Carb overflow

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Has anyone come up with a vent/fix for the carb overflow prob. on the 79 carbs? I know newer carbs vent overflow to ground instead of to cyl then oil then bearings Anyone try drilling an overflow hole and vent tube setup?

[81xsproject]

What happened to the new float needle valves you were getting...? I suppose it could be done, but after replacing my Viton tipped needles, I didn't have any reason to. The old VM carbs had brass tubes in the bowls that were higher than the proper fuel level and drained out the bottom.

[fredintoon]

Has anyone come up with a vent/fix for the carb overflow prob. on the 79 carbs? I know newer carbs vent overflow to ground instead of to cyl then oil then bearings Anyone try drilling an overflow hole and vent tube setup?

Hi OEM,
if the carbs overflow the floats are sunk or set wrong &/or the float needles & seats ain't sealing.
That's what needs to be fixed.
While it's better to have the overflowing gas run out onto the street instead of finding it's way into the oil pan, it's better yet to fix the root problem.

[cywelchjr]

I was not aware that 80+ carbs did anything different if they overflow. My XS400 which has the exact same carbs overflowed into the cylinders if on the center stand, and onto the ground if on the sidestand. Since my 1100's carbs have never done that to me, I don't know for sure what would happen, but if You look at how things sit, on the sidestand the carbs actually tilt slightly away from the engine, on the centerstand they are tilted towards the engine. I think this has more to do with the issue than what carbs are on the bike. Its one of the reasons I almost always park it on the sidestand, and use the centerstand only when working on it.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Needles

What happened to the new float needle valves you were getting...? I suppose it could be done, but after replacing my Viton tipped needles, I didn't have any reason to. The old VM carbs had brass tubes in the bowls that were higher than the proper fuel level and drained out the bottom.

Back when I ask about buying better needles, most on here said not to waste the $. Last time I rebuilt carbs / octy was about two months ago and all has been fine till about a week ago when I notced a small gas stain on the starter cover I had set floats with a mic. to exact hight on both floats in each bowl to spec and had tested for any leaks and all was OK. I am not currently (but will be soon) running inline filters. My guess is a pice os S#!T got into one of the needles valves, which would cause a leak regardless of the type of needles I use I know when "all" is working correctly, no problem but just burining up the bearings once is. Some of my other bikes vented gas through a hose to avoid the one time

[cywelchjr]

I think whether the gas goes into the cylinders or into the airbox depends entirely on how the carbs sit as far as orientation on the bike. If they slant away from the engine, then any gas that overflows will flow away from the engine into the airbox and onto the ground, if they tilt towards the engine, the the gas will flow into the head, pooling on the intake valves if they are closed, or into the cylinder if they are open. Of course if it gets into the cylinders it's gonna seep past the rings into the oil.

That's why I park on the sidestand, if it's sitting like that, or being ridden, it will pi$$ all over the ground (this assumes level ground of course), but on the centerstand the rear is is raised enough to tilt them toward the front of the bike rather than the slight tilt to the rear they normally have (unless your stopping). Even better, my garage slops slightly towards the door, making them tilt even more toward the back of the bike.

[prometheus578]

Uhm... when you did the carbs, you DID put in new STOCK needles, yes?

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Kits

Uhm... when you did the carbs, you DID put in new STOCK needles, yes?

Yes, I installed 4 new complet K&L carb kits to the tune of about $100,00

[DGXSER]

Most likely you just got a piece of dirt up in there that stuck a float open. You can try adding soem sea foam to the gas, and or, just ride it a bit and then park it and see what you see. But I would be sure to turn the petcocks off every time you park it.

[bikerphil]

JAT, sometimes after being compressed, the bowl gaskets will hit the bulbs of the brass floats, causing them to hang up. On some kits, they tend to be a bit larger. When rebuilding these carbs, I usually either trim the gaskets down a bit and/or slightly bend the float bulbs in towards the center to prevent any contact between the two. In line fuel filters are a very good idea.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Carb's

JAT, sometimes after being compressed, the bowl gaskets will hit the bulbs of the brass floats, causing them to hang up. On some kits, they tend to be a bit larger. When rebuilding these carbs, I usually either trim the gaskets down a bit and/or slightly bend the float bulbs in towards the center to prevent any contact between the two. In line fuel filters are a very good idea.

Thanks Phil, I will def be installing in line filters and re-check gaskets as i will be R/I carbs again I am picky, ANY leak drives me nuts. I was checking out your bike pic's again, NICE. You are picky too

[81xsproject]

Check your floats to make sure none have fuel inside them. Your piece of crud scenario could be the case, but then again, there is a reason I went so far out of my way to find a way to get Viton tipped needle into 70's carbs. I know it goes against everything you stand for, but stock isn't always best. (although with these bike it is MOST of the time).

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

No

Check your floats to make sure none have fuel inside them. Your piece of crud scenario could be the case, but then again, there is a reason I went so far out of my way to find a way to get Viton tipped needle into 70's carbs. I know it goes against everything you stand for, but stock isn't always best. (although with these bike it is MOST of the time).

No, not against what I stand for, I am all about "upgrades" just beleive that "most changes" are not "upgrades" ie, exaust, intake and others. I do feel that a change from metal needles could be a good thing as anything that keeps gas out of my crankcase is a good thing If you have had that good of results with the new needles, please send me a link to the right ones for a 79 special where i can buy and I probably will, I respect your opinion

[bikerphil]

Thanks Phil, I will def be installing in line filters and re-check gaskets as i will be R/I carbs again I am picky, ANY leak drives me nuts. I was checking out your bike pic's again, NICE. You are picky too

Yep, NP. Stay away from these filters as they are NFG...

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ning+defective

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

filters

Yep, NP. Stay away from these filters as they are NFG...

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ning+defective

Do you have an inline filter you would recomend