Cylinder problems

[XS1100 Newbie]

Ok folks. First question for you. I am not much of a cycle mech., but having worked with automotive for 40 years, i am fairly descent at working with these things. The 1980 XS1100 i have has the number two cylinder plug carboned up pretty bad. I initialy thought when i bought this that it was a fuel starvation problem, but i don't think that is it anymore. The carbs were just gone through, so that may not be the problem. This cylinder fires sometimes. It is cold blooded, and backfires if you try to rap the throttle cold, and unloaded. You have to let it warm up for a while to ride. Any ideas are appreciated. There is a pic of the plug at the URL listed.
http://s856.photobucket.com/albums/ab122/chvbob/

[fredintoon]

Hi Robert & welcome,
black as a pot, that plug. #2 & #3 run off the same coil. Wire-brush or replace the sooted plug. Swap the plug wires over, #3 wire onto #2 cylinder & #2 wire onto #3 cylinder.
If #3 cylinder starts acting up & #2 cylinder starts to run fine you have an ignition related problem.
If there is no change, the problem is #2 carb running really rich, most likely the float is sunk.

[randy]

Never heard of a plug fouling from fuel starvation. Too much fuel, yes, but too little fuel? That plug looks dry and sooty like it's had too much fuel.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Sorry about the fouling question. What i meant to say was that before i pulled the plugs, i had a misfire at 5500 RPM, that seemed to be fuel starvation. When i pulled the plugs, i saw this one. Maybe the guy that cleaned them didn't catch a bad float or something.

[DGXSER]

Ok...so an easy check for electrical is like Fred stated, switch no2 and no 3 plug wires with each other. Problem moves its electrical. If not, most likely carb.

Now, you have an 80 MNS correct? Does it run like a raped ape at upper RPM like above 3,0000 but then bog out and run like junk below 2500?

[XS1100 Newbie]

It doen't run well at all above 5000, and at the low end, it does ok, but i feel it cutting in and out. It's like the cylinder is firing part time. At cruising around 50, i hear, and can feel the cylinder miss. I'll do some reading on the carb removal, but i think the guy that just done the carbs should take a look at it. My cous paid the shop good money to go through the carbs 3 weeks ago.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Update

I cleaned the plug, and switched the wires. Have ridden 25 miles on it, and want some more before checking the plug again. Would the plug foul like this if the plug itself was bad? Just a question, i don't really think it would, but then again i am no bike mech as i stated. I noticed that warming up at idle, the left side exhaust is cold, while the right side is warm.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Good news!! I think

Ok, so yesterday was a beautiful day here. My sone and i took a 120 mile ride up by the river and around. I noticed after a little running that the miss seemed to go away, and it smoothed out. It was a great ride. Oh ya, i put air in the tires too, and topped the tank off. Must have been the air that done it. LOL The front tire did not register on my gauge, and the back was really low. Good thing i checked it. Anyway, i just pulled that number two plug, and it was clean as the rest. That float must have been just hung up. Unless you folks have another explanation, i am going to figure that problem solved, and move on to other things, like finding original black mirrors, and a rightside cover for the alternator, or whatever is under it. Thanks so much for the advice. I am going to love this XS1100LG.

[tarzan]

Glad to see it is better.Did you look at plug #3?If it is good too and isnt starting to foul than it may have cleared up itself,which is rare.But maybe like you said a float might have been sticking.That happens.
Good luck and happy riding.
Rick

[randy]

Newbie:

Some advice:

Don't run the motor with the right side cover off, The main oil gallery plug is held in by the cover flange. It will pop out while running, spewing oil 10 feet across the garage. Don't ask me how I know!

[fredintoon]

- - - - Unless you folks have another explanation, i am going to figure that problem solved, and move on to other things, like finding original black mirrors, and a rightside cover for the alternator, or whatever is under it. Thanks so much for the advice. I am going to love this XS1100LG.

Hi Robert,
OEM black mirrors are likely unfindable, generic black mirrors (remember Yamahas have left hand thread mirrors on the twistgrip side) are mebbe ~$25 in any bike shop and a spray-can of black paint to convert your chrome ones is cheaper yet.
Don't run the bike without an alternator cover. Even if the oil plug don't blow out you don't want road dirt getting in the alternator. Andreas or other sources are more likely to have a plain alternator cover than a black MNS one. Once again the friendly fizz-bomb will save you.
On a sudden afterthought, is it the cast aluminum cover on the right side of the engine that's missing or is it the plastic cover just below the right side of the seat?
If the latter, it just leaves the starter solenoid, fusebox and misc. electrical stuff exposed. It looks ugly but won't stop you riding.

[XS1100 Newbie]

The mirrors i think i can deal with, but finding this side cover may be real hard. This side cover as i am calling it is on the left side sitting in the bike. I thought it covered the alt., but maybe i am wrong. It is there, i just want to find one that is not all dinged up.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Pic of the cover i am hunting for.

http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/a...b/P1010002.jpg

[tarzan]

Andreas should be able to help you.You will probably have to paint it though.Blacked out is hard to come by.

[Lamric]

I needed one for my LG and had my local shop use black 2pac on a Standard cover to get this finish. Then I used gold auto pinstriping tape to fill in the letters and create the emblem ring. Note the paint cracking off under the bolt head - Doh ! that's 'cos I didn't know it's best to remove the paint under the bolt head before bolting down.