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**James England** · 09-04-2011, 04:25 AM

Did you change the oil filter at the same time as the oil change? If so, did you make sure that the washer and spring were under the filter? I usually fill the filter assembly with oil (with the bolt in of course) before re-installing, just to avoid the slight oil starvation that results from an empty filter housing.

Your oil viscosity is correct at 20/50 although you said it is as thick as honey? That doesn't sound quite right to me, although it depends on what the ambient temperature was when you used the oil and whether it had sat in cold conditions etc.

You checked the oil level and got it between the two lines with the bike on the centre stand, on a level surface, right?

How many miles had you done on the bike before changing the oil?

**DGXSER** · 09-04-2011, 06:56 AM

If you let it sit for a while and then come back to it, does it work fine again for a little bit?

Fuel starvation can happen a number of ways, one of them being the gas cap vent plugging. It will act just like it is running out of fuel, because it is. Then let it sit and the air will eventually make it into the tank and you get fuel again, for a little bit.

**skids** · 09-04-2011, 07:21 AM

Check the vacuum hose to the octopus.

**anarchy18** · 09-04-2011, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by James England View Post

Did you change the oil filter at the same time as the oil change? If so, did you make sure that the washer and spring were under the filter? I usually fill the filter assembly with oil (with the bolt in of course) before re-installing, just to avoid the slight oil starvation that results from an empty filter housing.

Your oil viscosity is correct at 20/50 although you said it is as thick as honey? That doesn't sound quite right to me, although it depends on what the ambient temperature was when you used the oil and whether it had sat in cold conditions etc.

You checked the oil level and got it between the two lines with the bike on the centre stand, on a level surface, right?

How many miles had you done on the bike before changing the oil?

Hi! and thanks for your reply

yes i put the spring and the washer back in under the New Oil Filter but I did not fill up the bowl. Thats why I idled my bike before the test run to let the filter fill up. Then I added oil to get back up between the 2 lines with the bike on its center stand.

Since I owned the bike I put maybe 2000 KM on it riding it with whatever the previous owner put in it since he said he just gave it a tune-up. 2 weeks ago i added cheap automotive 15-40. Didnt feel good about it because I thought maybe I should do more research before I ride it like that. Well the 2nd gear gremlin got me a couple days ago and I blamed it on the cheap oil and bought the best oil I could find 20w-50 4T Motul motorcycle oil. I just put it yesterday and I thought my bike would thank me but its doing the opposite.

-UPDATE_
Just checked the plugs and did a compression test. 116psi-145psi were the ranges. Cylinder 4 was the highest and the only plug that wasnt pure black and dry (new plugs that i put in 1 month ago). They all have a spark tho. Does this help? Compression test was done pulling 1 plug at a time and idling the bike just enough to keep it running and I did not warm up the bike before hand!!!

**anarchy18** · 09-04-2011, 07:29 AM

Originally posted by DGXSER View Post

If you let it sit for a while and then come back to it, does it work fine again for a little bit?

Fuel starvation can happen a number of ways, one of them being the gas cap vent plugging. It will act just like it is running out of fuel, because it is. Then let it sit and the air will eventually make it into the tank and you get fuel again, for a little bit.

I'll go outside and try it out right now!!! I just wrote a update on what I've just done in the comment above. Will probly open the airbox also and run it without the air filter to see what happens? I just dont understand how it was running so great then in the middle of running just started giving up on me and. ALL THE PLUGS BUT 1 WERE BLACK!!! ive only ridden it maybe 3 miles since its been acting like its starving for fuel. But no fuel lines are kinked and it was doing fine right before. You dont think the oil had anything to do with it? Thank you for your reply

**anarchy18** · 09-04-2011, 07:56 AM

Heres pics of the plugs i just pulled. Does this help with whats going on here?

PLUG #4 http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97...4/DSC01814.jpg

PLUG #3 http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97...4/DSC01828.jpg

PLUG #2 http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97...4/DSC01843.jpg

And plug #1 looked painted black just like Plug #3

also did a comression test supposed to be at 145psi + or - 15 and I was between 116psi - 125psi but i didnt warm up my engine before hand like im supposed to I only know they all held their compression once the pressure built up. Does this help also?

**crazy steve** · 09-04-2011, 08:39 AM

Lots of possibilities here....

Did you hold the throttle wide open while doing your compression test? If not, that will give you low numbers.

Have you checked the valve clearances? If you don't know the last time they were adjusted, you should at least look.

Weak spark can cause this; have you checked the coils for secondary coil resistance between the plug boots? You're looking for under 30K ohms (25 is what you should have), higher numbers can mean bad connections; try unscrewing the spark plug caps and trimming about 1/4" off the ends of the wires, and check the caps while you're at it. The caps should have 5K ohms through each of them.

If you know you're getting spark on all four, then the problem is almost surely carbs. A bit of crap in the carbs can cause the float valves to hang up, leading to a rich fuel mixture. These carbs are extremely touchy about dirt/crud, they may need a good cleaning out.

**11Rider** · 09-04-2011, 12:10 PM

Yes, rather than fuel starvation you have three rich cylinders which are fouling the plugs which is leading to the poor driveability. Beyond that I'm stumped. I could see two cylinders being rich from a stuck float valve because 1&2 and 3&4 are connected. But I'm not sure how stuck float valves could cause three rich cylinders. Besides, that would be some coincidence that all of a sudden three float valves get stuck at the same time, no??

**anarchy18** · 09-04-2011, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by 11Rider View Post

Yes, rather than fuel starvation you have three rich cylinders which are fouling the plugs which is leading to the poor driveability. Beyond that I'm stumped. I could see two cylinders being rich from a stuck float valve because 1&2 and 3&4 are connected. But I'm not sure how stuck float valves could cause three rich cylinders. Besides, that would be some coincidence that all of a sudden three float valves get stuck at the same time, no??

Thanks for your reply! Shes runnin and i dont know what i did!!! Hmmm

**anarchy18** · 09-04-2011, 01:02 PM

Ok case closed!!!

I took everyones advice and I dont know what did it cause I really didnt't do much but look to make sure the petcocks r flowing smoothly, that the cylinders have compression, and looked at my air filter which looked clogged but not dirty (how do I tell if the XS11 needs another air filter?) , I took the fuel lines off and looked through them and I took of my plug cables and caps and checked for ohmage which 1 cap has 9 resistance and all the others closer to 5 (is it bad). Well after doing all that I slapped her back togethor and she ran like a champ and idles again finely!!!!!

Im thinking a peice of garbage in the fuel tank that clogged a line but I already had looked at the fuel sightfilters and they looked like they were flowing fine so I dont know what it was!!!

Also I found out that my petcock only works on Prime (which lets gas flow freely) and theres no vacuum lines hooked up to it at all!!! What is the right setting anyways cause RES and ON just close it off.

Thanks Everybody For the Quick Responses and lending a hand!!!

**anarchy18** · 09-04-2011, 01:16 PM

And someone above mention that I should check the vacuum hose connecting to the octupus. Uhmmm wheres that located? I didnt see any vacuum hoses at all! Is that even possible?

YOU GUYS RULE, IF I WAS ON MY OWN I'D PROBLY GIVEN UP A LONG TIME AGO

**cywelchjr** · 09-04-2011, 03:33 PM

Ok, looks like you have one of the standard models which don't have the octy. But the petcocks are vacuum operated and should have a vacuum line hooked to the carb boots, one to the boot of carb two and the other to the boot of carb 3 (the closest one to each one of course), otherwise they will only work on prime, which also leaves you with no reserve either. The nipple that faces the front on each petcock is the vacuum one, and should be connected to the vacuum source for proper operation.

**fredintoon** · 09-04-2011, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by anarchy18 View Post

And someone above mention that I should check the vacuum hose connecting to the octupus. Uhmmm wheres that located? I didn't see any vacuum hoses at all! Is that even possible?

Hi Derrick,
octopus is the central vacuum operated fuel control valve.
They are only fitted to Specials. The valve is bolted atop the carbs and you can't miss them because they've got (you guessed it!) Eight fuel and vacuum lines going to them. Bikes that have (or originally had) them have gas taps with two gas spigots each; one flows on Prime and t'other flows on On & Res.
Standards have 2 vacuum operated gas taps and if they don't have vacuum lines hooked up they will only run on Prime.

**anarchy18** · 09-04-2011, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by cywelchjr View Post

Ok, looks like you have one of the standard models which don't have the octy. But the petcocks are vacuum operated and should have a vacuum line hooked to the carb boots, one to the boot of carb two and the other to the boot of carb 3 (the closest one to each one of course), otherwise they will only work on prime, which also leaves you with no reserve either. The nipple that faces the front on each petcock is the vacuum one, and should be connected to the vacuum source for proper operation.

Gotcha Thanks man but without seeing one in person how its setup ill probly just leave mine how it is. dont wanna mess with it if its working the way it is

Im just wondering how i fixed my probelm today about my bike having no power and dying at idle right after i changed to a thicker oil? 2nd gear fix is next and figuring out why my front break calipers arent opening back up!!!

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