HELP!! My turn at the carburators monster, I guess..

[Cobia]

Vitamin B12 questions

Can/should the B12 be sprayed in the carbs while the engine is running? Or do you spray it in let it sit for a while then fire up the engine? I've used some carb and cylinder wall cleaner for my outboards. As you spray it in the carbs you have someone running the throttle and keeping the engine running until you finish the can. It blows a shiite load of smoke through the exhaust but when you're done those engines purr. Some call it tune up in a can. Don't know if it's appropriate for this application since the outboard is 2cycle and the XS does not enjoy the extra lubrication of the oil in the fuel.

But back to the original questions.... Do I spray it in the carbs while keeping the engine running and do I add it to the fuel and run a tankfull with it through the carbs and engine?

Please excuse my ignorance. I'm new at wrenching on motorcycles and don't want to f@#k up my XS. It's my only bike. Wish I had a stable of them like some of you. They're not too common in So FL, I've been looking too.

Thanks again

[81xsproject]

Cobia, go to your profile and add your year and make to your signature. It makes it easier for other to offer advice. As to a statement above, ALL years have screens on the tops of the float valves seat. The difference in the '70's and '80's is that the 70's screws in and have a little washer to seal them and the valve needles are brass. In (most) of the '80's, the seats push in and seal with an O-ring. They are held in by a screwed down plate and the valve is nitrile/Viton tipped. I say 'most' 80's above, because in 80 during the trasition, there were some odd balls. I have seen a set that had brass floats, push in seats, with rubber plugged pilots and cross drillted pilot/main towers.

[Cobia]

B12 or Seafoam????

I've read so much here about Seafoam (which I knew nothing about) for cleaning carbs and tanks and now B12 (which I knew nothing about) comes along. Which should I use?

Also on the Seafoam website they show Seafoam Deep Creep which they say you should spray in the carbs while the engine is running. You then let the engine sit for a while, then fire it up after the seafoam fairies work their magic.

BTW - What is the best way to spray this stuff down the mouth of the carbs? Me thinks that I can get access by removing the air filter holder and the air filter and then shoot it from the bottom with the straw that attaches to the spray nozzle? Or should I just bite the bullet and remove the air box?

Decisions, decisions.

Thanks for all your support guys.

[DiverRay]

The Berryman or Seafoam should be used the same way. Because of the "junk" in the carbs, I would pour it into the tank, with the fuel level LOW. Run it for about three miles, and then let sit for a while. Two hours should do it, and then you can fire it up, fill the tank, and see how it runs.
One use of Seafoam and the B12 is to break the carbon buildup from the inside of the engine. THAT is the "spray it in the running engine" method. For that, just pull the lower cover/air filter, and spray into a WARMED UP engine. After you are done, shut it off for about 10 minutes, and fire back up.

[Cobia]

Thanks Ray and everybody else for that matter,
I'm going out to buy the stuff now.
I'll keep y' all posted on the results.

[ross]

just a thought....

hey cobia....ya know ya can still get the pilot jets at the dealership.....only about $3.75 per......and if your gonna do it, replace all 4...take one of yours out so they can match up the #'s....i did mine while i had it torn down and she idles real nice now...ya also might find some other foreign matter in there while ya got it apart...if ya wanna go that far.....talk 2 ya later...ross

p.s. if you are gonna clean them up with whatever, word of warning....don't use compressed air to blow them off....tore my garage apart for 3 hours and never did find that sucker!!!

[Do Lee]

When I clean and reworks carbs I use Evinrude-Johnson Engine Tuner in the spray can. Cuts build-up and will not damage the rubbers in the carbs. I have sprayed it in the carbs when the bike is running and in all the passage ways. Works really good. Cost about $8.00 a can.

[Cobia]

She's Baaaack!!!

I want to thank one and all for all your ideas and encouragement. It helped me a lot in planning a course of action.

Here's the status report:

Only found Seafoam at my local Advanced and Pep Boys so I bought a couple of cans of the fuel additive and a can of spray.
I had about 1 1/2 gals of fuel in the tank so I poured about half the can (1/2 pint) into the tank and took a ride.... about 5 miles to my local bike shop (my mechanic) to buy the fuel filters. After about 3 miles it started clearing up some but not quite running as it should (I'm very critical). Bike sat for about 45 mins at the shop while I bs'd with them and bought the filters. When I fired it up to come home it sounded a lot better and my take off on the road confirmed it had improved dramatically. The ride home was pure relief, she was back.... without carb surgery!! Came home and could only let it sit for about 35 mins and decided to go fill the tank and add the rest of the Seafoam. Then took the long way home and once again enjoyed the awesome power of our beloved XS11s.

Muchas gracias Amigos!!!

BTW - The filters I got at the shop are very compact and seem as they will fit really well in the limited space. They have a metal "stone" filter element. They are clear plastic and about 2" long and 3/4" wide at the widest. Very cool.

Once again, MANY, MANY THANKS TO ALL!!!

[bikerphil]

seafoam

Glad you're up and running again Cobia. That Seafoam seems to work pretty well. I dump some in my tank(s) every 1000 mi. or so.