, and of course... cleaned carbs. You think $1800 is fair?

[DiverRay]

Jim,
You will be real lucky to get that much for it. Most of the bikes here have been going in the $700 to 1400 range. People have asked more, but I don't know of anyone getting or paying much more, with a few exceptiions. Some of the "perfect" or rare models have got as much as $2,500, but these are one in thousand bikes, that could be in a museum.
The power isn't that hard to get used to, as I just run in a higher gear. If you do sell it, you'll probably kick yourself within a month.
Try keeping the revs down, and just cruise most of the time. You can run these bikes down to about 35 or 40 mph in high gear!
just my $0.02
Ray

[TopCatGr58]

Almost bucked off your Iron Horse!

Hey Jim,

Don't Sell It!!!!! Modern bikes of similar engine size have much more power!!! You just experienced a freak circumstance. These machines are really fairly difficult to wheelie unless you are trying to, especially in the higher gears! You've got a CLASSIC machine, and are NOW a member of a rare, unique group of rider/owners.

You don't want to get one of those V-twins, or a crotch rocket!
This is your Iron Horse, and you just almost got thrown, but you didn't. You just need to get back in the saddle again, and tame that beast!!
T.C.

[remccool]

I had gas pouring out of my breatherbox a few months ago, everyone was right, I had a stuck float AND had gas in my crankcase from the gas flowing down the crankcase vent tube.... I also had a few other issues .... liek a 1/2" socket blocking the airway to the breatherbox.... but that's another story ....

[remccool]

As far as selling it..... sorry to hear that...... I should explain, sorry because I don't have the money to buy another one right now! ... Just kidding of course. I have owned and ridden many bikes, and these are powerful, but so are alot of the new ones out there. Even if she runs good, you may not get a "fair" price for her. I know I would never be able to sell Sancha for what I have in her, but, in my case, I can't afford a new bike so I bought her for $700 and spent another $800 to fix her up, and I have bought a second XS1100E for $300 as a "future project" .... I owned a Special back in the 80's, so I had an idea of the power.
I hope you don't sell her, but if you, tell the new owner about this website. There is a lot of GREAT information here, beside the really good people willing to share their knowledge and experience.

http://www.geocities.com/remccool

[Jim Harrell]

overwhelmed and grateful

Fuel is leaking again. My first thought was how can this be intermittent? But not long after cursing at the carbs and gettting frustrated, common sense kicked in combined with all the excellent info I have received, I feel confident that I know what the problem is, what caused it , and how to fix it. (of course let me know if I'm wrong here guys).
The fuel leak is not intermittent, its just happening again. The float needle is not seating due to either worn tips, debri, or could it be from the rust that I was unaware of inside my tank.? Duh!
I am not looking forward to the lengthy procedure ahead of me, but at least I'll be solving the problem instead of fixing a symptom.
Special thanks to: DiverRay,MRO,Prometheus578,mainlylinux,TopCatGR58, remcool,
skids,81XS1100-2006,mason79,cubuffs,trbig,
for your excellent info and comments. I am truly overwhelmed by it and grateful.
Also, I have decided not to sell it. If a great bunch of guys care this much for someone else who owns the same bike, then it must be one hell of a machine worth keeping.
Sincerely Jim Harrell

[DiverRay]

Jim,
Try and make the rally in Solcang!!
You'll be able to ask questions of some of us in person, and we and help with a lot of problems. If we can't help, it wasn't a problem.
Ray

[remccool]

Great to hear you're not selling her!
Bummer to hear the carbs are acting up again...

[TopCatGr58]

Great bike, great people!

Hey Jim,

You're right, these bikes are awesome, and so are the people that own them!! As Ken stated earlier, you had already gotten the repair info you needed with the first few posts in this thread.

You said you CLEANED your carbs. But, if you did not replace the worn rubber parts, the float needle and seat, the O-ring under the valve seat IF you have that year of carb, then most likely, that's why you have a leak. Sorry to say you probably need to go back into them and replace these parts, and verify your float heights, and that they move easily on the float pins, and make sure they ALL FLOAT, no holes in them. Then perform the upside down blow air into fuel inlet by mouth to see if you can get any air thru, if NOT then the floats are moving, and sealing the valve, but if you CAN blow air, then things are not set right!

Hang in there, you'll get it. After you get it back together, get some SEA FOAM and put it in the tank, will help to further clean out any gum, varnish and stuff.
T.C.

[trbig]

Sometimes... when you're riding along and your mouth gets really dry... (I know.. I gotta close my mouth and quit hanging my tongue out when I ride..) I think... Man I sure could use a piece of gum.....

SEA FOAM and put it in the tank, will help to further clean out any gum, varnish and stuff.

I'll have to look for a piece of that here! Thanks TC!!


Tod

[DiverRay]

Jim, That sould have been Solvang. I should not try to type that late at night.
If you get the bike running the first weekend in June, there will be a few of us down at Solvang. we would like to see you and the bike.
Ray

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Todd,

On long rides, I get a bag of butterscotches, and pop one in before I take off from each stop. Will usually last 20 or so minutes, and my jaw doesn't get as tired as chewing gum against the helmet chinstrap!
T.C.

[trbig]

my jaw doesn't get as tired as chewing gum against the helmet chinstrap!

Helmet??? Chinstrap?? How the heck you expect a guy to hang his tongue out and bark at the cages he passes?? LMAO...

Jim... always love to hear on here when someone decides to keep their bike. Of course.... am only saying that because you were too far from me to buy it!! Seriously... glad you stayed.


Tod