Carbs size

[JC FC]

So im going to the bone yard tomorrow to pick up some carbs, i have a 79 special. so i need to know if there is a difference between the years and the specials or not.

any info would be greatly appreciated

[Crazcnuk]

78-79 are the same, with minor jet changes and the 80-81 are the same.

You need the early ones if you want to stay stock. Any of the years will work on any bike.

[JC FC]

awesome, thank you, dont really want to stay stock, just want it to run

[TopCatGr58]

Don't know if you've already left or not, but as Craz said, the 78-79 are same, and 80-81 are mostly same, but the major parts...ie vacuum slides will NOT interchanged between the 2 separate year sets. SO...if you have mostly working 78-79 carbs, and you want to have spare parts for those carbs, then you will want another set of same year, but if yours are just totally trashed, then you can just shoot for the later carbs, their parts are more available and price friendly, just not quite as tunable...no notches in the vacuum slide needle position vs. the early models!
T.C.

[Crazcnuk]

Unless your in Canada! They gave us the 5 position adjustable needles. You can buy them at MikesXS (XS650direct.com for us canucks).

Mikes calls them 'upgraded needles.

[JC FC]

Don't know if you've already left or not, but as Craz said, the 78-79 are same, and 80-81 are mostly same, but the major parts...ie vacuum slides will NOT interchanged between the 2 separate year sets. SO...if you have mostly working 78-79 carbs, and you want to have spare parts for those carbs, then you will want another set of same year, but if yours are just totally trashed, then you can just shoot for the later carbs, their parts are more available and price friendly, just not quite as tunable...no notches in the vacuum slide needle position vs. the early models!
T.C.

I dont have any of the carbs. when the guy gave me the bike he wanted to keep them.

i have a 79, but the 80-81 will work since i dont have any of the parts right?

[DGXSER]

As I understand it and have read of others use, yes, any of the year carbs will work on any year XS. The XJ carbs have a different choke setup so it is trickier to get them to work, but some have reported doing so.

[TopCatGr58]

I dont have any of the carbs. when the guy gave me the bike he wanted to keep them.

i have a 79, but the 80-81 will work since i dont have any of the parts right?

Yes, they will work, but you need to remember to jet according to the carbs, not the YEAR of bike! The 80-81's...unless you get a set of those transitional bastard 80 sets.... will use the 110-120 type of main jets, and the pilot jet towers in the carbs are NOT capped, they feed directly from the float bowl. The early model 78-79 carbs used larger main jets, 135+ because they shared their supply with the pilots via a channel between the towers, and the pilot towers are capped.

The later carbs also have the float bowl vent built into the inlet bell, so you don't have the upper "T"s to run to vent lines. They also use the newer VITON tipped float valves, and an O-ring around the float seat vs. the flat washer, and the plastic floats vs. brass.

But as mentioned, there were some 80 carbs that folks have reported having that HAVE the sharing tunnel, larger main jets, and pilot towers capped!
T.C.

[JC FC]

okay, the carbs i picked up are 78-79, im assuming from how you have described them. lol...but now...i need that vacuum thingy that you connect all the fuel lines into first...didnt have it

so im looking for one if anyone is selling

[Axel]

Doc Oct

The Octupus ???

[JC FC]

lol i dont know what its called. but the lines from the fuel valves on the tank goto it...umm Number 15 in this schematic
or is it even needed? can i run it with out it? like just plug the hose that doesnt split to the carb

[Axel]

Right

We call it the octupus . You can plumb your lines so as to not use it but you have to remember to turn on and off your petcocks

[JC FC]

now THATS what i wanna hear! lol turning them off...no problem lol
that really just made my day!!
now tomorrow, see if it starts!
so excited XD

[JC FC]

now tomorrow, see if it starts!

Damn, forgot i needed new carb holders lol, just ordered them...THEN i will see if she starts

[jetmechmarty]

XS650 for parts

One of the carbs on my SG had a broken float post and helped me to a fire. I sourced a pair of carbs from a XS650SH. I replaced my damaged carb body with one from the XS650. They are the same.

Keep in mind that the XS650 is far more plentiful than the XS1100 and the XS650 folks are always upgrading to round slides, flat slides, Dellorto pumpers, etc. This keeps stock carb parts plentiful if you know where to look.