Motor dying in the middle of traffic :(

[anarchy18]

Can Cold Weather cause my engine to die if I dont keep gasing it? Its below 0 degrees Celcius and im using 20-50 motor oil. When I give her alot of gas she seems to run fine its just whenever Im in the middle of traffic and let off the throttle she wants to die. CARS IN FRONT OF ME CARS BEHIND ME, DANG!!!!

[geobiker]

Cold Temperatures

For my 79F it is recommended that a lighter oil (I believe 10W-40) be used below 40 degrees Farenheit.

Also, at these lower temperatures, the pilot circuit could be running lean (colder air is denser air). Go somewhere there is little traffic. As you come to a stop, I would pull out the choke lever one notch and see if the bike runs better. This serves to enrichen the mixture. If it runs better then I would say that it definitely is running too lean. If I recall correctly, turning the pilot screws out enrichens the mixture of the pilot circuit. You could do a thread search to confirm this.

Usually if you tinker with the settings on the carbs, you have to resync them.

Good Luck . . . hope this helps!

[TopCatGr58]

Extreme cold weather can keep an engine from reaching optimum operating temperature, and could therefore need a richer mix to keep running. Also having read your carb tuning problems threads, that until you get the engine and carbs well tuned, it can be hard for it to maintain a good idle even when the weather is warm! You may want to just turn up the idle speed screw a bit to keep it running a little faster when you release the throttle while you're out there in the cold air!

T.C.

[petejw]

u could also try running a hotter range plug,
try a bp5es.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

No, if your bike is dieing at idle, it is not the cold weather. Cold weather will require a longer warm up time with the choke on, but once at opperating temp, it will idle fine if all else is correct. Your carbs are causing the problem. I would make sure that the emulsion tubes are crystal clean, and the jets also. Next, I would set the floats to the higest spec. for your bike. Make "SURE" no fuel mix screw tip is broke off in the carb body, then start at 2 1/4 turns out, that is rich, but you can tune down and will help with warm up in your cold temp's. Sync the carbs with your gauge and the valves I told you about and set your idle at around 1200 RPM. If your carbs are realy clean (especialy the emulsion tubes) and you have good fuel flow to them (ie, no lines going down below the bowl hight then back up). After you have it idleing right you can turn the fuel mix screws in 1/4 turn each, then ride for a while and do it again till the idle drops slightly, then back out 1/8th turn, should be good

Can Cold Weather cause my engine to die if I dont keep gasing it? Its below 0 degrees Celcius and im using 20-50 motor oil. When I give her alot of gas she seems to run fine its just whenever Im in the middle of traffic and let off the throttle she wants to die. CARS IN FRONT OF ME CARS BEHIND ME, DANG!!!!

[Shacknasty]

Synch, adjust A/F mix screws and synch again.

[anarchy18]

For my 79F it is recommended that a lighter oil (I believe 10W-40) be used below 40 degrees Farenheit.

Also, at these lower temperatures, the pilot circuit could be running lean (colder air is denser air). Go somewhere there is little traffic. As you come to a stop, I would pull out the choke lever one notch and see if the bike runs better. This serves to enrichen the mixture. If it runs better then I would say that it definitely is running too lean. If I recall correctly, turning the pilot screws out enrichens the mixture of the pilot circuit. You could do a thread search to confirm this.

Usually if you tinker with the settings on the carbs, you have to resync them.

Good Luck . . . hope this helps!

Engaging the choke was the first thing I tried and almost choked on gas fumes and my eyes watered etc after that and it didnt really help her stay running any better either.

[anarchy18]

Extreme cold weather can keep an engine from reaching optimum operating temperature, and could therefore need a richer mix to keep running. Also having read your carb tuning problems threads, that until you get the engine and carbs well tuned, it can be hard for it to maintain a good idle even when the weather is warm! You may want to just turn up the idle speed screw a bit to keep it running a little faster when you release the throttle while you're out there in the cold air!

T.C.

ILL TRY THAT TC!!!! I just put that heavy oil in not too long ago and its not helping the problem im sure

[anarchy18]

Synch, adjust A/F mix screws and synch again.

You synch before u adjust and then synch again? Good to know Is the pilot and a/f screw the same thing? Can u give me a simple run down how to adjust on the XS1100?

[anarchy18]

u could also try running a hotter range plug,
try a bp5es.

Never thought about HOTTER PLUGS for the winter I might try that also, YOU GUYS ARE JUST SO FULL OF IDEAS.....Thank You

[petejw]

jat, our carbys are different on the sports bike
compared to the 81 us spec xs,
we have 40 pilots without bleed holes
and different emulsion tubes with adjustable needles,
what clip setting have u set the slides at?

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Mine have adjustable needles also79SF USA

jat, our carbys are different on the sports bike
compared to the 81 us spec xs,
we have 40 pilots without bleed holes
and different emulsion tubes with adjustable needles,
what clip setting have u set the slides at?

[cywelchjr]

Mine have adjustable needles also79SF USA

Yes, but U.S. bikes after 79 don't have adjustable needles. 79 was the last year with adjustable needles in the U.S. at least in stock form. This is why the year matters, there are a LOT of differences between the different models and years, some minor and some pretty major. (more minor ones than major ones though)

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Moron

You are so correct Sir, I am a Moron, how could I have missed that, of course the Year matters I only have one year now 1979 I apoligize for being so dumb I will stop trying to help others as it is clear I am stupid

Yes, but U.S. bikes after 79 don't have adjustable needles. 79 was the last year with adjustable needles in the U.S. at least in stock form. This is why the year matters, there are a LOT of differences between the different models and years, some minor and some pretty major. (more minor ones than major ones though)

[petejw]

the carb bodies are the same for all the 81 models,
ours are just jetted differently.