Newbie lookin for some advice!

[foadhagen]

Hey guys, first thread and I need a boatload of advise! Just got a 79 XS1100F, history is that the previous owner got scared and parked her... 10 years later I come into the picture and pick it up for $750. According to him, he winterized it and ran her dry before parking it, but left gas in the tank. When I got her home I started looking at the petcocks and it looks like they were both set to reserve. After turning them they both leaked. Before I payed for it I did a test kickstart to see if she had compression, didn't put a gauge on it but it sounded good. I've got all the parts here to put back on. A windjammer front fairing that needs to be connected being the biggest one. I figured it would probably be a good idea to ask for a suggestion on where to start. Right now on my list is new battery, plugs and fluids, lube the throttle cable, clean rear brake mc and flush lines, check the carbs, clean the tank, replace gaskets in petcocks.
Thanks guys!

[crazy steve]

I'd suggest fully disassembling the brakes (masters and calipers) and thoroughly cleaning them, as that always seems to be a major trouble point on bikes that sit; if not trouble right away, sooner or later.

Same goes for the carbs; bite the bullet and fully disassemble/clean the carbs. If you don't do it now, you'll end up just doing it later at a less convenient time....

Expect to have to troubleshoot some electrical also. Particularly check the alternator wiring, as that's another known trouble point.

[jetmechmarty]

Your fuel shutoff valves (petcocks) will need rebuilding.
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=25058.html

Your fuel tank will have to be cleaned and derusted. The simple way to remove the rust is with Metal Rescue or Evapo Rust. The are other methods discussed at length here, including electrolysis.

Your carburetors will require disassembly and cleaning.
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39 You'll find plenty on that here as well.

Change ALL of the fluids, including the brake fluid.

Replace the tires.

[fredintoon]

Hey guys, first thread and I need a boatload of advise! Just got a 79 XS1100F, history is that the previous owner got scared and parked her... 10 years later I come into the picture and pick it up for $750. - - -

Hi Brandon and welcome,
looks like you've prioritized the start-up program pretty well.
Scroll down the forums and check "miscellanious" to see a resurrection plan that covers most things.
The site "search" feature works OK too if you can find the right word.
Let me add that after 10 years being parked the bike's tires will be as hard as wood even if they do still look good.

[fredintoon]

Annanotherthing

Hi again Brandon,
what will help others to help you is if you open your User CP and add a signature line that says who you are and what model bike you have.

[DGXSER]

Welcome to the world of XS ownership!

You may want to look at the FAQ on Neglected XS, HERE.

You will also want to get a manual on the bike, and then I strongly suggest you go through the entire maintenance section and do each one of those items.

In addition to the excellent advice given so far, I would add, to replace the bloody fusebox with an upgraded one to the blade style fuses. Those old glass fuses and their connectors often look good but fail to give a good connection.

[Aches n Pains]

Carbs for sure.

There is a very nice .pdf file on cleaning Mikuni carbs on this site - http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/. The file is titled - Mikuni BS(CV) Carburetor Rebuild Tutorial.

His bike is a Suzuki but the carbs are very close and the write-up is great.

Aches n Pains

[James England]

the bullet and fully disassemble/clean the carbs. If you don't do it now, you'll end up just doing it later at a less convenient time.....

+1 on that. Do it now, instead of later....

[foadhagen]

Thanks for all the great advise guys! I see I have much to do! :-p smashed my thumbs today in a 2-ton press just short of shattering the bones but that didn't stop me from taking the tank off and starting the clean up on it!! I never would have guessed there was so much rust in there, tomorrow I'll finnish cleaning it and take a good look at the petcocks. Come to find out they were closed so would I still need to clean the carbs or just take a look and see how they are? I'm dieing to hear it run what is the bare minimum I could do just to crank it up?

[natemoen]

Petcocks off or not, carbs still need to be cleaned!

[DGXSER]

I'm dieing to hear it run what is the bare minimum I could do just to crank it up?

Get the tank taken are of, cleaned and possibly sealed. Go through the bike and clean all of the electrical connections. Go through all of the things suggested.

Why is everything the minimum? Because once you hear it run, you will just HAVE to take it out for a quick ride, which will turn into a long ride, which will turn into "I'll do that other stuff next rainy day" Which turns into ten threads on here of how "This POS is always breaking down and you never get to ride it, always someting else that needs to be fixed!" That is if nothing like the brakes quit working while your cruising the superslab at 80 MPH, then it turns into a thread in the memorium forum.

So my suggestion is to employ some patience and take your time going through all the parts. It is funny, but ten years of sitting like that is harder on a bike than ten years of riding it.

[natemoen]

Get the tank taken are of, cleaned and possibly sealed. Go through the bike and clean all of the electrical connections. Go through all of the things suggested.

Why is everything the minimum? Because once you hear it run, you will just HAVE to take it out for a quick ride, which will turn into a long ride, which will turn into "I'll do that other stuff next rainy day" Which turns into ten threads on here of how "This POS is always breaking down and you never get to ride it, always someting else that needs to be fixed!" That is if nothing like the brakes quit working while your cruising the superslab at 80 MPH, then it turns into a thread in the memorium forum.

So my suggestion is to employ some patience and take your time going through all the parts. It is funny, but ten years of sitting like that is harder on a bike than ten years of riding it.

+1 +1+1+1+1! Well said!

[GLoweVA]

I'd suggest making a list of things to do and you can even separate them into catagories,

Fuel: clean Tank, petcocks, and carbs.

Drive train: Compression (or at least the thumb over the hole test), You may want to check the valve clarences and cam alignments and set the cam chain tensioner, engine oil and filter, middle gear oil, final drive oil.

Electrical: Make sure all lights/switches work and you got spark. (when you do get it running, make sure it's charging) (may want to replace the fuse block if it even looks like it might need it.)(TopCatGr58 (TC) sells one with terminal lugs dirt cheap and fast shipping)

Brakes: Check pads good and fluids purged with new stuff.

Suspension: check to make sure the forks aren't leaking and have a good spring return. (May want to change the fork oil, but this is something that could wait as long as they work okay.)

Tires: check tread depth and look for dry rot on the tires. (If you do change out the tires, then grease the rear drive splines)

I know it seems like a lot to do, but as far as materials go, it's just mostly fluids and maybe tires/pads and a filter. Other than Labor, it's good insurance to make sure it's all gonna work and you won't get stranded 5 miles from home on your first test drive.

[jjz28]

I know you said your petcocks works but i would make sure the oil didnt smell like gas, wich you need to change it anyway, just dont start it if you smell gas.

[foadhagen]

OK. Got the tank and petcocks cleaned, can't afford to seal it right now so I got two heavy duty in line fuel filters. Got the new battery in it, turn the key, and to my dismay nada. so tomorrow I'm gonna tear into the ignition system and clean all my connections.