Carb problem

[James L]

Fire in the Hole!!!

strom said:

Ergo, always park on a nearby uphill road... so it leaks into the airbox and when it backfires, it ignites the gas in the airbox and the bike burns to the ground.

There must've been a fire in my airbox at one time...
The inside of the airbox has some signs of intense heat damage.
I guess I'm glad it didn't get any worse.
Just got a decent airbox from ebay (only $5)!

Hey Ken, I assume you've checked out the wavy spring washer in the petcock assy? some folks have re-bent for more waviness and cured some leaks I think.

[kenkrieger]

No James I haven't ,,never busted them open yet, but they do work on and off . When it goes down for the winter fork job and gaskets I will do the petcocks. Hey are you heading down to the Blue ridge rally this weekend?? If so by what route,,,,,,three of us going from here, via the western route. Thanks for the tip.its appreciated,,later,,,,

[James L]

Ken,
Wish I could join the blue ridge ride this weekend.
Instead I'm going to NYC to visit family.
Nevertheless, I hope to hook up w/ some XSive folks again in the near future ...
Enjoy the ride, and good luck to all w/ the dreaded leaky petcocks!

[kenkrieger]

leaky petcocks

Of course you know as I was writing that last post my carbs were leaking gas all over the shed,,,,lol,it ain't funny,but gotta laugh,when i got home from work went out to fire her up and had a puddle and as my speaking that it has never gone into my cylinders,well you guessed it,in the oil,and it was new oil,,,,,drained that and ripped the carbs and airbox out once again,,,put the carbs back and number three is the culprit this time,the other 3 no problems. I took them apart and the float valve looked a bit flat where it seats so roughed that up a bit ,put them back,,
- alittle better,but still leaking quite a bit on prime,just a drip on run.
- Took it apart again and it looks like the o-ring on the outside may be them problem as it comes in and out to easy and its really flat,,so gonna replace this ,I have some extra valves from my XJ carbs they are the same, so gonna try one of those in the morning,after the o-ring try. We shall see. more to come,,,or to leak.

[Voice]

Thanks for the commiserations, managed to exchange what was left for a XJ900 pre divi imported from Italy, though not quite a special, its OK.

Yes I suspect the fuel had leeked into the oil, when I droped the oil it was weak. Oh well you live and learn.

[TopCatGr58]

Leaking Reserves

Hey there Ken,

Well, I remember someone posting about when the bike is on it's sidestand, tilted, the floats don't always pivot as easily on that spindle, can possibly even bind a little, or drag,etc, not putting as much pressure against the float needle valve enough to close it off properly!?!?

Secondly, perhaps because you don't use reserve very much, more tank crud can build up in the petcock tube, then when you turn to reserve, that crud flows down into the carbs, and small particles get wedged inbetween the float needle valve and seat, keeping it slightly open, allowing it to leak!?!?

Like you said, trash the Octy and turn the petcocks off and no more worries!!! See you Friday.

[kenkrieger]

Bad O-rings

My leaky carbs were due to bad o-rings on the outside of the float valve sleave. Replaced them and end of problem, used some that were close, metric sized, were tight going in and sealing nicely.
As far as reserve goes no never use it,only occasionally do I forget to get gas,,but after the tank was off they behaved just fine, shutting off when shut off and pouring out when in reserve and prime. Ride safe.