New Startup Running Problems. PLEASE HELP!!

[JoshKeast]

Ok so I got the bike started after new battery, plugs, carb rebuild, etc... at first the bike would only fun at full choke, I expected that after sitting for a few years... after idleing for a while I was able to turn choke off and adjust the idle. It now will idle about 900-1100 rpm...

I made a carb synchronizer with tubing, stake, and 2 cycle brake fluid and when I hook it up to 1 and 2, it moves about 3/4 inch but when I adjust the idle mixture screw, the level doesn't really change...

It doesn't really respond to any adjusting I try. I am not a motorcycle mechanic by any means but I do like doing everything I can myself. I have one of XS11 members coming over tomorrow evening to take a look but I would still like to be as informed as possible. Any thoughts, ideas, comments are much appreciated!

Thanks everyone in advance,
Josh

[jjz28]

i wonder if maybe the screw tip got broke off in the little hole?

[natemoen]

Are you turning the idle fuel mix screws on the carb bell, or are you turning the sync screws between the butterflies?

Also, when sending you start with 3 & 4 then do 1 & 2 and then (i guess it really doesn't matter which pair you do first) and then sync the 2 pairs to each other. #3 carb is status and does not adjust so everything must be adjusted to it.

[DGXSER]

Nate has the right idea, sounds like you need to look at the screws between the carb bodies in front by the head to synch with. You were probably using the mixture screws, which will effect it eventually but not correctly.

Synching the carbs is really adjusting how open the throttle plate (butterfly) is on each carb to create equal vacuum draw from all four cylinders. No 3 throttle plate is adjusted by the main idle screw only. The way the linkage works is that the synch screw between 3 and 4 adjust the throttle plate of 4 in relation to no 3. So you use that screw to make 3 and 4 match. The screw between 1 and 2 adjust no 1 throttle plate position in relation to no 2 throttle plate. So you use that screw to get 1 and 2 to match. Then the screw between 2 and 3 adjust the position of no 2 throttle plate in relation to no 3. So that brings 2 (and no 1 right along with it) to match no 3 which may or may not already match no 4.

You could actually synch 1 to 2, and then 2 to 3, and finally 4 to 3. Or even start by synching 2 to 3, and then 1 to 2 and then 4 to 3 and should be roughly the same end result. Honestly though, I would recommend synching the pairs on left and right sides first then bringing the pairs together with the screw between 2 and 3.

Of course, no matter what sequence you use, changing one will effect the others, its just a matter of how much it effects them. So you should always go back through them once you think all is correct. Or if you have one of the fancy setups that measure all four at once, you can see the results instantly.

[JoshKeast]

Well that helps out alot. I was turning the idle mixture screw and not the butterfly adjustment. Now that I know that little bit of info I think I will try it again.

[JoshKeast]

Update!!! Help!!!

Ok so after running it for a while, very roughly I might add because I didn't get it synchronized yet, I discovered I was running way too rich, the exhaust smelled heavy of gas and was burning my eyes and throat. I rejetted the carbs back to stock, 110 mains and 42.5 pilots (i'm running a 4-1 kirker and pod filters).

Now I can get it started, running just a little lean, not much, but I can't get it to idle for any length of time. A few times, after reving the motor with the throttle, it reved itself up to about 5k rpm so fast that I hit the kill switch. I have the mixture screws set to 1-1/2 turns out and I've tried messin with the idle knob under the carbs, nothing seems to work and now I'm lost and clueless.

I would like to avoid paying someone to fix it but my motorcycle mechanic skills are non-existent and I know it's hard to diagnose a bike through the forums...I might be forced to pay someone to fix it. Any help, once again, is much appreciated. Thanks.

[natemoen]

Open the idle mix screws up to 2.5-3 turns and try again.

Lean mix often causes a hanging idle.

[BA80]

so will not being synced.

[natemoen]

That too, both cause it, but you need to try to get the idle down before you can sync.

[JoshKeast]

Does a lean mix also cause little backfiring through the pod filters?

[BA80]

Sync does too.

Have you adjusted valves?

[JoshKeast]

No how do you do that?

[JoshKeast]

Update!!!

Ok so after much tinkering, IT'S RUNNING!!! I took it on it's first road test today, granted it was only a few miles but I took it through town and on the highway, took it through the gears and it runs pretty good. It takes a few mins for it to warm up and want to idle and run good but i've heard these bikes are cold blooded and do that.

I do have a couple questions though. I have the idle mixture screws backed out 3-3/4 turns!!! With being backed out that far and running stock 110 mains, do you guys think I should bump up to 112.5's or even 115's? Do you think I should take it to a mechanic and have it "final tuned" to make it run better or "like it should"? I'm not sure how it's supposed to run or what not...

Thanks to everyone on here offering their advice and knowlege. Thanks to you all I "rebuilt" my first bike and made it road worthy. I feel proud that I didn't have to hire a mechanic to do it for me and it wouldn't have been possible without this site and it's members, THANK YOU!

[BA80]

Sync the carbs first. Then check to see how the idle mix screws are. Main jets won't affect the idle mixture ( I'm SURE of that ). With your setup you may need to go up a size but get it running as good as it can with the stock stuff and read the plugs after it's been ridden a good bit.

With your setup the idle mix screws will need to be out a bit more than normal.

[JoshKeast]

I forgot to mention, a couple of times, when I slowed to a stop with the clutch in, the bike died. It started right back up but it did die so.... not sure what to make of that.

I did synch the carbs the best a could with the vinyl tubing/brake fluid setup. I know they are close.