running really rough

[bikerphil]

Try turning the #2 idle mixture screw out some, see if the pipe gets hot. The tip may be broken off and obstructing the passage too.

[WDB_xs1100s]

would it be safe to turn them all in then backing them out 3 1/2 turns?

[bikerphil]

I would work on the cold cylinder first, just back that one out. If you do turn them in, not too tight the tips will snap off.

[WDB_xs1100s]

well i dont wanna do that. haha.. but i still dont know what the sputtering would be coming from. this is my first xs1100 and i LOVE it so far.

[planedick]

Need more info.

Does your bike have the airbox and original pipes or has it been modified? Many have removed the airbox because they have problems getting the carbs on and off. When they do this there is always a big problem getting it to run right without them. Same for the exhaust. Some like more noise like them Hardlys so they take off the exhaust and put on some aftermarket noisemakers and then have serious problems trying to make it run right.

[CatatonicBug]

when i try to take off really hard the bike spits and sputters until it hits that sweet spot.

Where is that "Sweet Spot"? I'm thinking that maybe your pilot jets are still clogged, and until the main jets kick in at 3K RPM, you aren't getting enough fuel to the engine. Once the Main jets kick in, you get all the fuel you need, and it roars to life. JAT

[WDB_xs1100s]

the bike dont have the air box on it right now, that sweet spor im talking about is around 3k and it will smoke the back tire, i put fuel filters on the lines, ive never had this much trouble out of carburetors before would i need to set the needle higher to gice it more fuel? also my timing advance will like vibrate when i rev it up should the vacuumm line be hooked on #2 carb body? sorry about all the question, im just really new about this bike and i dont wanna mess anything up on it.

[natemoen]

the bike dont have the air box on it right now, that sweet spor im talking about is around 3k and it will smoke the back tire, i put fuel filters on the lines, ive never had this much trouble out of carburetors before would i need to set the needle higher to gice it more fuel? also my timing advance will like vibrate when i rev it up should the vacuumm line be hooked on #2 carb body? sorry about all the question, im just really new about this bike and i dont wanna mess anything up on it.

Like cbug said about 3k is where the main jets start taking over so most likely you have something clogged up or not tuned right in the idle jet circuit. Do you have pod filters on in place of the airbox? And YES the vacuum advance should be hooked to the carb body nipple and NOT to the carb intake boot nipple.

[planedick]

Airbox

It aint gonna run worth a s**t unless you put that airbox back on it. It contains velocity stacks which is very important, among other things needed for it to run good.

[WDB_xs1100s]

i only have the top half of the air box.

[natemoen]

Then you need a new airbox so that you can actually tune that thing! Plus, unfiltered air is bad!

[James England]

I'n not surprised the bike is running rough if you have no air filter on it, are running on unfiltered air with all the risks of dirt getting into the carbs (which it probably already has), and have OEM jets which are designed to run with an airbox and filter.

[DGXSER]

The first time I wen through my carbs I put it all back except the air box bottom so I could see where they leaked if they did. Fired the bike up and it ran like ****e. Put that air box bottom on and it got surprisingly smoother.

[cywelchjr]

I wouldn't run my engine (or any engine for that matter) without an air filter for more than a couple of minutes just to see if it will fire and run. Too much crap in the air to suck into the cylinders and sand the walls and rings down. I may even get a cheap set of pods and make some velocity stacks for engine testing, as I am planning on making an engine stand and setting it up so I can run my spare engine, but don't want to run it without an air filter (of course I have to get a TCI, carbs, carb boots and ignition coils first anyways, but that's beside the point). IMHO as soon as you know the engine runs, get the filter on there, among other things, you can't tune it right without the same intake restriction that it will run with, whatever that may be.