yet another problem

[monhollenj]

Got the bike running finally and took it for it's first spin. I got about 1/2 mi down the road and the bike quit. It acts like it's not getting enough gas or something. Carbs just rebuilt. We was trying to find the correct position for the petcocks because in one position, when I tried to start it, gas ran out of the air box. Looks like someone painted over the engravings on them. I need help, does anyone know what the problem might be? After the bike quit, it took awhile but was able to fire it back up but died again in front of the house. Please help

[DGXSER]

The petcock position is really not going to be the end solution ot your problem. Sounds like your flooding the engine out. The carbs have floats that raise up and shut off fuiel flow to the carbs when the bowl is full. However, yours are not shutting off the fuel flow when the bowl is full, so it continues to flow in until it flows out the air box and or into the engine. When the bike is running, it will get sucked into the engine and burn very rich, and eventually probably flooded out.

You will need to figure out why your float valves are not shutting off. You will also want to look at, or just go ahead and replace, your engine oil as it may well be diluted with gasoline.

[monhollenj]

The last time I started it, it wasn't flooding out of the air box. We checked the spark plugs and they were fine. Do you think it's flooding the engine with dry plugs?

[MrOzz]

The last time I started it, it wasn't flooding out of the air box. We checked the spark plugs and they were fine. Do you think it's flooding the engine with dry plugs?

Have you checked the gas cap vent? It could be plugged with crap.

[monhollenj]

no I haven't. The gas cap wasn't even locked down because I have to install the lock. Could the cap not being closed cause the problem?

[DGXSER]

Do the plugs look black when you check them or clean white and dry?

The gas vent should not be any problem if your cap is not closed and sealing, although that could cause a very bad wetness issue in some twisties!! Hate to see you become the next GhostRider!!!

[monhollenj]

Clean, white, and dry.

[soccer4m]

try this

Try
1. change oil asap,,,,there is probably gas in it from flooding
2. take off the fuel line from the petcock, turn forward and down- no gas should come out or the forward position-if so, reserve is not working, if gas comes out when straight down- run position- also petcock not working,,,,turn straight back-prime position and gas should flow freely. If you do not want to tear into carbs right away get a couple of cheap gas inline shutoffs, any lawnmower place, and install. When starting turn on,,,and when bike is turned off, turn off the shutoffs to prevent flooding.
3. SOoooo,,,,check the petcocks in different positions and see if all is well,,,,if they leak in any position, they either need rebuild if vacuum hoses are connected correctly, or install the cheapie shutoffs.
4. CHANGE OIL before any further damage,,,,smell it after draining and if gas is in it, it will have a scent of gas.........

keep us informed,,,,,,,,,,,Mike in S.DIego

[monhollenj]

Thanks Mike for all the help. do you know where I can get a picture or schematic of the vacuum hoses (where they go). I'm not even sure if I have done it correctly. there's a hose coming from (i think) the crankshaft and I have it hooked up to the thin, long, brass connector that sticks out from the carbs. Please let me know. if you have a pic or something of the line hookups you can email me at monhollenj@bellsouth.net Thanks bro.

[soccer4m]

year of xs11?

I dont have the schematic for the vacuums but I believe its in all the repair manuals for this bike.....anyone else have it??????. It sounds correct, usually both vacuums come from the rubber carb connectors on the engine side of the carb and connect to the front nipple outlet of the carbs. This vacuum should turn on and off the carbs. If its leaking gas from the gas outlet, back nipple of the petcock, when lever is down or forward and not running, your petcocks need a rebuild or get the cheapie fuel turnoffs. If you have the Octopus, the vacuum contraption with lots of vacuum hoses in it, between the engine and petcocks,,,,,,they are a nightmare usually and most guys here dispose of them and just put in the inline turnoffs or other modifications found in the search tab above.
Let us know what year, model your bike is and it would be a big help, also if the petcock positions are leaking or not............it should run on prime, lever turned to the back if gas is coming out,,,,,,just dont leave it there if your carbs are not perfect, as gas will flood your carbs and engine,,,,then its drain the engine oil again.................keep us informed ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mike in Sun Diego

[DGXSER]

Sounds like you have a standard?....If so then the line form the crank, which really goes to the vacuum advance module under the timing cover on the left side of the crankcase, goes to the vacuum nipple on the number two carb body, not the one on the black boot, but on the carb body itself. This is true regardless if it is a standard or a special.

On the Standards, the petcocks work off of vacuum and each petcock has a small vacuum nipple that faces toward the engine, a vacuum line form each of those nipples goes to one of the vacuum ports on the carb intake boots, the black boots, the nipple is very close to the engine.

[Eveready1100]

Sounds to me like:
1/ You may have hooked the fuel lines to the carbs vent nipples, instead of the fuel line tees (lower down) causing the carbs to flood uncontrollably. Or,
2/ You may have the carb floats hanging up on the bowl gaskets, which also will cause the carbs to flood uncontrollably.

[Bent213]

Had the same problem... Heres what fixed mine...

I was having the same problem... took the carbs off my 79 xs1100 special about 4 times cleaning the hell out of them... took the tank off cleaned it out including taking off the petcocks and cleaning those and still had fuel pouring out of my filters out the back of the carbs... so I figured out from another post that the carbs on my 79 weren't actually from a 79 and were from a 80 or 81 and that the seats that the float needle sit in are actually different... on the 78-79 they screw in and on the 80-81 they push in and have gaskets on them... well after taking them apart again I noticed that 3 out of the fours seats were really lose and would almost fall out if you turned the carbs upside down so i went to my local shop and got all 4 gaskets replaced on the seats for about 12 bucks and they haven't leaked since... I had already guaged my floats and checked the needle and it still poured out but after replacing those gaskets it hasn't happened since... hope it helps and good luck!!!

[DGXSER]

Bent, Hope you also reset your float heights to 23mm.

[Bent213]

Yeah... I did do that DGXSER... sorry... forgot to put that part... lol... but my bike is pretty jacked up anyway and is a slow work in progress... lol... so im still not riding yet... waiting for some cash to get some new intake boots then I might be able to ride her again...