Ryan's 1979 XS1100SF Build

[Sparkin79]

OK, cool I'm gonna have to look that up and see if I can match it - thanks for having a look.

[Sparkin79]

Carb Question

Hey Guys, cold winter so took a break but now I'm back at it. Quick question on the carbs - took mine off for cleaning today and following along with that youtube video you guys shared (from motorcyclememoir). In the video and in the exhaust system schematics from the manual there is a little black rubber cap that goes over the pilot jets. When I took apart my carbs these are not there - just straight open to the pilot jets.

Has anyone run into this before? guessing someone took off the carbs at some point and forgot to put them on. How important is it to have these, what would gas free flowing into that jet mean, and does anyone have a suggestion on how to replace?

Thanks.

[Sparkin79]

Doh - should have searched the forum first

Never mind on the pilot jet plug question. Just searched the forum and saw some great conversation about this very same thing. So looking at my carbs there is no passage between the pilot and main tunnels - which means no caps for me.

[DiverRay]

Your carbs do not have a cap. The video is for the later model carbs.

[Sparkin79]

Front Brake

It Lives Again!!

So clean carbs and new spark plugs helped a lot. Now bike starts right up - was able to ride for about 40 minutes yesterday and still have a smile on my face. A number of things I still need to go over but at the moment trying to solve the Oil Pressure/Brake Light issue.

Jiggled the connectors to the Light Checker Unit as I've read in other posts, disconnected, reconnected, etc and nothing changed (no flickering even just constant on). My question today is this: When you apply the front break should the brake light come on in the back? Mine does not and I noticed a disconnected yellow wire heading towards the front of the bike from the Light Checker Unit. Wondering if that could be the cause (yes there is oil in the bike).

[bikerphil]

Yes, the brake light should come on with the right front lever squeezed. That yellow wire you mention is for the front brake light according to the schematic so that is probably the culprit.

As for the LCU, you can bypass it doing the following:

Light Checker Unit Bypass : (79 Special only) Unplug unit and connect blu and blu/yel together at the harness plug.

If your oil warning light is still on, then it may be the actual oil sending unit at fault. Try disconnecting it's wire and see if it goes out.

[Sparkin79]

Thanks Phil! Going to try and reconnect that yellow front brake wire first and then work from there. I'll let you know - appreciate the help!

[Sparkin79]

Sync Question

Hey Guys, waiting for my motion pro sync tool to arrive and have been reading the sync instructions available and the threads here on XS11.com - two quick questions:

1)When connecting the sync tool do you connect it to all manifold spigots on the boots or do you hookup #1, #3, #4, to those boots and then #2 to the vacuum line on the carb itself? (mine are either 80 or 81 carbs) - if all to the boot hookups then do I need to remove the vacuum line from carb #2? (ok so actually thats 2 questions)

2)the motion pro sync tool needs to be calibrated first by hooking up the calibration manifold (all hose connected to one) and hook up to master carb or throttle body first. Is that #3 or #2?

Realize its probably a dumb question but would rather ask then screw (get the pun) something up first - THANKS

[DiverRay]

I'll answer the questions in a logical order.(for me)

2)the motion pro sync tool needs to be calibrated first by hooking up the calibration manifold (all hose connected to one) and hook up to master carb or throttle body first. Is that #3 or #2?

I would use the #1 boot to sync the tool before using it. It's easy to get to, and makes it easier to adjust the tool because you have a little more room to move and look at it.

1)When connecting the sync tool do you connect it to all manifold spigots on the boots or do you hookup #1, #3, #4, to those boots and then #2 to the vacuum line on the carb itself? (mine are either 80 or 81 carbs) - if all to the boot hookups then do I need to remove the vacuum line from carb #2? (ok so actually thats 2 questions)

When you connect the tool up, you connect ONLY to the manifolds. DO NOT CONNECT TO THE VACUUM ADVANCE ON #2 CARB!! Keep the vacuum line connected, and run a fan to keep the engine cool while working on it. I use a cheap 20" box fan, put up on a cardboard box so it blows the air over the head and barrels.

[Sparkin79]

Thanks Ray!

[Sparkin79]

Bike update

Hi Guys - haven't had any questions or updated in awhile because everything is working and this bike is awesome! Thought I'd stop by again and say thanks for answering my questions. Got the bike working perfectly last spring (well perfect to me) and just enjoyed riding all last year and forgot to update.

The bike is still in great shape and just about to buy a new seat but wanted to post some photos of what it finally turned out as - again thanks for the help.

Also - just a month ago I bought a 2016 XSR900. So if anyone wants to see what those XS/UJM inspired bikes look like next to an 1100 (although altered) I included some pics.

[Sparkin79]