Totally Stumped with the XJ!!!

[bikerphil]

carbs

We put new o-rings in, andset the idle mix. screws to 1 1/2 turns out as a starting point. There is a popping thru the exhaust, this means lean? Mabye idle mix. screws out some more? The 80g we did to these exact settings purrs nicely.

[trbig]

So let me tell you what happened to me. A while back, I went to John's down in Texas and we worked on my carbs. Between the two of us doing things, I would have bet a paycheck that everything was put back in right. We had adjusted floats, etc... It ran TERRIBLE!!! Tried to synch them and couldn't. I was on a bit of a time schedule, so I had to leave. It ran horribly rich and terrible all the way home at @ 15-16 mpg and the #2 pipe wouldn't get very hot.

Short story long... when I got home and took the carbs back off and opened the bowls, the pilot jet for the #2 carb had fallen out... I'm assuming I didn't screw it back in all the way??

Kind of sounds like what you are going through. The needle valves still seat and wouldn't let the fuel free flow... but it was sucking in way too much fuel. Worth a look anyway...

The popping you hear is the hot gasses from the other running cylinders burning the raw gas getting into the pipes.


Tod

[bikerphil]

rubber plugs

Does anyone know what the deal is with the rubber plugs in the pilot jet towers in the bowl? The 80g carbs had them, but the 82j didn't. I was wondering if they are supposed to be there on the 82j.

[Cobia]

New Information

Spoke with Rick, whom CarolynS recommended, he stated that unlike the idle pilot jet back off of 1.5 turns on the 80 std, the XJ required 2.75 to 3.0 turns from the bottomed out position.

This co-relates to what AlanB stated because cyl # 1 not firing as hot as 3 & 4 and #2 does not seem to be firing at all.

Top Cat - As Phil stated, we put new O-rings in and they were nice and snug, so I doubt we're flooding.
Yet, we set the carbs up for 23mm float level because the carbs are very similar to the '80 std.
What do they expect you to do? Pull the carbs every time you make a float adjustment and it doesn't jibe with the clear hose level reference??
If so, I think the boys in Japan have been listening to the tuning forks a little too close to their brains for their own good.

Plan for tomorrow is to verify that timing chain hasn't slipped by checking TDC settings.
Then I will re-set the pilot jets to 2.75 turns back from full bottom position.
It was also suggested to swap the coil primaries but I think that will throw out the firing order. And since 3 & 4 are fring OK and 1 & 2 are not reaching the desired temps, and based on what AlanB said, I'm suspecting fuel instead of fire.
Thanks Guys, I really appreciate it.
I will definitely keep you posted as the day and the results progresses.

[planedick]

And after all this

it probably just needs to be vacuum synched.

[Ken Talbot]

Re: And after all this

Originally posted by planedick
it probably just needs to be vacuum synched.

I was waiting for this. Every time you take off or open up the carbs, you must do a proper vacuum sync. In the case of an XJ, this also means using a YICS tool to isolate the cylinders. Are we barking up the wrong tree, Cobia?

[Cobia]

Synching

They will definitely be synched and I will have to build a YICS tool. I wish I could just plug the whole YICS plenum and be done with that... Need to go find some 500 degree silicon hose somewhere.
If adjusting the idle mixture and swapping the coil wires doesn't do it , I guess the carbs will need to come out again. Here I go....

Thanks Guys

[Cobia]

Update in the situation!!

As it turned out it was something stupid that I did....
When we cleaned the carbs BikerPhil put together 3 & 4 and I did 1 & 2, well.... I didn't screw down the pilot jet properly on carb #2 and that was the source of all the probs. I was getting the wet plug because fuel was just pouring in there instead of being atomized.
Much like GNEPIG experienced last week.
By the time BikerPhil got here on Sat, I had the carbs pulled and two intake boots as well. He brought me better ones, and he quickly discovered where the problem was when he pulled the bowls. He then re-set the float levels because this engine likes to run a little richer, and we screwed in the pilot jet properly and...voila!! It came to life with vigor!!
BTW - This bike likes the idle jet backed off by three turns plus!!
It still doesn't like the 2K to 3K RPM range but I guess once I synch the crbs it should correct that.
I built the YICS tool but have been unable to find high temp hose material so I've been little leery about making a bigger mess with melted hose pieces in the YICS gallery. Thankfully Ken Talbot offered to mail me a piece of hose that will work.
I still have some work to do on it such as bleeding the brakes, maybe even taking the calipers apart and cleaning them, because the right front didn't want to release (temporary c-clamp persuation took care of that). And the left front, which works in tandem with the rear, is not working at all. Thank God the rear brake works.
I also have electrical issues, sometimes the instrument cluster and the tach go out for no apparent reason, and then come back on their own. I suspect dirty contacts in some connector somewhere. At worst, a bad ground somewhere as well. It has a homemade fuse panel and non-color coded wires leading from it, so that will increase the mistery factor.
But considering the possible nightmares, the engine sounds very sweet, the tranny had no gear problems, and the rear end behaves as it should. Took it for a short ride (15 - 20 mi.) on Sat when we got it going and juiced it good a couple of times and WOW!!
Thanks so much for all your help and ideas, I was starting to worry as you sensed in my posts.
I'll keep you posted of the progress. I hadn't been able to do so because my DSL had been faltering as well, just got a new modem today so that issue has gone away.
And YES, I KNOW....PICS, PICS!!

[trbig]

I didn't screw down the pilot jet properly on carb #2 and that was the source of all the probs.

DING DING DING!! Trbig wins the kewpie doll!



lol..

[Cobia]

DING DING DING!! Trbig wins the kewpie doll!

Sorry I confused you with GNEPIG - nothing personal just the story I quoted.
Funny that it happened on the same carb!!
Now, I came clean on having done it myself......you??? LOL!!

LET THE MAN CARRY THE BANNER AT THE NEXT RALLY!!!!

[trbig]

I'm assuming I didn't screw it back in all the way??

There ya go... I admit I'm an idiot on lots of occasions!