Cleaning up and hard starting

[malber]

This is a picture of the right side of my engine block. It's a 81 SH. I'd like to clean her up but could use some advice. The black stuff between the cooling fins looks to be the old black paint. That stuff is so loose I can rub it off with a finger. The cam covers are only peeling on this side, the other side is fine so I may want to just re-paint them. The acorn bolts on both sides have a fair amount of rust on them on both sides (rust is a problem here in the Northeast). Should I try to clean them up or replace them?

The other problem I'm having is hard starting. It takes awhile and a few tries to get her started with full open choke. I have to crank the throttle a few times to get her going. The PO said this was typical, but it's a bit embarrassing when I'm with a few other seasoned riders and they hit their buttons once and I'm still cranking.

Thanks in advance.

[DiverRay]

Looking at the picture, I would replace the spark plugs, and then pull the carbs for a "real" cleaning. Hard starting usually points to the pilot circuit. The '81 has a sealed adjuster screw, but following the "tech tips", you should be able to clean all the passages and get it starting like it's supposed to. Pay special attention to the VERY SMALL jet in the bottom of the float bowl. This is the one that is usually missed, and the one that controls the flow of fuel to the enricher.
The engine, just "power wash", degrease, sand the rust off the acorn nuts, and give a quick coat of high temp paint.
Ray

[malber]

Will replace the plugs. I don't think this has been done in awhile.

Can the engine be painted without taking it out of the frame? I don't have a garage and I wouldn't look forward to a teardown out doors. This also presents a problem with carb cleaning. I would love to do it over the winter, but I don't have a clean (and warm) work area to lay out all the parts and work in.

[Ljay40]

"Can the engine be painted without taking it out of the frame?"

Of course long as your careful not to paint what you dont want painted
You can obviously do a better job with motor out of the bike but a lot of guys leave the motor in
Lots of guys Pull there carbs and rebuild em on the kitchen table or on the living room floor just put down some heavy towels/rags or whatever you choose and start with one carb at a time and slowly work your way thru them cleaning Check the "Main Page tech tips tons of info and good pics on how to clean these carbs and be careful when you spray you dont end up with a eyeful of carb cleaner throw a rag over it when you spray down the little passageways some of them passages will get you right in the face when your not ready.
good luck
keep us posted

[Ken Talbot]

Originally posted by Ljay40
Lots of guys Pull there carbs and rebuild em on the kitchen table or on the living room floor

.. and some guys even live to tell about it. Getting SWMBO a gift certificate for a visit to the local day spa will give you a bit more time to work at this without supervision, and the brownie points will go a long way to getting her mind off of the residual smell and or stains on the table. If you're real quick, you might even sneak in a load of parts in the dishwasher.

[xswilly]

hey malber
i'm not too far from you
i'm in hollis maine

so i feel your pain about the weather and working in it

[mro]

Will replace the plugs. I don't think this has been done in awhile

Could be that bike has been "stored" out doors?

Agree with Ray but would add in line fuel filters and also check/clean corrosion on electrical connections. Plug caps included. (behind fuse box are three connectors that can cause you grief if in bad shape. Corrosion on TCI connectors can cause it to miss behave too.....


mro

[John]

I'll bet the right side of that bike faced the coast when it was left sitting outside. As far as the cold starting problem goes, I would suggest pulling the carbs, removing the bowls, and checking the 'choke' circuit orifice that is pressed into the bowl itself. It is where the long, thin brass tube sits when it's assembled. That is where the choke enricher gets is fuel supply. There is a very small orifice in there that can clog, and not supply the extra fuel needed for cold starting. If you do have to clean it, use a thin strand of copper wire to poke through the orifice. Don't make it oversize by using something too big. You will know if it's plugged if you spray some carb spray into the hole and none comes out the other opening in the of the bowl. As far as warm hard starts go, You may have some blockage in the pilot circuit, probably the pilot jets. That is the only fuel available to the engine when the choke is off. Opening the throttle when cranking doesn't raise the main needles enough to supply fuel when cranking. It just allows more air to enter leaning the mix even more.
You may want to hook up with xswilly in Maine...he's pretty sharp.
P.S. I'm a Mainer myself, ayuh!

[malber]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I've actually worked with the SWMBO and set aside a part of the loft attic to work in after the snow falls. I just passed the NH MSF class two weeks ago, got my certifcation and have been riding nearly every day since. I want to get as much riding in before the flakes fly. This is also my first time seriously wrenching on anything, so I'm grateful for the information here.

The corrosion on the XS is mainly cosmetic. Once started, she runs quite well. And yes, she's been stored outside for the past 6 years. The carbs will be the project this year. Next year I think will be a complete teardown.

[audijunky]

If you plan on stripping the paint, may I suggest using aircraft cleaner. Stuff is serious. Dont get it on your skin, kinda burns after a few seconds(dont ask me how I know). Just spray it on ,letit sit for a few minutes, and blow it off with an air compressor or pressure washer. Paint will flake right off. Be sure and dry it off pretty good if you use a pressure washer cause the stripper will also remove any clear coat on the aluminium. If you leave the water on it , it may begin to oxidize.
Good Luck