Running rough suddenly....

[DiverRay]

If the bill does NOT show a charge for them to remove and replace the carbs, DO NOT TAKE THEM TO THE SHOP.
The "mechanic" was probably born after the bike was built, and does NOT know how to properly rebuild a carb! IMHO.
If you take the carbs off, it only takes about two hours, with learning time, to go through the carbs. I'd just have them refund part of the money you paid, or get you the "rebuild kits" for your carbs for free.
Ray

[Meatloaf]

OK, DR stop holding back. Tell me how you really feel

I already came to the same conclusion that you did. I'm going to order the kits and just go ahead and do it myself. I'm rusty but back "in the day" when the XS I was driving was new, I used to do this stuff all the time albeit without having to wear reading glasses...

[DiverRay]

That's my problem as well, now need glasses to see the small parts. I was a Yamaha mech back in '78, so I did work on some of these back then, including the one I rode at the time.
Ray

[webbcraft2150]

If ya paid with a credit card, ya have some recourse. They didn't fix, you don't pay.

[Meatloaf]

Paid cash, no recourse there. I'd rather be riding than chasing these guys. Having actually sued people before not something I take lightly. Righteous indignation is damned expensive. Won't make a decision on the carbs until I've narrow it down to that being the issue for sure.

Started troubleshooting tonight. Filters are clear, lines look good. All cylinders looking a little rich to me and new plug in right cylinder when facing forward (is that 1 or 4?) is definitely fouled.

Gonna pick up some plugs tomorrow, hook up remote fuel feed and keep poking.

[Meatloaf]

Yep, it's carbs, most likely float valves. Checked fuel filters, Replaced plugs, drained carbs. Primed it, took it out for a drive. Ran like a top for about 3 minutes (I was in heaven...) then started chugging. Got worse the longer I drove it. Nursed it home and pulled plugs, they were a mess. Ordered float valve assemblies. Parts should be in tomorrow, will install kits and try again over the weekend.

A.

[Meatloaf]

And to be fair to the dealer they are trying hard to make me happy after the fact. The didn't charge me for carb parts and stuck to a cleaning. I suspect were trying to save me money. My only real issue is the length of time they had the bike and the fact that they didn't test it properly before handing it back. If they provide the labour to rebuild the carbs free of charge, they will have redeemed themselves somewhat.... not entirely but somewhat.

[skids]

All of the float valves malfunctioned at once? Did you check the air filter and make sure the seat isn't squashing the air snorkle?

[Meatloaf]

I didn't think I was suggesting that all of them malfunctioned at once. 1, maybe 2 are for sure.

[pggg]

The best thing I ever did to my XS11 was ditch the temperamental, inconsistent, annoying resistor spark caps. The springs/resistor gadgets are just B.S. I reckon. Even just the weather or climate seemed to affect them. Can't count the amount of times they've played up, sending me searching on all sorts of wild goose chases. An occasional or sometimes consistent low rev flutter/miss. Sound familiar? I eventually lost patience and ripped the stupid plastic resistor caps off, and connected straight direct with auto type rubber caps. Never had stuttering problems since.

[Meatloaf]

Pulled carbs and too them to the dealer. They replace float valve assemblies with Yamaha OEM parts, no labour charges.

Installed on bike. Definitely feels "better" than it was but now idles too fast once warmed up with backfiring in both carbs and pipe. Partial application choke sends idle up to 6K. Only runs well from 3-4K RPM. Misfires under load, plugs indicating it's running rich (very sooty).

Almost seems lean at idle and rich under load. I'm sure I'll figure it out but would rather be riding than wrenching

I'd give my left n*t to have an experienced troublshooter holding a cold beer and sitting next to me tomorrow afternoon when I get back at it.

[mro]

Hi Meatloaf

If they set the floats to the right height,

you still need to adjust the carbs after you put em on.

Sync em to #3, the adjust idle mix screws.
Check in tech tips, goes into detail.


mro

[Meatloaf]

Time is proving a problem. Apparently my wife feels that 2 feet of grass in the yard is not acceptable just because I bought a bike.

Anyway, did some carb tuning, got it idling nicely, but it's still sputtering under midrange load. Overall however it does feel like progress is being made. I'll keep picking at it. Reading all the forum stuff and the threads of folks who've had similar problems is very helpful.

[wingnut]

Sync em to #3,

Like MRO said they sound like they need to be sync'ed. You'll be amazed at the differance that make in performance.

[webbcraft2150]

Get a carb stik (Dennis Kirk, 'bout $40). One of the better tool purchases I ever made (works on multi carb outboards and 3 duece GTO's to). Once you figure how to use it, you will become a mystical person to those around you who don't have one. They will light incense and quietly bang on there drums when you magically hook up all those hoses and expertley dial in that bank of imposing carbs. A vigin will then be sacraficed when you diconnect it and it idles smooth enough to balance a quarter on the tank. (Ok, maybe the quarter thing won't work, and the virgin thing might be stretch but its gotta be worth at least a few beers and undieing gratitude ).