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Good evening. I have a standard 78 XS. Odometer says 30K, but it isn't the OE gauge set. It has a K&N filter in an unmolested air box. 4 into 2 with Harley mufflers. The charging system has a Chry voltreg. Early on this summer I developed a fuel supply problem after I installed in line fuel filters. Cleaned the carbs and tried again. Ran like crap. Removed the filters & cleaned the carbs again. Ran pretty good for awhile. I drained fuel and parked it for 4 months while on vacation. Came home and refilled fuel. Fuel ran from filter box. Cleaned carbs again and inspected the petcocks. Replaced "O" rings and modded petcocks for OFF position. Installed larger in line filters and new hoses. After every carb cleaning I synced and Color Tuned. Idle is now nice and smooth at 1100, carbs all synced at 20in vac. On the road it screams for 3/4 mile or so, then loads up. I shut petcocks off and it clears up for a few hundred feet then cuts out. Open petcocks runs great for a few hundred feet then floods again. Used the off&on trick to get home. Pulled plugs, black and fluffy. I must mention that I rebuilt the carbs 1.5 years ago. during a recent cleaning I noticed that #4 float leaked so tested all and replaced #4. The new float looked different from the rest. Both halves were convex. The 3 old ones had the outboard half of each drum was concave the the inboard half was convex. Sure could use some fresh ideas/eyes/brains on this matter.
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Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Retired), (A gung ho, lifer, Devil Dog) Semper Fidelis
XS1100E, 11.5" XV1100 shocks, "no name" 4 into 2 headers and turn out mufflers, stock air box, 140 mains, spade type fuse block, volt meter, LED conversion on running/turn/brake/tail lights, aux front driving and running light bar, 850 FD swap, Chrysler electronic VR. Ugly as a monkey's butt - runs like a scalded ape (WHEN IT RUNS
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Sounds like all your floats are collapsed. That will make the floats sink lower and your carbs run rich causing the black plugs. Did you blow air into the fuel lines at any time? That can crush the floats. Or getting water in the bowls and freezing.
Replace the floats and set the levels again.Nate
78 XS11 "Matilda" 2H7 000364
2001 Raptor ACCT, T.C. Fuse Box, TC Bros Forward Controls
Kuryakyn Iso Grips/Throttleboss/Bar End Mirror, Custom Covered Seat
Shinko 712s, HID Headlight, RC Performance Exhaust
Bikemaster Daytona Handlebars, Galfer SS Brake Lines
Barnett HD Clutch Springs, T.C. Spin On Filter Adapter
K+N Air Filter
88 Voyager XII
81 XJ650 Maxim -
Thank you Nate. It is as I suspected as soon as I compared the new float to the old ones. Reckon I'd better check EBay and SCI.Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Retired), (A gung ho, lifer, Devil Dog) Semper Fidelis
XS1100E, 11.5" XV1100 shocks, "no name" 4 into 2 headers and turn out mufflers, stock air box, 140 mains, spade type fuse block, volt meter, LED conversion on running/turn/brake/tail lights, aux front driving and running light bar, 850 FD swap, Chrysler electronic VR. Ugly as a monkey's butt - runs like a scalded ape (WHEN IT RUNS)Comment
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+1 what Nate said. Do yourself a favor and get some clear fuel line and hook it up to the bowl drain to check fuel level of your carbs after setting fuel height. Do to the large variations in your floats not all of them are controling the level you set them at. Having a clear fuel line hooked up to each carb bowl will allow you to see the variation.
Ref here...
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76'79 XS11 F
Stock except K&N
'79 XS11 SF
Stock, no title.
'84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws
"What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~Comment
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Will do. Thank you.Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Retired), (A gung ho, lifer, Devil Dog) Semper Fidelis
XS1100E, 11.5" XV1100 shocks, "no name" 4 into 2 headers and turn out mufflers, stock air box, 140 mains, spade type fuse block, volt meter, LED conversion on running/turn/brake/tail lights, aux front driving and running light bar, 850 FD swap, Chrysler electronic VR. Ugly as a monkey's butt - runs like a scalded ape (WHEN IT RUNS)Comment
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I thought the specials had the on/off setting on the petcocks and you have a model E?Skids (Sid Hansen)
Down to one 1978 E. Stock air box with K&N filter, 81H pipes and carbs, 8500 feet elevation.Comment
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he said that the petcocks were modded. isnt that the grind down the lever trick so you can point it "up"?Comment
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Roger That. I read about the mod here and performed when I had petcocks apart. Works great by the way. On another note. I had to bend the tab on all three floats to a point where I could just barely daylight between the tab and the spring loaded pin of the needle. I can now hook a fuel supply up for a bench test without gas leaking all over the floor. Next thing is to put 'em back on the bike to see if they will work.Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Retired), (A gung ho, lifer, Devil Dog) Semper Fidelis
XS1100E, 11.5" XV1100 shocks, "no name" 4 into 2 headers and turn out mufflers, stock air box, 140 mains, spade type fuse block, volt meter, LED conversion on running/turn/brake/tail lights, aux front driving and running light bar, 850 FD swap, Chrysler electronic VR. Ugly as a monkey's butt - runs like a scalded ape (WHEN IT RUNS)Comment
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The other thing that comes to mind after your possibly collapsed floats is the float needles. The ever so small pin that pokes up from the top of those float needles can get gunked up and not move correctly. If that small pin does not pop up immediately after depressing it with your fingernail it is sticking. I have found that to be an easy fix with some WD-40 or similar worked into it.
If they do not move freely and stick, that will upset every attempt to set a float level as one time they will move and the next they will stick. JAT and something to check.2-79 XS1100 SF
2-78 XS1100 E Best bike Ever
80 XS 1100 SG Big bore kit but not fully running yet.
Couple of more parts bikes of which 2 more will live!Comment
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Thanks for all the help guys. I broke out my trusty electric pencil soldering gun and it took all day but I reinflated, if you will, all 4 floats and all tested good in hot water. I also fashioned a makeshift scale using a protractor and a couple of pre-tied fish hooks and leaders. I bought the only good float I could find within a 40 mile radius a few days ago so I used that as a constant. I determined that there were miniscule differences between differences in weight. I don't think I will try to sand or remove any solder to match them up. Tomorrow I will put it all back together and see if they work. Don't know why they wouldn't but who can tell.Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Retired), (A gung ho, lifer, Devil Dog) Semper Fidelis
XS1100E, 11.5" XV1100 shocks, "no name" 4 into 2 headers and turn out mufflers, stock air box, 140 mains, spade type fuse block, volt meter, LED conversion on running/turn/brake/tail lights, aux front driving and running light bar, 850 FD swap, Chrysler electronic VR. Ugly as a monkey's butt - runs like a scalded ape (WHEN IT RUNS)Comment
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Now hear this
Lock up your dogs and chain up your women. The Gunny is back on the road! Thank you one and all for your input and guidance. I managed 4 non leaking floats and one extra that leaks where the bracket attaches to the float pontoon. That one gives me something to do later.
Last edited by Clyde K.; 09-12-2012, 08:22 PM.Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Retired), (A gung ho, lifer, Devil Dog) Semper Fidelis
XS1100E, 11.5" XV1100 shocks, "no name" 4 into 2 headers and turn out mufflers, stock air box, 140 mains, spade type fuse block, volt meter, LED conversion on running/turn/brake/tail lights, aux front driving and running light bar, 850 FD swap, Chrysler electronic VR. Ugly as a monkey's butt - runs like a scalded ape (WHEN IT RUNS)Comment
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Excellent, nothing like the feeling of fixing one that has troubled you for period of time.Life is what happens while your planning everything else!
When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.
81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection
Previously owned
93 GSX600F
80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
81 XS1100 Special
81 CB750 C
80 CB750 C
78 XS750Comment
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All this carb stuff I am learning is starting to make that fuel injection conversion look better all the time...
1979 XS1100
Was going to be a ratbike, instead it is
Turning into a "Labour of Love" Restoration...
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Fuel injection will cost about as much as the bike Is worth if not more! Better have lots of time and money!Originally posted by gryphon51 View PostAll this carb stuff I am learning is starting to make that fuel injection conversion look better all the time...Nathan
KD9ARL
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1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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