Mysterious Cold Pipes

[hollywoodxs1100]

Hey, guys. I tore my bike apart yesterday to lower my float levels. I was hoping to improve the 19mpg I've been getting.

After putting it back together, it runs like crap. All floats are set to the same level, but the #2 and #4 exhaust pipes are cold after a minute of "running" (more like staggering). I have spark, and when I remove the bowl drain plugs, gas comes out.

My question is this: Could a weak battery be the culprit? Does crashing your bike wreck the battery? I wrecked my bike a few weeks ago (a cage driver pulled in front of me at 40mph. I broke my arm, screwed up my knee pretty bad and had to replace my front end. My saddlebag frame got screwed, too). I put the bike back together and it's been running great for the past 600 miles or so, except that it is slow to start when it's warmed up.

I bought a set of replacement coils (used) that I've yet to install. I'm short one resistor plug cap. (I did the coil wire swap a couple years back and used non-resistor wires/caps with resistor plugs)

I ran my battery dead trying to get it to run, and it took less than an hour for it to charge on my charger. That seems wierd. Do you think my battery is toast after the impact and overturning of my bike?

I'm just hoping I don't have to wrestle the carbs out AGAIN.

[hollywoodxs1100]

follow-up

The bike is a '79 XS1100SF Special. My headlight dims under 3k rpm. Is that normal. or has the battery gone south?

[DiverRay]

It seems that your battery may be bad. I'd have the car driver buy a new battery, as well as the rest of the replacement parts.
Also, double check the caps on the wires, and make sure they are not loose! if you run for a little while with one loose cap, you may burn up a coil.
Ray

[skids]

I took a spill at 45mph once. It made me a believer in helmets! Geeez, your arm must still be in a cast and there you are trying to get the bugger going again. Die-hard rider...just like me. It does sound as if the battery is internally wounded. Did you hurt the alternator?

[hollywoodxs1100]

My arm is back to (almost) normal. The wreck happened in early March. I couldn't ride for 6 weeks. I rode away from the scene with a broken arm, broken front brake lever, twisted forks and handlebars that were folded like a pretzel. I guess shock can do some wierd stuff to your brain. When I saw the bike again the next day, I was shocked that I was able to continue the 2 miles to my friend's house from the scene.

I was wearing a helmet, as it's the law here in California. Judging the damage my helmet recieved, I'm really glad I was wearing it. I still wear ir, road rash and all.

I'll get a new battery in the next few days and see if that helps. Driving a car to work is killing me. Takes forever. Feels like prison.

[DiverRay]

Don't forget the NEW HELMET. Once the helmet has been hit, it's toast. That is how they work. If the car had insurance, put in a claim for everything. If he didn't have insurance, as a lot of people don't here in CA, you can still make him pay. Use small claims court, or the DMV.
Ray

[knewsom]

And if he didn't have insurance, I'm hoping that you had uninsured motorist coverage...?

[prometheus578]

I almost missed commenting on this one. Surprised no one else caught it!

I broke my arm, screwed up my knee pretty bad and had to replace my front end.

... bet your girlfriend's pretty upset about that last part. (Unless you upgraded to the next larger size)