Finally had a minute to ride....bike wouldn't start

[manshack_one]

I don't think I'm supposed to be riding or something. I hardly ever find time to spend by myself on the bike. So last night when I was needing to run to a friends house on the other side of town I told the wife I was going to take the bike. Pulled it out of the garage, put on my gloves/helmet, turned the key and pressed the button. It turns over just fine but would not catch fire. I could see some type of smoke coming from the bottom of the airbox. Every so often it would pop or backfire. I figured I had flooded it at that point and gave up. Rolled it back in the garage and drove the minivan instead. kill switch was on, fuel was on and could see it in the lines, kickstand up, in neutral but no fire. I've been smelling gas but it hasn't puddled up below the bike or anything. I have a good feeling it is coming back into the air box a little. Pretty sure I'm going to break down and order rebuild kits and know for sure that my jets and needles are in good order. I could see where the carb boot on #1 airbox side looked wet and smelled of gas. It's not filling up the airbox or anything but I really feel like it's coming up just enough to flood it out. I'll pull the plugs tonight and dry them off and try again. Just frustrated that everytime lately I get an opportunity to ride something always seems to happen. I'd like to ride it to work (50 miles between Crockett and Huntsville) every day but can't trust it to not leave me stranded. I wonder if AAA could tow a bike?


On a side note, I traveled to San Antonio yesterday and visited the new Yamaha shop on I35 N. Today I visited the Honda shop on 290 in Houston. I have to say I wasn't all that impressed with Yamaha's selection of new bikes and found the Honda Sabres and Spirits more of a better fit for what I wanted. In fact, I was even thinking of a test ride on the Silverwing!

[Ken Talbot]

If it has leaked enough to get raw gas on the airbox side of a carb, there's a very good chance it has leaked the other way too. Chances are you now have a crankcase full of gas/oil mix. It may be a very good thing your engine did not start! Thinned down oil would be a good way to spin the bottom end bearings. Check your oil level, dip some out on a stick, and check for gas before you do anything more.

[GrandPrix46]

Were you at Yamaha of San Antonio at 35 and selma? That's where I bought my Virago. No experience with the shop side (bike is brand new an i'm a mechanic), but they have a lot of gear and accessories there.

[manshack_one]

I thought about that yesterday. Funny thing is when it's on the centerstand in the garage I can go out and start it anytime I want too. Seems to be that when I leave it on the kickstand (it was the night before) that I see the gas seeping out the carb boot. Which peice in the carb is it again that is supposed to cut the flow when the floats come up?

[manshack_one]

Originally posted by GrandPrix46
Were you at Yamaha of San Antonio at 35 and selma? That's where I bought my Virago. No experience with the shop side (bike is brand new an i'm a mechanic), but they have a lot of gear and accessories there.

That's the one. The nice new one next to Rudy's. I visit S.A. pretty frequently and have lived there a few times. I thought the store was great. They did have lots of gear and even some kids cruiser mesh jackets. Mostly there were tons of helmets. But like I said, I just don't like the look of the Roadliners and sport bikes. Tried to sit on a few and could never see myself leaning over the tank that way. And the Ventures were nice but way too heavy for my liking. Same thing with the Goldwings in the Honda place today.

[manshack_one]

Well, turns out I just flooded it. Pulled the plugs, lightly sanded them with some 400 grit, left the choke and gas valve off. Damned if it didn't fire right up after one or two pops of unburnt fuel. Go figure. Works when I don't need it everytime.

[tomatao]

AAA and Towing for bikes.

Your AAA membership probably won't cover a bike tow. Each AAA club can be a little different so check with them to make sure but most don't.

It's the American Automobile Association, Automobile being the key word there.

Many AAA clubs are selling motorcycle insurance now so that could change in the future.

[mro]

but can't trust it

If you leave it in current condition...yup, would not trust it.
I ride 50 to 150 miles aday, just about every day. So far only one time have I had a problem. Put a new battery in the 80G. Rode for a couple days no problem, then went downtown and the new battery failed

Once you get your bike dialed in....
Do the maintenence by the "book", no short cuts and it should be a rare occurance if it lets you down.


mro
BTW
sticky float? leaking float needle....,
can flood w/o any visible signs of fuel too.

[manshack_one]

Once again, went out to go for a ride when I had some time and it did the same thing. Pulled the plugs and they're dripping wet. So great. I'm really starting to like that Honda Shadow I sat on at the dealership the other day. Don't get me wrong I love my xs11 but it's been nothing but grief so far.

Being that it's flooding while it's sitting still that would have to mean the needle valves right? The part the floats push up on? I've had the carbs worked on and appreciate the help I got on it but these things are just worn out and showing their age.

So, I think I'll talk to the wife about getting a Shadow 650 to commute on while I try to find carb replacements and then just ride my xs11 on the weekends or other trips for the group.

What year models should I look for on those slingshots or whatever is the most straightforward swap? I'll probably scour the junkyards instead of ebay. I could probably just order rebuild kits for the carbs but I was told that was done before I bought the bike so I feel like just starting from scratch on them.

So, rebuld or replace? I'm leaning towards replacing. But she does look nice......

[DiverRay]

What YEAR are the carbs??? There is a new thread about the 80 carbs with the "O" ring seal. It seems one of the members has figured out if the set for a while, they can shrink slightly, and allow the gas to leak past! That is his theory, and as I ride the older bikes, with the "screw in" seats, I don't have the problem.
Newer carbs are always nice, but the fuel petcocks SHOULD keep the fuel from the carbs UNTIL the engine has started.
See "The lightbulb in the Attic" thread.

[manshack_one]

Carbs should be 79 like the motor. Maybe they're 80 like the body though. I was told when I bought it that the previous owner down the line swapped the 80 motor with a 79 so they'd have a kickstart. Don't know if that meant the carbs were original on the frame or if they came with the new motor.

And the petcocks should stop the gas when it's turned off. I can pull the fuel line and it's not dripping when Off so I'm taking a shot in the dark that they're doing their job. I've got the right petcock feeding both sets of carbs being that the left petcock was needing replacing. just capped that one.

[manshack_one]

Anybody know if denniskirk.com sells the right kit for our bikes?
This link shows a picture that matches the gasket I have.
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...303&mmyId=4022

when I pull up 79 special the picture doesn't match what my bowl gaskets look like.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Manshack,

IF that kit you linked to is what fits your carbs, then you probably have the 80 carbs! Do you have 4 ports in the face of the INLET/Intake Bell?? IF so, then you have the bowl vent in the bell instead of on the upper part of the body...where others with 78-79 carbs have that extra set of "T's" between their pairs of carbs. The later carbs vent thru the intake bell, so only 1 set of "T's" which are just above the bowls, the fuel inlets!!!

If the fuel is NOT leaking from your petcock when it's in the OFF position, then the carbs shouldn't be necessarily flooding while it's sitting??

If I remember correctly, you just had a bunch of work done on it, but I can't remember if it was just carbs, or electrical? If the plugs are wet, and it won't start, it could also be poor or no spark?? If it's cranking alot and not starting, popping or anything, I'd recheck to see for sure if you're getting spark! JAT!
T.C.

PS: I just went back and reread a few of your posts, did you try to start it the same way when it DID start, like leaving the fuel OFF and the Choke off?? If it's fairly warm weather, and you have it jetted rich, it might just start without the choke?

[manshack_one]

Let's play name the part:

Here's a pic of the parts kit from dennis kirk:



When I was in my carbs the last time I don't remember #10 having a handle on it. I don't know where those rings go either.
Or the spring. Do they usually come with a parts list or do they just drop everything in a baggie?

[Ken Talbot]

The spring #7, ring #2, and ring #4, all go onto the pilot screw #1. There is a tech tip showing the order, and a bent wire hook that might be needed for fishing these parts out for a carb cleaning.

Ring #3 seals the body of float valve seat #6 into the body of the carb. Without it, even when the rubber tip of the float valve #10 is seated in the float valve seat#6, fuel will leak past and overfill the float bowl, possibly leaking into the carbs, airbox, and cylinders.