Carb rebuild kits?

[LCS249]

My 1982 XJ1100 Maxim may need a carb rebuild -- that's what a shop said, along with estimating $300. It's been running rough, so that may be the case.

If it does need it, what do folks here recommend for it?

thanks,
L.

[jwhughes3]

I wouldn't buy a kit

Until you have broken down the carbs and cleaned (I said CLEANED) them first.

Note the emphasis on CLEAN - even small specks of stuff can be a problem.

Only patience and good fitting screwdrivers and a pair of small side cutting wirecutters (dykes) are required.

There is a good pictorial thread:
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...light=carb+101

Best is to get the Yamaha Carb Cleaner from any Yamaha Dealer to prevent damage to the rubber parts inside the carbs (diaphragms and seals) but there are other options:

Original PineSol is pretty effective if rinsed well afterwards to remove soapy residue.

Once disassembled folks have cleaned with carb cleaner spray and compressed air.

I tried vinegar on one set and it worked so so - didn't hurt anything but not as clean as PineSol.

You might want to get an inexpensive screwdriver set from Harbor Freight or similar and grind the tips to match the jets as you work so they fit exactly - this will save alot of frustration later with stripped jets.

Good luck
John

[bikerphil]

Run some Seafoam thru the gas tank, might be gummed up carbs, worth a try first.

[LCS249]

Thank you jwhughes3 and bikerphil.

You're both saying "clean first." Will do that.

jwhughes3: Until I open them and look at them (with my friend Dan who actually is a pretty damn good mechanic) I won't know what size screwdriver you mean, but I happen to have a couple of sets of mini-drivers for computer stuff. That small? (And just recalled I have the shop manual, too.)

I also own about a dozen flat-head drivers I've been collecting since around 1971 ... and only recently looked at them and wondered, "is this an extinct species, now?"

Will start with Seafoam and Yamaha Carb Cleaner.

best,
Leon

P.S. The shop that told me I need a carb rebuild also told me that they don't want to work on bikes as old as mine any more. Which is I why turned to you.

[natemoen]

Take some of those 40 year old screwdriver and once you see roughly the size you need, take to the bench grinder and make it a perfect fit.

[motoman]

+1 what bikerphil stated..............gotta laugh tho.......a shop that's just hungry, BS'in you saying carbs need rebuilding, but haven't a clue how to work on the thing.........run the other way as quick as you can! /sea-foam and a couple tanks of fuel, doesn't solve issue....a carb re-sync..... come back here for CORRECT help as the XJ is a little more involved having the PAIRS head set-up internally. Ones here with the XJ's can get you squared away. Again, keep that bike out of any kind of 'shop', dealer or otherwise!.....if you want it to ever run correctly.

[LCS249]

I'm with you, guys.

Have had the Maxim for five years and it's always run smoothly until recently when it started getting rough. Only other issue is that as it warms up idle goes from 1K to 2K.

L.

[motoman]

I'm with you, guys.

Have had the Maxim for five years and it's always run smoothly until recently when it started getting rough. Only other issue is that as it warms up idle goes from 1K to 2K.

L.

Now this may sound out of context or contrary to the norm, but I remember back thirty years ago when my Venturer would start runnin' a bit rough followed later by a high idle when warm, I knew it was time to adjust the cam chain tension. Having said that, does your XJ still have the stock chain tensioner on the front of motor, and if so, when was the last time you did the adjustment procedure? If you've already swapped out for the auto-tensioner then I'd be lookin to do a carb-sync for a start. If haven't swapped out for the auto tensioner, that would be next.....before a carb sync. Cams constantly in time with an ALWAYS tight chain will affect carbs metering fuel smoothly. All that just from my own experience.

[LCS249]

Now that's interesting ... I don't know the answer and will look.

L.

[motoman]

Now that's interesting ... I don't know the answer and will look.

L.

If directed to my previous thread..........guess that means cam chain adj. has NOT been done?

[mjpxs11sh]

+

hey LCS. try the easy Seafoam way first, but rising idle is sign the pilot circut is clogged. id say most members here have cleaned their carbs. its a must in most cases and easy to do. remember to have ur friend count the idle mixture screw turns (in) before srewing them (out) to remove them. it will help when u get it back together with a good reference starting point. at least the shop didnt take u and ur $ for a ride like some do. stay here and members will assist with any issues. good luck.

[LCS249]

Motoman, I have not done a cam chain adjustment, but assume the prior owner did since he completely overhauled the bike and brought it to looking like new. He was, however, not perfect. Have had to do some things, such as the four-into-two exhaust was put together incorrectly.

mjpxs11sh, thanks -- will follow that advice.

L.

[LCS249]

By the way ... no one has responded to the question in this post: is there a carb rebuild kit for our bikes?

[trbig]

Most of us that have been on here a while have seen where people paid that $300 or more to have "Professionals" do their carbs.. only to have to turn around and do them RIGHT themselves after they get them back. The unknown about them scared me at first, but they're pretty simple to work on and no strange spring loaded tiny pieces are going to fly off into oblivion.


If/when you get ready to do the carbs, you might have a set of gaskets and float needles ready to throw in there. Partsnmore has them here..


http://www.partsnmore.com/parts/yamaha/xs1100/?filters[category]=carb&filters[fitting]=custom

Scroll down to item number #48-1408 Says XS 80-81, but will work for the XJ also.

(OOPS.. just tried that link... you'll have to click on the "Carb" to the left to get to what I was talking about. You won't need anything in that kit except the float needle/seat and the gasket.

[LCS249]

Thanks trbig. By the point that shop started telling me the roughness was due to needing a carb rebuild, I was losing confidence.

I had it at the shop since I'd been trying to get the bike ready to sell. I love the bike -- don't really want to sell it. But the suspension has always been the weak point for me since I have several back issues. Hitting a pot-hole unawares really takes its toll. I replaced the apparently non-functioning air shocks with Progressive shocks ... but still feel like I'm riding a naked bike with little to no suspension.

Had the bike on eBay last week and it only got to $1600. My reserve was $2549. I'm not giving the bike away after putting so much time and investing so much into it. Bought it for $2K five years ago and have added $2K in improvements.

The carb question here is for me, based on keeping the bike.