81 LH pilot screw adjustment

[Blackdog]

Been working on this beast for awhile, took for test drive around yard and found hesitation, and roughness, off idle. Triple cleaned carbs. No plugs on pilot needle, don't know whether they were pulled, or if it came from factory without in 81. I got it with a Kerker 30 years ago. Have been using the standard 1 1/2 turns out. Haven't fiddled with it as it is late, time to close up for today. Any suggestions as to how to adjust?

[motoman]

Blackdog, suggest checking ease of movement of vacuum advace mechanisim along with smoothness of opersation of vacuum advance unit itself. Remove left side-cover, start engine and watch movement of advance unit off idle. Should advance(rotate) with ever so light throttle application. Not advancing initially, timing is retarded and WILL stumble off idle and WILL stumble with slight off throttle then ever so slight coming back on throttle. That assembly, once you remove vacuum advance unit should flop back and forth with just touching unit to rotate it. If not moving that easy, it has gotten a bit "gummy" in the bearing unit. Remove, clean and add a very light film of very light grease/lube(moly60 comes to mind). Just went through this the past couple days myself on my Venturer(Thanks 3Phase!) That HAS to be floppy loose rotating or your gonna chase your tail a LONG time seeing a rich cond at the plugs, stumble at any rpm under 4500 coming on throttle while at a steady cruise. This gremlin WILL fool you into thinking carb issues exist! Remember, pri. secondary ign. trouble-shoot before carbs, same as old-school automotive world. Hope this helps all who read!

[motoman]

Might add XJ riders don't have to deal with this.........but trade off is the funky designed Special front brake set-up......JMO.

[Blackdog]

Thank you, motoman. Will check this next.

[Blackdog]

Had the opportunity to ride Venture 1100 and Gold Wing [4cylinder] back to back. Venture kicked ass, much sportier.

[motoman]

That be VenturER, unless it was the early 1200Venture(83). Performance, equivilent era Wing and Venturer1100........no comparision......rode the Venturer back in 81 new and decked out new Wing new the same day. Being 29 then and crazy riding antics back then, the Venturer got my vote as being the one that would survive my riding style.......and is still here.

[natemoen]

Blackdog, suggest checking ease of movement of vacuum advace mechanisim along with smoothness of opersation of vacuum advance unit itself. Remove left side-cover, start engine and watch movement of advance unit off idle. Should advance(rotate) with ever so light throttle application. Not advancing initially, timing is retarded and WILL stumble off idle and WILL stumble with slight off throttle then ever so slight coming back on throttle. That assembly, once you remove vacuum advance unit should flop back and forth with just touching unit to rotate it. If not moving that easy, it has gotten a bit "gummy" in the bearing unit. Remove, clean and add a very light film of very light grease/lube(moly60 comes to mind). Just went through this the past couple days myself on my Venturer(Thanks 3Phase!) That HAS to be floppy loose rotating or your gonna chase your tail a LONG time seeing a rich cond at the plugs, stumble at any rpm under 4500 coming on throttle while at a steady cruise. This gremlin WILL fool you into thinking carb issues exist! Remember, pri. secondary ign. trouble-shoot before carbs, same as old-school automotive world. Hope this helps all who read!

IIRC the '81 does not have the vacuum advance like the other xs's do. The advance is programed into the TCI and there is just a sensor by the carbs that tells the TCI what the current vac level is.

[Blackdog]

No, there is vacuum advance on it.

[skids]

The 81's do not have the centrifugal weights/springs mechanism behind the timing plate (among other things).

[Blackdog]

That could well be, haven't pulled the plate, but everything else seems loose. That's not saying there is still not a problem in there.

[motoman]

Nate and Skids.........81's do NOT have the springs and weights........all cept for vacuum advance is controlled by TCI(4RO, 81models ONLY)