Carbon buildup?

[rainbowshooter]

I just installed new mufflers on my 78 today. Wow is it a lot nicer to be able to hear yourself think!! Thanks alot Gary for the idea of the HD, cost me 50 for a set off a softail with the crossover. Anyways I noticed a lot of black soot built up inside the exhaust ports. Is there any way to get rid of it before i adjust the valves and carbs? Or won't it affected me adjusting them? It was pretty thick.

[MartyA]

Hi Dave!

Mine seems to be black every time I look inside. Even the end of the muffler is always black. It seems not to get any thicker, I think I am a little rich at idle, so I get some build-up just before shutting the engine off. I think it gets blown out when I ride for any length of time. Had the thing since 94, has not gotten any worse.

Did not ask, but did you, or the PO, rejet with the added headers and individual filters? Might be up one too many sizes. This might cause carbon build-up. How are the plugs? I am not a carbie guy, but there are lots on the forum.

Glad you came to the canyon!

[rainbowshooter]

I was wondering about the jets myself, but this buildup was about a 1/4 to 3/16 thick(I could actually chip it off). vavles looked like they had a fair amount also, but Maybe what you are saying is what I am looking at. I have ordered new exhaust gaskets so when they get here and I tear back into it I will snap a pic this time. So that means I should be able to adjust the vavles and cam chain without any worries then?

And the canyon was great!

[MartyA]

I seem to remember a tech tip on this site that mentions chipping off all the crud inside the combustion chamber. Watch you don't get a chip under the valve seats. Where are you seeing this carbon build-up? On the pistons or just in the exhaust pipes?

Cam chain is adjusted from the outside. Mostly the worry there is there is no more adjustment left.

[rainbowshooter]

I seen it when I had the exhuast unhooked from the head, Down in the ports of the head looked in with a flashlight. I was thinking from all the back firing a had been getting it built up, but it was in all four.

Where do you get your jets at? I would like to get a range of sizes to experiment with.

[MartyA]

Do a search on this forum, you will see TONS of jet stuff. I would take an hour and read all that was written, what worked, which combo did not. Might cut down on the experimentation time.

Start here in the Mods section:

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=382

Then read this forum page:

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...=&threadid=347

to see the factory pro site.

Lots of places to get jets, again, search and read to see who bought what where and how good they were.

When do we get detailed stuff on your magnificent fuse panel mod? got a photo?

[rainbowshooter]

Getting ready to take it off and put the loom on(should be here soon!?) Then I am gonna take pics from the start to end. along with measurements and diagram. Have a couple changes to make for easier install and add a few things for people running more electrics.

Started to rain again last night and supposed to do it for the next week again so I should be able to get some good time on it. Wish I could ride instead, but ....