78 XS1100E clogged T

[Espiritus]

Just when I think there is absolutely NO place left for crud to be hiding, I find more. Maybe.

Between the #1 and #2, then again between the #3 and #4 are the two T fittings, one higher that connects to the airbox and one lower for the fuel lines. This is so everyone knows were I am talking about.

The upper fitting, that connects to the airbox, on the one between the #3 and #4 flows readily when sprayed with cleaner, drips right down into the carb. The one between the #1 and #2 is s- l -o- w to drain. Which is right?

If they are supposed to be clear to draw air, I guess I need to get out my big pot again, or finally give up and take these carbs off the bar and break them down completely.

Also, in one of the threads, there was mention of a thick fiber washer under the needle seat. My question is, WHAT? I haven't found anything that resembles a "thick fiber washer."

Help? Work starts again this next week and I gotta get the grease out from under my nails. . .

[bikerphil]

carbs

The bowl vent should flow freely, no obstruction. The fiber washer is used under the seat, unless it's an o-ring type (later carbs). There is no need to seperate the carbs for proper cleaning.

[prometheus578]

"Through thick and thin...."

Well, not really thick, but like BikerPhil mentioned, under the float needle seat, there should be a fiber-type washer. Seat come out by using a 10mm socket, I believe.
You should be able to use a thin wire, I recommend guitar string, to rotor rooter whatever is clogging that vent circuit.
Maybe not through the "T", but through the vent hole inside the carb. Vents must be free to atmosphere(or the airbox) or the floats won't behave properly.

[Espiritus]

Well, shoot

Well, I guess there is more CRUD hiding out as this Air T is definately not flowing as well as the other. When I noticed it, I put a small hooked wire down it and it came out gunked with something that actually resembled lint. I went ahead and put it in to boil (water with Dawn dish soap).

Thanks for the input.

Cam

[dbeardslee]

Cam - dawn works great on oil, but I'm not sure it's the stuff to use to dissolve varnish. I just cleaned my carbs for the umpteenth time, and when it came to the vent lines I gave 'em a little shot of carb cleaner followed by a blast of high pressure air directly into the vent line. Don't try this with the bowls in place. I did it with everything out of the carbs with the exception of the slides and emulsion tubes. I had some badly deteriorated float bowl gaskets too, so if yours were in similar condition the 'lint' you saw could have been fiber from a gasket.