need help- lost

[XSPastor]

No plugs on the 81 SH.

[egsols]

No i looked today no rubber black plug and my float bowls have an actual bolt on the bottom no screw head

Okay, now I'm confused.

Sooo000 you have only a bolt and no nipple? That would suggest you have 78/79 carbs.

What puzzles me is that you mention "needle valve spring keepers". Are you referring to the small clips holding the float valves to the floats? The 78/79 ran brass floats with solid valves and no clips. The later models used the plastic floats with viton tipped valves and clips.

Regarding the rubber caps, you shouldn't have any but you should have a blanking screw to cover the pilot jet.

I'm wondering if someone has upgraded/changed your floats/float valves/ seats?

[oldyam80sg]

I have the small clips that hold the float valves in place.The floats are black plastic-no brass.These are the original carbs that came with the bike.The original owner only put 500 miles before he couldn't make the payments and had to sell the bike.I then bought it in 1986.Bike again only had 500 miles on it.It must have sat for awhile before he sold it.

[XSPastor]

In my experience, the 81 carbs have had the phillips head setscrew valve/nipple and the 80 carbs have the hex head bolt on the bottom of the float bowl.

[oldyam80sg]

My carbs have the hex head bolt on the bottom of the float bowls.

[John]

pastor is right

Only the 81 had drain nipples on the bottom of the bowls. That was to test the fuel height in the bowls, using some clear tubing, as there were no float settings given for the 81.

[Jerry]

i realize the XJ gets left out of some of these threads....

The XJ uses the later carb parts of the '81, but increased the intake bell from 52mm to 54mm. I mention this not to add even more confusion, but for those who have considered using XJ carbs on their XS, the difference has to be delt with.

Oh yeah...

The XJ version also went to a cable-operated choke. Parts to make it lever-activated are interchangeable with the older carbs.