First time working on multiple carbs on the Trashboat

[sparkfly88]

You need to unclip those wires and check them all better. If one is broken others most likely are too.

I did, I unbent the holders, freeing all the wires, tugged each one.

Only the one had a break.

[motoman]

Did you check that mechanical advance unit under the left ignition cover. The weights and springs can freeze up from sitting, keeping the timing from fully advancing at higher RPM, JAT

+1...........that advance unit along with the pick-up coils and wires is bout the most overlooked component on the bike as far as running correctly IMO.

[sparkfly88]

It wasn't frozen at all. And the vacuum actuator would hold vacuum as well when I tested it.

[bikerphil]

Maybe some holes in the carb diaphrams, JAT

Do you have the correct TCI box, should have 2H7 stamped on it.

[sparkfly88]

I dunno about the tci box... old like the bike, I'd call it original, but I can't exactly know for sure without looking at it.

The carb diaphragms did have some pin holes in them
I patched Em up, but I forget what I used... I remembered reading a fix on the forum. If I remember right the pin holes just wouldn't make it run as smooth as it can though, not stop at 5k and start trying to implode.


The main reason I took it to the shop, I ran into three people at a party I threw for a friend, all three owned XS's at a point in their lives and all three took them to the same place they recommended. Said the guys know the XS series of bike pretty darn well.

So I figured what can it hurt ( besides my wallet)

[sparkfly88]

My friend went to the shop today to pick up some saddlebags he bought, and he went for a ride following the Tech who was test riding my bike. Brought along the GOpro with him as well.

His vlx650 couldnt keep up to my xs1100 AT ALL it is an absolute monster.

The tech told me he let the carbs soak all weekend long, then used some sorta wire tool to clean every single passageway.
Told me no. 4 carb butterfly is sticking a little bit and hes gonna change all the seals on the butterflies.

It runs like a total BEAST now, and the total price is at 280$ so far, which IMO is a little bit much, considering I took em apart 3 times and wouldnt call that 280$ worth of labor....but hey, it runs, and I'm thrilled about it.
Video will be posted in a minute or two, keep watching for it to process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBHw7rjt_P4&feature=youtu.be

[Rasputin]

My first go was about 300 bucks to let a mechanic do exactly what you say. I rode it for a bit and noticed the bike was idling high or hanging. As I bought that bike from new I knew it was not correct. Rode it a couple of days and took it back to be adjusted.
Second 300 bucks later and I was still not running right and I was getting a bit perturbed but I took it back so he could do it again.
200 more bucks and I was furious that the damn thing did not run right. I went back and he explained how he did all this work and he had it done on a dyno with all the latest gadgets and gizmoes and that it was absolutely correct.
Now 800 bucks spent in total on the carbs alone I decided to look on the internet and see what I could find.
I am now and forever more, a happy dude that I found this site. I learned all he had done wrong and why my bike ran the way it did. With the help of other forum members I got it running really sweet. At the moment there are 5 XS11's sitting in my driveway and only one needs carb attention. Will I be paying some dude to fix it?
I am not trying to knock your mechanic at all but please learn how to do it yourself as you will change things from time to time that need synching or tuning. You do not want to spend that cash every time.
I would like to point out to any lurker that the knowledge here is very very good and best thing to do is join the forum so you can ask questions. I would also like to point out that the savings anyone made by doing it yourself are wisely spent by making a donation to the site, if you gained knowledge from it.

[DGXSER]

Well, it does seem like you found someone who knows what they are doing. Glad it will be a fine running beast for you.

[sparkfly88]

My first go was about 300 bucks to let a mechanic do exactly what you say. I rode it for a bit and noticed the bike was idling high or hanging. As I bought that bike from new I knew it was not correct. Rode it a couple of days and took it back to be adjusted.
Second 300 bucks later and I was still not running right and I was getting a bit perturbed but I took it back so he could do it again.
200 more bucks and I was furious that the damn thing did not run right. I went back and he explained how he did all this work and he had it done on a dyno with all the latest gadgets and gizmoes and that it was absolutely correct.
Now 800 bucks spent in total on the carbs alone I decided to look on the internet and see what I could find.
I am now and forever more, a happy dude that I found this site. I learned all he had done wrong and why my bike ran the way it did. With the help of other forum members I got it running really sweet. At the moment there are 5 XS11's sitting in my driveway and only one needs carb attention. Will I be paying some dude to fix it?
I am not trying to knock your mechanic at all but please learn how to do it yourself as you will change things from time to time that need synching or tuning. You do not want to spend that cash every time.
I would like to point out to any lurker that the knowledge here is very very good and best thing to do is join the forum so you can ask questions. I would also like to point out that the savings anyone made by doing it yourself are wisely spent by making a donation to the site, if you gained knowledge from it.

Why did you keep dropping money into it if it wasnt right in the first place?
If I get it back any anything is still out of wack, it's going right back for them to fix, FREE.

I told them to not worry about anything else on the bike, just make the engine RUN like it should.

[sparkfly88]

Well, I just got it back today.

All day it ran great, I put 53 or so miles on it, then when I went to ride home all hell broke loose on it.

It goes past 5k no problem, but it wont cruise at all!!
Starts missing, backfireing...w/e


Ontop of that, they removed the detent balls on the choke lever of my carbs, and put a spring on it, so it snaps back...wtf

[Rasputin]

Why did you keep dropping money into it if it wasnt right in the first place?
If I get it back any anything is still out of wack, it's going right back for them to fix, FREE.

I told them to not worry about anything else on the bike, just make the engine RUN like it should.

I did it because I knew no better and the guy would not work on them for free after he did all the dyno tuning etc. You may find it hard to get them to do adjustments for free as well but you live in a different place than I do so I hope you have better luck.

[sparkfly88]

Well they admitted to loosing the springs for the detent balls....

And they concur with me that there is still something wrong with it and they brought it right back into the shop to be worked on.
Now I sit and wait.

[natemoen]

Well they admitted to loosing the springs for the detent balls....

And they concur with me that there is still something wrong with it and they brought it right back into the shop to be worked on.
Now I sit and wait.

Well, if they loose parts they better find replacements and not just rig something up....

[justme1100]

In suspense

As I have been dinking around with my carbs I have found this post and have been following your progress. I am very curious as to how this turns out for you. So please let us know how things turn out. Good luck.

[sparkfly88]

Well, we ended up running out of time, so I took it to a shop.

They ended up getting it all sorted out.

The only problem I ended up having was my number 3 float getting stuck in ohio.

I changed exhausts since their work, so It feels rich, I ordered a colortune to really dial in the mixture.

I'll update with videos of the process.

I plan to use my Gopro HERO black and record the whole process of colortuning and syncing.