im still having problems with carb.

[The Youngster]

Hi Pat,
most likely the carbs need to be cleaned. But first check the spark by pulling all the plugs, laying them on the head and spinning the motor with the starter as you look for sparks.
BTW, the bike is a Midnight Special. It's the rarest and most sought after of the XS11s.
If you should feel the need to chop, bob or modify it, better you should sell it as-is for top dollar, buy a different XS11 at half the price and use the profits to pay for the modifications.

Nope, im not selling or making modifications to it anytime soon.

[Shacknasty]

So...is yer fuel flowing? Got spark?

[The Youngster]

Yes, i got the bike running. Having a similar problem. The gas coming out of the air box. Guessing some valves are stuck open. Need to take them off and clean them

[Shacknasty]

Prolly means yer carbs are dirty and the float valves are sticking open. Clean 'em good while yer in there. Remove and clean all jets and passages. Check yer oil, if it smells like fuel, change oil and filter.

Glad to hear it's running.

[DGXSER]

Glad you got it running. I have learned that when I put fuel in the empty carbs I work one side at a time. I turn on the fuel and use the handle of a screwdriver to tap on the fuel bowls as they fill. Just to make sure the floats do not get stuck on the sides or cocked funny on their pin. When I am sure the bowls are full, I turn the fuel off. Switch sides and repeat. Then I start the engine before I turn the fuel back on.

So far, that method has worked well for me.

[The Youngster]

More problems reving problem

Im having a reving problem. The xs revs its self up to 4,000 rpm without me touching the throttle. To bring it down a bit i have to give it gas by reving it it. Its like a backwards throttle. How can i fix this???

[Shacknasty]

You need to pull yer carbs, clean them, and then synchronize them. That should take care of yer probs. Yer motorsickle has been sitting a while and it needs some TLC.

[xs11lover]

Prolly means yer carbs are dirty and the float valves are sticking open. Clean 'em good while yer in there. Remove and clean all jets and passages. Check yer oil, if it smells like fuel, change oil and filter.

Glad to hear it's running.

With fuel dumping out of the air box it may be getting into the motor oil.......and killing your motor, Get those carbs cleaned.......I have a buddy that will do it for you if you can't. You don't want to mess up the lowest mile midnight in the USA! PM me if you want his info and I'll tell him about you.

[natemoen]

I would agree with the cleaning. Here is a step by step pictorial thread on the carbs.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36017

Then once you get that done you need to sync the carbs.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Youngster,

First, congrats on your wonderful find and acquisition.

Secondly, as you stated, this is your first bike, but we don't know what level of mechanical experience or knowledge you have, and even though the bike has low miles, it is 30 years old, and you can't expect to just put gas in it, turn the key and drive/ride off on it.

There is a thread in the MISC forum that tells what to look for in a neglected XS11 because that bike is STILL NEGLECTED since hasn't been ridden, and they do DRY ROT just sitting in a garage.

Lastly, to help US help you we request that you keep your requests IN THE SAME THREAD when it's the same type of problem, carbs, revving, etc. so that we can see what was an earlier problem, what has been suggested, what you have done, and the results of said work and diagnostics without having to remember or refer to OTHER threads spread out across the site.

Like has been stated, you WILL NEED to take the carbs off the bike, pull them apart, clean them, put in some new parts like the float valve needle and the O-ring around the valve seat. However, if you don't have many tools, or are not fairly skilled or even familiar with basic mechanical processes, then an OLD bike like this may not be the machine for you?

We would highly recommend/suggest that you find someone..another Xsive in your area to link up with to assist you in working on this machine so you can LEARN the right way to do it, and you won't damage it ACCIDENTALLY in the process. And being your first bike, we also hope you will or have already taken the MSF(Motorcycle Safety Foundation) riders course in your area, to keep you ALIVE on the dangerous roads with the blind, self absorbed, distracted cage drivers out there!

T.C.

[JeffH]

Fuel Leaks = Fire Hazard

Just a reminder about the HAZARD of these bikes leaking gas. Especially the most notorious Airbox / Petcocks / Fuel Line. If the bike isn't running properly I wouldn't Test-My-Luck trying to run it when you already know you have issues with Needle & Seat plus Petcocks. Just a friendly word of advise. After Marty's experience I keep hose and a fire extinguisher near the bike for the first start up after any maintenance. Maybe a bit over cautious but I'd hate to burn down the house or myself when we know these bikes a bit prone to leaking and catching fire from backfire or electrical spark. I found the airbox in my 78E project bike I bought 6 months ago had a fire too but luckily there was not too much damage.

Here is post from jetmechmarty about his "fire" experience that he posted when Special Ed's bike recently got fried.

Bummer, Ed. I set mine on fire too! Lucky for me, my daughter was with me and fast to grab the fire bottle. It happens quick, but she saved it. When there are fuel problems with these bikes (leaks) it's easy to set them on fire! Maybe we should have warnings posted all over this forum. I had one friend have it happen while he was riding! He got pulled over, then watched his GS850 burn to the ground.

Here is what remains of Special Ed's XS11


Good Luck with the troubleshooting and maintenance. Be Safe!
Jeff

[The Youngster]

I see, iv been very careful with the fuel problem. My head is just spinning cuz of the carb #1. The float is stuck open but the rest are fine. I finally pulled the crabs out. I cleaned the rest with gas and lots of scrubbing. And yes i was very careful with the needles. So now im going to tackle disassembly of the floats now that i have cleaned the carbs.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey again,

I didn't read your introduction post until AFTER I had read and replied to this one! SO...I see that you do have mechanical skills, that's a PLUS!

Now, on to your carb...yeah, those nasty CRABS can be a real PITA!

Did you read thru the Carb tech tip/thread that the link was posted for??

The reason why I ask is that WITHOUT taking off the floats, you can't get to the float valve and seat and O-ring. And did you remove the pilot and main jet, and then the emulsion tube=main jet needle that comes up thru the carb body? There's also a screen filter on the inside part of the valve seat. You may have corrosion or just gum that has gotten between the float and the pin it pivots on, which could also cause it to stick, not move. Also, there are several good tips and techniques to removing the float pin WITHOUT braking the post....a common occurance because Yamaha designed the pin to be too thick and provide an interference type fit, but the float bowl will keep the pin from falling/sliding out, so the pin does not need to be so tight. Folks will use fine emory paper or such to file down the width of the pin enough to allow it to easily slide thru the float post holes so that you won't have the problem and chance of breaking the posts the next timen you need to disassemble them in the future.

Good luck, just take your time, be careful and thorough and you'll get it done and eventually working.

T.C.

[Shacknasty]

I hope you completely disassembled the carbs, cleaned all jets, and thoroughly cleaned and blew out all passages. If you are now taking apart the float area, then you are not nearly done with carb cleaning.

I wish I could drop by and lend a hand...

[The Youngster]

I see. I missed that. But yes TopCatGr58. Iv been working on cars for a couple of years. Iv help my uncle work on his motorcycles and he showed me alot. And i also have another motorcycle project but its a different model. Im planning on becoming a car and a motorcycle mechanic. So im trying to learn alot while i have time.