Looking for petcocks, 81 11 hs

[brcree]

Just picked up a 81 1100 hs mod. and noticed there are no petcocks or diaphragm. My question....can you run these bikes with one petcock, and if so how do you go by doen this?

[fredintoon]

Just picked up a 81 1100 hs mod. and noticed there are no petcocks or diaphragm. My question....can you run these bikes with one petcock, and if so how do you go by doen this?

Hi brcree and welcome,
no taps and no octopus (central vacuum operated fuel cut-off valve)?
Many XS11 Special owners deliberately remove the octopus as being too over-complicated to be reliable and learn to switch the fuel taps off manually like grandpa had to.
So, yes, you don't need one.
You gotta have fuel taps though. You can get away with just one if (again, just like grandpa) you are prepared to stop and lean the bike on it's side to get the fuel that's trapped in the blanked off side of the tank.

[mro]

You can use manual after-market petcocks and eliminate the octy. Running the fuel line from the left petcock to the right side of carbs and right to left etc..

Also allows easy install of in-line fuel filters.


mro
BTW, I personally like the OEM stuff ... sorta

[bikerphil]

I run my Standard with one petcock on the left, to a metal in-line car filter, to a T fitting, then down to the fuel inlets. In place of the right petcock is an aluminum block off plate with a gutted piece of fuel line as a gasket. You won't be able to get every drop of fuel out, oh well. In an emergency though, you could remove the tank, tip the gas over to the left side, and probably get yourself going.

[brcree]

need petcocks

Thanks all for the info so far, big help. New to Yama's and sx's. Also found a bad spark plug hole last night....what else?

[fredintoon]

- - - found a bad spark plug hole last night....what else?

Hi brcee,
is now the time to pull the head? Although a plug hole can be salvaged with a Helicoil insert while the head is still on the bike, it's easier with the head on the bench and you can clean and reseat the valves to give you a "two for one" on the teardown.

[brcree]

great day today!!!

Fixed the spark plug hole........got it to turn over and no bad sounds....smooth! All lights work except headlight....bad part in the switch found. Good compression......now to find petcocks and get it goen!!!!!

[fredintoon]

Fixed the spark plug hole........got it to turn over and no bad sounds....smooth! All lights work except headlight....bad part in the switch found. Good compression......now to find petcocks and get it goen!!!!!

Hi brcree,
your switch may or may not be fritzed but most Yamahas including the XS11s are wired such that the headlight does not turn on with the ignition. The headlight comes on automatically when the engine starts and the alternator starts charging.