fuel lines (two tubes coming off the lower part of the Carbs)

[jamieD]

Just got a xs11 79 special out of the grave. (off previos owners back deck sitting since 94)

got new battery, new plugs, new oil filter, new 4 Uni air filter cones on the way (original air filter unit missing).

I lubricated the fuel Petcocks and turned them to the one postition. Soon as I did that fuel started coming out of the carbs and started pouring out of two tubes coming off the lower portion of the carbs.

The Petcocks and Ocotopus seem to be in shape and all plugged in. what are these two tubes purpose and what do they do?

I don't have a manual in my hands yet,

Hoping there is a previous thread you could point me two or give me some advice...

Thanks

Jamie D

[skids]

Do you need to see a diagram on how the octopus is supposed to be hooked-up? If it is hooked up wrong, that could be the problem.

Send request to me at
sidskids @ earthlink.net (no spaces)

[jamieD]

Email on the way.

Thanks Skids

[RiskyBusiness]

If you need any pages out of the manual drop me a note. I have an aftermarket manual as well as the Shop Book. I have a 79 special... my carbs are 81 tho

[jamieD]

Risky

If you have a chance can you scan me the pictures of the carb tube inputs section.

Between that and the diagram Skids is sending I should be able to work it out.

Appreciate any information that comes my way.

Thanks

Jamie

[jamieD]

jhjmd@yahoo.com

[Ken Talbot]

[IMG]/forum/images/tips/20030406-fuelrouting.jpg[/IMG]

[ksissom]

Sitting for 8 years??? You Gotta be in possession of the grossest fuel system in recorded history. Is the tank rusty? Did you tear down the carbs yet? I just went through all this stuff over the winter. Gave my tank the phosphoric acid bath, rebuilt the petcocks, the vaccuum fuel switch, triple cleaned the carbs a half dozen times, new K&N filters, new fuel lines and a lot of printing of tech tips off this website. I've learned more about my 79 special in the last few months than the prior 23 years. But the best tip was that the pilot jets that came with the K&L carb rebuild kits are way too big.

[RiskyBusiness]

Did the above diagram cover you or do you need more? Email me if you need more - james_agrisk at hotmail.com.

Ken, with respect to the K&L kits, are the jets too big for all years or only certain years?

[ksissom]

I think the two tubes you refer to are a the float bowl vents that used to connect to the original airbox. If gas is pouring out of those then your floats aint shutting off the gas. If you haven't done so yet, I would tear down those carbs (every little piece, every little jet, right down to the fuel atomizer tube) and give them a well deserved cleaning. Carb cleaner, compressed air, an old toothbrush and pipe cleaners are your friends.

[ksissom]

I can only speak of the jets that came with the kits for my carbs. I think the main problem was not the number of holes in the sides of the pilot jets but the hole in the end was too big. A soon as I put in the new ones from Dennis Kirk things began to clear up, in fact I may need to go up one more size to .45mm. It's just a touch lean with the stock 42.5mm. I had to crank the pilot screws out about 7 turns with the stock size pilots and it's still a bit lean.

[beechfront]

from the information I've gathered by reading questions, responses & other info on this site - i read numerous warnings that the pilot jets were too big for any year and that they are not marked anyway so there's no way of knowing for sure (other jets in the kit are properly numbered). I went ahead and got the kit anyway and then also got the correct Jets. If you are ordering from dennis kirk, the 45's are on backorder. i got the 42.5's as well as i plan on doing some playing anyway. they are $12 for 4 jets (two packs of two). Risky - were you going to order the correct kit for your bike from partsnmore? they are a little cheaper but come with less. but considering i bought separate jets anyway it probably didnt' make a whole helluva lotta difference.

[jamieD]

I'm going to concentrate on getting the carbs cleaned and then work backwards to the fuel petcock.

Hopefully once I know the carbs are working properly the fuel coming out the vaccum tubes will stop or at least I will have gone the carb route and will then search for another solution.

Thanks for all the advice.

[RiskyBusiness]

Originally posted by beechfront
Risky - were you going to order the correct kit for your bike from partsnmore? they are a little cheaper but come with less. but considering i bought separate jets anyway it probably didnt' make a whole helluva lotta difference.

Well right now I am in a holding pattern. I had this past weekend slotted to work on the carbs and the discovery that my carbs are 1981 models has really set me back. I will probably order the ones from D.K. as I want to make sure I get more of the squishy parts. Have you seen a close up of the kits from K&L? I want to try and get the rubber o-ring on the idle adjustment screw, if possible. Since my carbs have clearly been modified I am going to check each jet and see what size each is. It will be a few days before I can devote any attention to this bike, however.

I ordered the individual filters from Partsnmore and I am going to send them back. They are the ones that have a big lip on the inside that I hear works like a choke. I don't need that frustration. I may try to get another type that is not a choke substitute.

[jamieD]

Question:

If you don't have a stock Air Box what should be done with the two breather (vacuum) tubes coming from between the carbs?


Since there isn't a place to attach the two breather
tubes. Is it ok to let them just hang or is there
something I can do to create the right vacuum?