Help no gas to engine.

[olddude]

First I would like to thank this web site and all of the menbers for all the help they have given me over the last few years in restoring my 81 sh. I did not ask questions but got most of the answers from reading threads. I am having a problem getting it started, I removed the octopus and plumbed the pet cock to the carb tee's, I am getting spark to the plugs and if I prime the cylinders with a little gas get some sputtering when I crank it over wit hthe chock on. I am not getting any gas to the cylinders. There is gas in the cab bowls and with the air cleaner removed from the back of the carbs I do not see and gas when working that throttle. I did the double clean on the carbs a couple of years ago and they worked great after but I have always have starting problems at the begining of the season but it always started. Any help would be greatly appreciate.

[cajun31]

Did you leave gas in the carbs when you put the bike up for the winter? If you did then unfortunately I would suggest that you do the triple clean on the carbs. I have learned the hard way over the years to always purge all the gas from the carbs before storing. I also put stabilizer in my gas for long term storage.

[olddude]

Yws I did leave the gas in the carbs over winter and I did use stabilizer also

[Mighty Eleven]

Did you check to see if you are getting gas out of the petcocks? On my stdf I had all lot of crap all packed in them. It's nice to start at the beginning and work your down to the carbs.

[olddude]

es the gas is flowing ok. I sprayed some carb cleaner in the ports of the carbs and it started up. I will probably do a triple clean when I have some time. Thanks for all the help.

[dbeardslee]

If they sat for a while and gas isn't flowing through the carbs I'd check two things. First I'd take the carbs off and check the fuel valves and make sure the screens under them aren't varnished shut. I'd also clean the little jet at the bottom of the float bowl to make sure the enricher circuit isn't plugged. I always put a good dose of Seafoam in the tank (about 1/2 can) before putting the old girl to bed for her annual hybernation - Stabil doesn't preserve gas for very long and has no cleaning properties that I know of.

[olddude]

Great I will check that out. If I spray carb cleaner into the openings at the back of the carb I can get it to start but if I leave it for a few hours it will not start again until I spray more carb cleaner into it. Would putting some carb cleaner in the gas tank fix this problem or do I need to take the carbs apart and clean them?

[CatatonicBug]

Great I will check that out. If I spray carb cleaner into the openings at the back of the carb I can get it to start but if I leave it for a few hours it will not start again until I spray more carb cleaner into it. Would putting some carb cleaner in the gas tank fix this problem or do I need to take the carbs apart and clean them?

You'll probably need to take the carbs out and clean 'em. Lots of tiny ports in there, and they easily get clogged. Carb cleaner sprayed into the intake only acts like starting fluid. It's not cleaning anything. And puting it in the fuel won't do anything either. Take the carbs off and remove the jets, clean the screens on the needle valve seats, and clean out the port in the actual float bowls themselves. That's where the fuel comes from when the choke is pulled out (when starting).

[DGXSER]

How well does it run after you get it started? WIll it run fine and pull good after starting?

If it runs ok after starting/warming up, then it is your choke/enrichment circuit that has issues. Still would recommend cleaning, but different areas become more important. The bottom of the float bowl (where all the crap settled to over winter) has a port or jet that feeds the enricher which could cause your starting troubles.

[olddude]

After I get it started it runs fine even when it gets warm. If I turn it off and try restarting it right away it strats fine, it is if I let is sit for a couple of hours that I need to use carb cleaner again.

[DGXSER]

Yep, sounds like your choke /enrichment circuit. First of all (yes this sounds like an "are you an idiot question", but we all were uninformed at some point) do you know where the choke is and are you using it to start it cold? Does it have the springs and bearings in it to hold the choke out/on and not go back in right away?

If all of that is yes, then you need to pull the carbs and clean the choke circuit for sure. Especially that jet in the bowl mentioned earlier.

[Lordskeep]

hello

I'm far from a carb expert but I have rebuilt many carbs including the ones on my XS1100 Super bike witch I love and she runs like a top.If the bike runs good after you get it started. I would also lean towards a choke problem.You may have tried this already but turn both your peacocks to prime that way your by passing the vacuum needed to open the fuel peacocks put her on full coke and let her rip!!!!!

lol not full coke full choke

[olddude]

The answers are yes,yes,and yes. Also I do not have a vac line going to the petcocks and I have removed the octapus. Looks like I will need to clean the carbs. Thanks

[Lordskeep]

hmm

oh on my 1980 XS1100 you don't have a octopus cause the vac control is build right in to fuel peacocks themselves

[Lordskeep]

Xs1100

btw what year and model is your XS1100? I had to go through my carbs and no matter where you look you won't find a carb kit for a 1980 XS1100G model.So I had to buy kits for a 1100SG.The only parts I could use was the needle,seat, bowl gasket, and pilot valve.
So I have left over in the four kits these parts 4 120 main jets 4 110 jets 4 fuel mixture screws and springs and four main needles for the fuel enrichment tube all brand new.I got a lot of help from guys off here if anyone want's these I would be happy to mail them to ya for free.Just send me an email and I'll mail them to ya. lordskeep@q.com