Update on 78

[Espiritus]

Hey to all! Thought I would give you guys an update, since I started this whole mess ONLY to try to figure out why the #2 wasn't firing and the MPH was so lousy. If you recall, I had spark and was getting gas, just not running. Cleaned more times than I thought I should have to, found the broken idle tip in one of the carbs that WAS firing, JBWelded that huge hole, then found GUNK in the air T going to the #2. . .Sealed with what looked like fiber and caked dirt. Solid packed. The bad part was that without picking it, I wouldn't have found it as when I blew into the line, it let air out through the #1 side. I only picked at it because I noticed that a liquid cleaner that I squirted in had only exited through the #1 side.

Floats didn't work with the old valves, so I reseated them with new valves and had to reset the float height. Held overnight so installed this morning. Two floats promptly dumped gas on the gravel. An old Suzuki man told me to take out the drain plug on the flooded carbs and, quote, "poke a little screw driver up there and jiggle that float 'cause it ain't use to floatin'." With some trepidation, I did. Both unstuck and started working.

So, I fired it up after making sure that there was no gas in my oil. She fired up and racketed up too high, too fast. But all four cylinders were firing. Closed her down. With alot of hesitation, I gently turned those brass idle screws knowing now what a bomb detonation specialist feels like. Slowed her down some. RPMs went back up moments later so I adjusted the three little screws and the one big one on the #3. She died and stayed dead . . .out of gas.

Said, "duh" and put more gas in the can. Then started it again. she backfired but stayed running. Well, almost stayed running. After the backfire, #2 and #3 are not firing. Having read numerous times about the coil issues, and knowing that the #2 and #3 are on the same one, I guess tomorrow I will swap spark plug wires and see if that makes them start. If so, I guess I will order one of Mikesxs superduper coils and then someone here will have to tell me what the heck a coil is and where I can find it to change it! Shoot, I can't even find the link to Mikesx site.

The learning curve on this bike is deadly! Oh, by the way, the little button on the starter fell off. Completely off. Any idea how to fix this as the "Duct tape" is really, really tacky!

Thanks, guys.

Cam

[Crazcnuk]

You will need (2) of the super duper coils. These bikes have 2. They are under the front of the gas tank, at the other end of your spark plug wires.

You can swap the spark plug wires, 2-3 to 1-4, and vice versa, to see if 1-4 stop working (you also have to change the orange and grey wires between the two coils). If so, then your problem is definately in the TCI/P-U/coil area.

Have you done the pick-up wire fix yet?


You said you adjusted (3) little screws and a big one? If your talking about the idle mixture screws (ones between the carb and the motor with springs on them there are (4) little screws. One on each carb.

The big one is your idle speed, and, on a '78 it's on the back side of the carbs at the top?

As for the starter button, I believe someone here makes them... You also see them on Ebay from time to time.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Cam,

Mikesxs carries a horn button which is also the starter button, complete with spring!! Follow this link to find it in Electrical/Misc section.
http://www.mikesxs.net/mikesxs-elect...ategory_id=2.7

Here's the main page: www.mikesxs.com

Horn Button with Spring
Horn Button with Spring - Fits: XS/TX650 switches 1974-84.


Part #24-6525 $6.00 USD EA.

The ignition coils are under the tank, near the neck, between the rails, follow the green wires up from the plugs




Here's the MikesXS coil upgrade tech tip !

BUT......before you go ordering parts, as was suggested, you need to check out the pickup coil wires first, again see the tech tips for how to do that and repair them!! Cause IF the PU coils are not sending the signals to the TCI then the TCI can't trigger the ignition coils to fire the plugs!!

ALso, like Craz said, concerned about WHICH screws you were turning to get the idle down? Once you had bench synched the carbs, you do NOT want to turn the 3 screws between the carbs UNTIL you are doing the vacuum synch...so you may have put your Bench Synch way out?? The main idle THUMB screw is what you want to turnback to lower the idle. Keep at it, you'll get it!!!
T.C.