Advice on starting issue

[cali30us]

Hi All,

I have a '79 XS11 Special. Always ran beautifully. Was in storage (indoors) for some years, and now I'd like to use it again.
1. Upon start, it would fire up fine, but die a few seconds later. Seems like it was flooding, so I took off the carburetors, and saw that the floats were stuck in the open position. Cleaned the bowls, floats, needle & seats, and main jets. Put the carbs back on. Now, the bowls get gas and don't overflow.

2. Now when I start, engine cranks but does not fire up at all. Tried spraying a little carb cleaner in one of the air intake ports to the carbs, and it seems like it's trying to fire, but dies right away. (Can only spray in one port at a time.)

Any advice on the most likely culprit? Has new battery, gas, plugs are good, spark is good, boots are good.

Thanks very much in advance!

[IanDMacDonald]

Check your choke linkage.

[bikerphil]

Cleaned the bowls, floats, needle & seats, and main jets

You'll need to clean the pilot (low speed) circuit too. Follow the tech tip...

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

[cali30us]

Thanks for the responses.

The choke linkage seems to work fine.

If the pilot jet was plugged, would the bike have fired up before I took off the carbs?

[RUSH]

If the floats were stuck it would have been getting more than enough fuel to start when cold. I would think that the enriching circuit is plugged, so even with the "choke" pulled out you may not be getting enough fuel. I never get a good clean without using an air compressor to blow out all the passageways.

[bikerphil]

If the pilot jet was plugged, would the bike have fired up before I took off the carbs?

Yes it probably will, but it may not stay running.

[cali30us]

Thanks, folks.
I'll take the carbs off and check the pilot jet.

[donebysunday]

Passages

Check the passages in the float bowls just to be sure ?

[RUSH]

Also check the enricher circuit. There is a small orifice in the bottom of the bowl that is linked to the enricher tube in the bowl. If that gets clogged you wont get fuel when the enricher is engaged. Hell, I go through the entire carb an make sure to pull every part and clean with carb cleaner and compressed air.

[senrak]

Pay attention to the tunnel in the bottom of the float bowl that feeds the cold start circuit. If it is plugged the circuit will not get any fuel. The engine will not start.

[cali30us]

Thanks, folks. I'll be sure to check the enricher passages in the bowls.
Will let you know how it goes.

[skids]

Also check the enricher circuit. There is a small orifice in the bottom of the bowl that is linked to the enricher tube in the bowl. If that gets clogged you wont get fuel when the enricher is engaged. Hell, I go through the entire carb an make sure to pull every part and clean with carb cleaner and compressed air.

Wear eye protection or you will get carb cleaner spray in your eyes if the bowl jets get cleared! It is like a pee trap.

[cali30us]

Well, the pilot jets, needle jets, and enricher tubes in the bowls definitely needed cleaning. Thanks for the suggestions.
Bad news is that one of my pilot jets is a bit stripped and won't come out. Any advice, short of drilling it out?

[RUSH]

What about an easy out? http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piec...set-40349.html

[James England]

Well, the pilot jets, needle jets, and enricher tubes in the bowls definitely needed cleaning. Thanks for the suggestions.
Bad news is that one of my pilot jets is a bit stripped and won't come out. Any advice, short of drilling it out?

i had the same problem. By stripped, you mean the screwdriver slot has broken, right? Brass, is brittle and easily drilled..that's what I did...carefully. Use the correct size drill and make sure it's a brand new one. Drill on low speed. Don't drill too far down!