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One Little Black Plug AH AH AH
I am having a problem with my 1980 Yamaha XS1100SG. It has about 28,000 miles on it and I seem to have one plug that is fouling badly and the rest are staying in pristine shape. I do seem to have a leak at my head gasket. Could this be the cause? Any advice would be nice as this is the first bike I am really fixing all by my self.
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Chase,
1980 XS1100SG 28,000 Miles All Stock.
1985 Honda Rebel 24,000 Miles -
Could you say why you suspect you have a head gasket leak?Originally posted by Phoenix View PostXS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model. -
I have oil leaking out of the head gasket over my #4 Cylinder both on the front and on the side.Chase,
1980 XS1100SG 28,000 Miles All Stock.
1985 Honda Rebel 24,000 MilesComment
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A correction to be made I have oil leaking out of the cam cover on both the front and the side of the #4 cylinder.Chase,
1980 XS1100SG 28,000 Miles All Stock.
1985 Honda Rebel 24,000 MilesComment
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I doubt it's out of the head gasket as it has no oil under pressure going through it, so it's likely coming from the valve cover gasket. The side is probably the cam plugs, which may be able to be fixed with nothing more than some RTV when you pull the valve cover and fix that, most of us feel that no gasket is needed up there, but just some good RTV properly applied, many use "the right stuff" which is pricey, but is easy to apply and will seal even if the surface isn't totally oil free, which is not true of most RTV sealants. My personal experience has been that I have better luck with RTV than with actual gaskets in almost every case.Cy
1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
Duplicolor Mirage Paint Job (Purple/Green)
Vetter Windjammer IV
Vetter hard bags & Trunk
OEM Luggage Rack
Jardine Spaghetti 4-2 exhaust system
Spade Fuse Box
Turn Signal Auto Cancel Mod
750 FD Mod
TC Spin on Oil Filter Adapter (temp removed)
XJ1100 Front Footpegs
XJ1100 Shocks
I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.Comment
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if its leaking
you should feel pressure leaking out there when running...
JohnJohn is in an anonymous city with an Alamo (N29.519227,W-98.678980)
Go ahead, click on the bikes - you know you want to...the electrons are ready.
'81 XS1100H - "Enterprise"
Bob Jones Custom Navy bike: Tkat brace, EBC floating rotors & SS lines, ROX pivot risers, Geezer rectifier, new 3H3 engine
"Not all treasure is silver and gold"Comment
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Ok the leak seems easy enough to fix but I still have a plug that is fouling. Anyone have any Ideas on what could be causing it?Chase,
1980 XS1100SG 28,000 Miles All Stock.
1985 Honda Rebel 24,000 MilesComment
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Explain what the plug looks like. Dry and black and sooty, wet and black? Are you getting spark on that plug?Originally posted by Phoenix View PostNathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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I am getting spark. Compression looks good as well. The plug is black and wet. It gets that way very quickly after less than 30 min or so. Also the bike seems to back fire both at Idle and about 3500 RPM's.Last edited by Phoenix; 07-01-2011, 08:07 AM.Chase,
1980 XS1100SG 28,000 Miles All Stock.
1985 Honda Rebel 24,000 MilesComment
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Have you been into the carbs yet at all?Originally posted by Phoenix View PostNathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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I have not had the chance to get into them outside of checking that the vacuum is synced and that looks good as well.Chase,
1980 XS1100SG 28,000 Miles All Stock.
1985 Honda Rebel 24,000 MilesComment
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I would guess that there is something not right in the carbs.
Just to be sure though you could first try swapping plug wires with its coil mate (1&4 and 2&3 are paired together) and see if the problem stays or follows the wire just to eliminate the spark as the problem. If it stays with the same cylinder then it is in the carb.Nathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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Ok tryed swaping wire same problem. Any guesses as to what in the carb would be causing this problem? Do you think I should just do a complete rebuild or is there some easyer tricks I can try.Chase,
1980 XS1100SG 28,000 Miles All Stock.
1985 Honda Rebel 24,000 MilesComment
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The emulsion tube might be clogged up if it is running rich.2H7 (79) owned since '89
3H3 owned since '06
"If it ain't broke, modify it"
☮Comment
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About the into things that would need to be replaced would be the o-rings around the float needle seat and the idle mixture screw. Most everything else as long as it is not broken can be reused.
If you pull them off, just go through and clean everything (and I mean take everything apart and clean it good) on all the carbs, not just the problem one.Nathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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