rubber tipped float valves and new floats

[prometheus578]

J.W....
You want Darla Hood?

That was called "cradle-robbing" back then... It'd be grave robbing now today.
Now... Miss Crabtree... Woo Woo!



I used to imagine that I was a "Little Rascal", and she would keep me after school for mis-behaving... and discipline me! She would say to me, "Come over here, "Spanky", you've been a very naughty boy."
And then she would....
Float needles... float needles.... yes, this post is about float needles....
Uhmm, yeah, you need to replace your float needles.

[XSRIK]

Yow!

YOW! humah nah humahnah! that Crabtree dame sure got both of my floats to a boilin'! Neither of the two in question were bloated and puffy like Roseanne Barr but they did not leak. One had what sounded like a chunk of solder rolling around in it. This bike sat for years outside exposed to the elements up here in N.W. Colorado where it appears gas mixed with water may have frozen and put the squeeze on these floats and imploded them a bit. Me thinks it would be prudent to order a new set. My question is thus: Should I order the metal ones or the plastic ones from mikesxs.com? I only have two carbs that are defective at this point but feel as though I should be prepared for eventuality with parts for all four of the buggers. Comments? suggestions? more pictures of old tarts?
Fondly,
XSRIK -boiled and partially bloated in Colorado


"The other day I saw a guy with wooden legs and real feet"

[prometheus578]

My only concern would be... concerning the tangs on the different floats. What I mean is...
The difference between the brass float's tang, and if there is a difference with the tang on the plastic float. would on float ride higher than the other.
All my spare carbs are at work, as is my caliper, etc.
One would need to set the float height on a brass carb... replace it with a plastic float, and see if the float adjustment is still the same.
There may not be any difference, but I know not fer sure, so can't advise.
Your crushed floats will not have the same bouyancy as the full-bodied ones.

[HobbyMan]

I have never tried this but, if your floats are leaking, Could you braze them with a LOW heat? It that at all possible. Just curious

[JWSanders]

LOL

Well, I was only 8 at the time....more like cradle sharing!

At least my thoughts were pure and innocent! :P

Well, as innocent as an 8 year old that had just learned about kissing could be. I'm guessing she was well into her 50's by then. (1978)

Ah, saturday morinings....cartoons, the three stooges and the little rascals. Life was so much simpler then....


This poor guy must think we're all bonkers here.


Were I to offer my advice (and it appears I am), I'd go ahead and get all 4 floats to make sure they all match. In for a penny, in for a pound.....or something like that.

[XSRIK]

Thick as a B-Rik...that's me!

ok uh uh ok!

So my question is thus: are the brass floats available on the Mikesxs site compatible with the carbs on my 79xs1100F? and can i use the float valves with the rubber tips and seats for the 80 to 81 models in my carbs? or perhaps just the valves? I tried the lap approach and they still are weeping like a red headed stepchild after a sound thrashing. I am no master mechanic but have been through my share of beaters.....mostly harleys and hondas. these carbs are giving me GAS! in more ways than one. One variety is cured with a bromo! the other seems may be cured with residual fuel a pointed stick and a match!

sigh...
XSRIK

"you can lead a horse to water but that don't make him Flipper"

[DiverRay]

I replaced the needle and seats on my '79. I've been running about 14 months, and 25K miles with no problems. I would bite the bullet and get the needle and seat kits, install them, reset the float level, and sync the carbs. Should solve the problem.

[XSRIK]

thanks for the info but....I have done all that to no avail. my floats are a bit imploded. and probably need replaced. I purchased quality rebuild kits and two out of four carbs are leaking like crazy. perhaps another set of floats and needles and another attempt and I'll get it right....so folks any idea about the mikesxs brass floats??????

XSRIK

"where theirs a will theirs usually a dead guy"

[prometheus578]

I hate to keep needlin' ya..."

Just to set the record straight...
Your machine needs the all metal float needles, not the rubber tipped ones. The all metal needles are thinner than the other ones, so the vitron tipped needles won't fit properly into the seats that you have.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Rik,

If you'll do a search I think you'll find some reports of folks using the plastic floats in the earlier carbs okay. IIRC, the brass ones for the 650 won't work in the 1100, but the plastic ones do!?

But, please search, or hopefully someone will chime in with what they've done and used in what year carbs!
T.C.

[XSRIK]

found the parts thanks!

Gentlemen,
I did some digging and found what I needed! Bikebandit.com had the floats. no way the rubber tipped needles are going to work according to multiple sources so I ordered a couple more sets of the metal ones from partsnmore. I talked to a very talented retired pro drag racer friend of mine who told me I may have just ended up with a couple of bad valves and seats "outtathefuggin'boxheyithappens". Being the eternal optimist, he also pointed out that "two out of four" functioning carbs was not bad and something else along the lines of "kwitchyerbitchin'gethepartzen' fixthuother2sumbitchi-zz" (he is a one eyed grouchy limping old mechanical genius and family friend.)

Thanks Gents for all your input! Perhaps I can contribute something constructive here in the near future.
I'm looking forward to getting this XS on the road. As soon as the weather breaks up here in N.W. Colorado I'm headed for a much needed 10 day backroad solo (sans wife and chilluns') "ride and camp" of the Four corners region, with a side trip down to Tombstone to smoke a cigar and get "tipsy".
gracias hombres!
XSRik
11 miles West of Nowhere

1979 XS1100F with full vetter touring swag
1977 Honda cb750 junkyard cafe' "Fast-n-Ugly"
various other casualties of my "mechanical talent" in various states of (dis)repair and exhumation


"never put your finger where you wouldnt put your face"

[prometheus578]

Ahhh... the Four Corners. I remember it well from my youth. Wide open... nothing around... nice breeze....stand in four states and Dad takes a picture.

Ahhh... the Four Corners. I remember it well from my adulthood.
Closed in... Huts and shanty shops everywhere... smells like urine... stand in four states and Dad has to pay to take your picture.
I recall that it now cost $3 per person to get in, but you can buy all the Indian blankets, dream catchers and artful, artificial artifacts that your little 'eart desires. Had I known that, I would have never left the main road to see it! (Is a casino in the works?)
Go to Mesa Verde instead and explore the cliff dwellings.

[XSRIK]

no carnival crap for sure

On my solo sanity recharging excursions my agenda is thus:
I shun the "points of interest" like PTA meetings.
I will go as many miles "out of my way" as it takes to stay off an interstate and avoid a major town, primary rule is two lanes only!
I seek out all the free primitive camping sites and utilise as many of them as I can. When what's left of my lower back screams for a hot shower and a bed I seem to have a knack for finding tiny economical clean ma&pa hotels in little towns. not only are they a bargain for one nighters but 9 out of 10 times you'll find some oldtimer behind the front desk willing to tell you all you need to know about that specific area and them some. The key for me on these trips is not the number of miles but the quality of them. The southwest is a beautiful place! go to fast and you'll miss it. Mesa Verde, Chaco canyon, Monument Valley all beautiful and within 6 hours of me. If you want to ride this area I highly suggest a book Called "Motorcycle tours of the Southwest" by Marty Berke can be had at whitehorse press. This guy is the king of "Jammin' Econo"
My copy is just about dog eared to death. It sounds cliche but "It's not about the destination, it's the journey" or some such.
for me, the destination is home after roamin in no particular direction for a week or so. Tombstone AZ. is ate up with the tourist thing but what a ride to get there! and it makes me feel like a "cowboy guy" when I walk (limp,hobble) around. I'll shut up now.

regards,
XSRIK