Clean carbs,still no start

[Dalton]

Hey guys, I just bought a '79 xs11 from a guy
who swears the only thing needing to be done
is clean the carbs. so I researched this site well,
cleaned,synchronized, and reinstalled the carbs
and the bike wont start. spark plugs are brand new,
battery brand new and the starter sound great.
the engine turns over just fine but just wont
catch. any thoughts or helpful hints? Thanx!!

[dbeardslee]

If you pull a spark plug, attach the high tension wire, hold the plug up against the motor, and crank, do you see a spark? Gas in the tank? Octopus attached to a vacuum source?

[randy]

Have you done a compression test?

[DGXSER]

Start by looking at the plugs and see if they are dry or wet after you crank it over for a bit. Obviously, if they are dry you are nto getting fuel, so start with the dumb easy stuff first like, are the petcocks turned to prime or on, and is there fuel in the tank. I'd turn them to prime to eliminate lack of vacuum as the issue. Then check for fuel in the carbs by opening a drain to see if any and how much fuel comes out.

Next check the spark like Dbeardslee suggested. If you got spark then check the compression like Randy stated.

It is amazing how many bikes have sat for years and years due to "just needing the carbs tuned/cleaned up".

[Dalton]

Whats an octupus?

Thanx for all the replies guys! yes there is gas in the tank, i
took a spark plug off and definitely got sparks. What is the
octopus? my guess is the four way that hooks upt to the carbs
then goes down to one hose going into the engine. I'm about to
go try to start it then check the plugs to see if theyr wet

[dbeardslee]

Dalton - You're right about where the octopus is. It has a vacuum activated diaphram that controls the flow of fuel. If you're not getting fuel set your petcocks to 'prime' and try it again. Also make sure your plugs are clean and dry. These things can foul plugs really fast, and it makes them very hard to start. You can clean them with a small wire brush. I carry one around with me all the time.

[DGXSER]

Octopus = the vacuum operated fuel valve that sits on top of carb #2. Has four fuel lines and a vacuum line.

Did you use the prime setting for your fuel petcocks? Did you check for fuel in your carb bowls?

[John]

Try using Prime on the petcock

Turn the handles on the petcocks so they are pointing rearward, and they should be covering the word PRI on the petcock. It sounds like the fuel distribution valve (octopus) isn't receiving any vacuum to allow the fuel to flow, or it isn't working at all. Is there a vacuum line from the carb intake boot on #2 cylinder leading to the octopus? Many of us have just junked the octopus, and plumbed directly from petcock to carb.

[Dalton]

HMMM, flooding???

Hey guys, the past two days after ive gotten off work i uncover my
beast and try to start it, it actually catches!!! then promptly dies
after running for aprox threequarters of a second. hmmm, could
it be flooding? how would i adjust that?

[DGXSER]

only the plugs can tell!!

First, tell us what petcock position your using and what changes you have made associated with the advice so far.

Also, pull the plugs after it dies and have a look, if they are wet looking and smell of gas, yep your flooding. I would suspect your still starving though. (your bike is anyway )

[Dalton]

updates on my current problems

Okay, I put the petcocks in 'pri' position, and try to
start it, (after making sure that the octupus is hooked
up correctly) then I hit the start and it will start up
for about one second and imediately die. and wont
even try to catch again for the rest of the day!!!
then i checked the spark plugs and as you thought,
not a drop of fuel on them!?!?!?

[Dalton]

Okay, I put the petcocks in 'pri' position, and try to
start it, (after making sure that the octupus is hooked
up correctly) then I hit the start and it will start up
for about one second and imediately die. and wont
even try to catch again for the rest of the day!!!
then i checked the spark plugs and as you thought,
not a drop of fuel on them!?!?!?

I also checked and made sure that there is fuel
in the carbs. opened that drain up and sure enough
fuel came pouring right out!!!

[petejw]

Hi Dalton,
If you have an early model xs,
have a look at your ballast resistor,
its located on the left side under the tank,
you can bypass the ballast resistor by joining the
2 wires together to see if that fixes your problem.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Hey, Dalton...

I know this may be too easily overlooked, and you may not be... but are you applying the choke? JAT
Bob

[Dalton]

re starting problem

I go back and forth with the choke,(it is the stainless lever on the left
side of the bike right?) And umn, what does this resistor thing look
like?