carb issues on an 80 xs1100s

[GLoweVA]

Also check those pilot circuit screws. Sometimes the tips get broken /stuck in there and that would make it difficult for starting and idle. They need to be about 2-3 turns out from shut. That position should get you close then once you get it running you can dial/tune them in later.

[Seabass Critt]

i checked and good call! the oil smell of gas :/ well I know what I am doing this payday lol oh and i checked for spark again and nothing, sometimes there is a weak one but not that often, I am going to try new plugs again and hope for the best. I know the electronics are working because she back fires very loudly

[BA80]

It sounds like you may have a bad wire or wires on the pickup coil under the left engine cover. Look HERE and you can see how to check them and repair if necessary.

Also, check the spark plug caps and make sure your getting good contact with the wires. The caps unscrew from the ends of the wires.

[Seabass Critt]

I had the pickup coil unit replaced with a new unit that has the new jelly feel wires installed and they are all intact, I also checked the caps as well and they are good too, the bike ran and reved good just didnt idle ,it burned through 13 year old gas and who knows what else, the plugs were new and shiny when i put them in, it only ran for about an hour in one day and then it went down hill from there, the plugs are now full of carbon maybe in need of replacement.

[natemoen]

Just because the pickup coil unit was "new" still means it is 30 years old. Check the wires anyways.

[GLoweVA]

I hope you didn't run that 13 yr old gas thru it after you claned those carbs.
After trying to start, are your plugs getting a little wet/damp/smells like gas?
If so then It's probably spark issues. Make sure you've got a good battery.
If the volts are too low the TCI won't let the coils fire, thus no spark.
The starter does put a drain on the battery and could cause the voltage to drop low enough.
On my SG, whenever I want to try to she if she'll run, I'll use jumper cables from my car. Then I get good crank and spark.

[natemoen]

Yeah, I would always hook a charger up to the battery if I knew I would be cracking it for a little bit.

[jdabreeze]

Yeah, I would always hook a charger up to the battery if I knew I would be cracking it for a little bit.

or be like me and pull all but the ignition fuse. Full volts to coils and starter, no lighting drains.

[scott0757]

Richening circuit

Be sure to clean put the richening port in the bottom of the fuel bowl. The long copper tube that stick our of the base of the carb goes down the hole that has the very small jet in the bottom of the bore on the float bowl. If this small jet is plugged, the richening circuit (choke) will not function and one thing these beasts need is a long rich warm-up cycle.