Carb Choices

[underdog57]

Am interested in finding out the advantage / disadvantage of carbs for our bikes .

Saw some threads on this but then they died mid-stream ....

I have the original cars on my 79 xs1100special , but have stuck
idle mixture screws in two of them .
I can not get them out so far !!

Also have the 82 XJ11 set of carbs , very gooey inside . Would it work to fix the xj carbs and they plug in ?? I see they have and extra cable on mine ...have not studied it yet ...

Which carb should I stick with for my bike?? Another option would be to find a working set of carbs , and I'm wondering if I should be fussy on the year or model ???

Thanks
Bob

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Dog,

The older carbs are more adjustable, the slide needle has notches so that you can tweak the rich/lean affect. They have the Upper "T"s for the bowl vents, the newer carbs have that vent routed into the inlet bell.

The older carbs use the brass floats, a little more prone to corrosion and leaking, vs. the newer floats. The newer carbs float needle is rubber tipped, the valve seat uses a rubber O-ring. The slides are different sizes, and the cheap replacements for them with the rubber vacuum diaphragms are easier to find. The float heights are different by about 2mm.

The older carbs pilot circuit shares fuel thru the MAIN jet tower via a little tunnel, so the mains are much larger ie. 137.5+. The newer carbs have separate pilot and main circuits, the mains are smaller, 110-120 range.

As you stated, the XJ's choke mechanism is cable controlled from the handlebar, the XS's are at the carb.

So....they are interchangeable, and effectively perform very similar, so your XJ carbs shouldn't be a problem to use.
T.C.

[underdog57]

Thanks TC

I'll redo my xj carb and work on the XS carbs as time permits ....
It looks decent , just very gooey !!
The diamphrams are great ...and it looks unmolested ...

Really appreciate the advice TC !!

Bob

[trbig]

Bob,

If you swap the slide bars from your carbs (Be careful and don't lose the little steel balls) you can then hook up the choke handle from your XS and won't have to route a cable.... unless you just want to.

Also, when you take the bowls off and start cleaning the carbs, make sure you get the little jet that is actually down in the side of the removed float bowl. If you take a plastic tube on your carb cleaner can and spray it good... this is the one that will shoot right back into your eyes... so be careful! Feel the burn!! lol.


Tod

[underdog57]

Excellent tips Tod ,
I know what you mean by "feel the burn" !! Couldnt believe I actually did that .LOL

I see a lot of 1980 carbs available , out of curiousity , what differant on them??81 probably the same as the 80's??

Thanks

Bob
Getting itchy to fire up the Evil incarnate , Frozen in a block of ice !!Only to rise again ...Mothra!!?? Nah LOL

[tab1324]

I'm using XJ carbs currently on my 79 and they work fine. Just the choke issue but that can be addressed easily. I just keep a small screw driver handy to wedge between the choke mechanism and carb body while warming up. I'm working on my original carbs for the bike too... In fact, when I read this thread, I thought it was me...... Good luck.

Tom B.

[tab1324]

I've also got a set of carbs from a 78 which I'm trying to get running. They'll be for sale if I can get them working.

[underdog57]

78 carbs

Tom ,
Let me know about your carbs . I can use the cores too.As I have kits already ..
I PM'ed you
THanks
Bob