Introduction and any tips you migh have!

[biohzrd]

Hello,

Wanted to introduce myself here and get some tips on getting my xs1100 up and running.

I am from South Florida and recently picked up a xs1100, knowing nothing about these bikes I got it because the price was right even if I found out xs11s where horrible bikes But the more I have been reading the more I am getting excited about restoring this bike and getting it running!

Now before I get anyone upset when I come on here and ask stupid questions, let me apologize! This will be my first time attempting anything like this and I have only been riding for about a year, so I will ask some real basic questions

Seeing the bike has been sitting for years and will turn over but not run, I have pulled the carbs and started to clean them. Is there anything about these bikes I should know/look out for to get this bike running?

Again, put up with me long enough and I will get better... Over time I might even act like I know what I'm doing!
Mike

[cajun31]

Hey bio

first and foremost welcome you are at the right place. Also, when you get the bike running welcome to the obsession. A good place to start would be this thread http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=792. You might also want to take look at the Carb cleaning 101 thread http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36017. Be careful when doing the carbs. You did not mention your mechanic experience so be warned that the float posts on these carbs are very easily broken so take a very careful approach to removing the floats. Don't force anything. Take your time to read through the tech section on repairs and maintenance. Two separate sections and a lot of reading but well worth it in the long run. It will help you avoid the pitfalls. Most of what you will read is been there done that type of stuff and a wealth of knowledge from the collective. Good luck on getting it going and once you do and are able to twist the throttle the first time time you will see what I mean by welcome to the obsession.

[crazy steve]

What I do with any non-running bike that I don't know the history of is assume that everything needs attention. If it's been sitting for any length of time, or the PO hasn't kept up on the maintenance (and few do; that's usually why they're for sale), you'll generally save yourself time and trouble if you bite the bullet and go through everything. While the first link is decent, it assumes that the bike is in better shape than most are now (the link is 12 years old and a bit out of date).

While this sounds like a lot to bite off, it's just like eating an elephant; one bite at a time. 95% of the problems these have are due to neglect and age, and nearly all can be addressed without breaking the bank as long as the bike isn't rusted badly and mostly complete. Now, one downside is some major parts are getting hard to find (fuel tanks, seat pans, exhaust systems to name the 'big three') and many small trim parts are also hard to find, but mechanical repair parts (other than engine/trans major overhaul parts) are still out there.

Get it right and you'll be rewarded with one of the best 'all-around' bikes ever built.

Welcome to the forum!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Mike,

Glad to see you posting. Good info so far. Not sure if you read the reply email I sent aside from seeing that your account was active notice? Please get your serial #/Vin# off of the steering neck or engine clutch cover, and then go to this thread: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=396 and verify your year/model, special/standard and then edit/update your profile and signature so that WE can better provide accurate tech info while assisting you in your rebuild.

A little more history on the bike would be helpful....was it running before it was parked, or did it have running issues and was that why it was parked, etc.?! Was it stored indoors, or left outside in the weather? You say it turns over....the engine spins, but doesn't start. At least it's not frozen. Having a compression tester would be helpful, but not critical, the rings will need to be re-seated anyways. You can just hold your finger over the spark plug hole while turning it over, and if the compression blows your finger up/off/away from the hole, then it at least has some compression...so the valves aren't stuck or bent. When a bike engine sits for a number of years exposed to the elements, rust and corrosion can form on the parts that are exposed to the atmosphere....ie. the shafts of the exhaust valves, and if a valve is in the OPEN position, then that rust/corrosion can prevent the valve from retracting back into the head, and then the piston comes up and wham=bent valve!

Anyways, photos are also helpful, there's a thread in the HOW TO forum on how to post photos, mostly get a photo hosting account with an online site ie. www.photobucket.com , upload your photos there, and then get the posting LINK/URL and then paste it into a post/reply using the IMG tages/button.

Some folks will say you should at least get the bike to FIRE to ensure that it will at least RUN before putting much time/$$/effort into a rebuild just to make sure it's worth it. However it can be hard to get it to spark if the electrical isn't working well....so that leads to the full harness connector cleaning like I described in the email. Then you can use some starter fluid/spray to squirt into the intake/carbs to see if it will FIRE. Use a jumper battery to help provide enough juice.... because if the battery voltage drops too low...~ 10.5 volts during cranking, then the TCI and coils won't fire.

You can first test for evidence of sparkage...pull all plugs...makes spinning engine easier...put the plugs back into the wires/caps, and lay the 1-4 plugs on the head ensuring that the plug metal casing it making contact with the metal head....because the coils are wasted spark design, spark energy goes out thru 1 wire of coil, thru plug, then engine, then back UP thru other plug back to the coil for a complete circuit. IF you don't have both plugs properly grounded, the circuit won't be complete, and you won't be able to see a spark. Do the same for the 2-3 wires/plugs/caps. IF you have spark on all 4, then you are good to attempt the FIRE test. IF no spark one of the pairs, then the PU coil wires are suspect...common problem....see tech tips/repairs for diagnostics and repair procedure.

Once you are able to get the bike to at least FIRE a few seconds, then you'll know it WILL eventually run and you can be more confident in putting forth ALL of your efforts into rebuilding it.

T.C.

[MarkD]

Welcome BH-- Check this out--


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95nlrP-yn2I

It will guide you a bit.

[biohzrd]

Thanks guys, a lot of good info already!

TopCatGr58 I double checked and its is a xs1100 special 1980
Also here is a pic of the old girl.


cajun31 I will for sure go through that list and make sure its all good to go! My plans are to go with a brat style look at the end of the project so I will be striping everything and going through the fixes when its off the bike.

Thanks crazy steve I will for sure go through it all! Also a good thing is I plan on restyling the bike so some of those hard to find small touches shouldn't give me to much truble

[biohzrd]

Oh and MarkD, I have been using that video as a guide! I always prefer videos to text, its easier for me to learn that way.
Thanks for the link

[cajun31]

Hey Bio

That is a fairly good video on giving you pointers on the disassembly of the carbs themselves. Be aware however, that those are not xs1100 carbs and it is important to keep the parts separated by carb. Get 4 containers and keep the parts segregated to make sure what comes out goes back in. Also he mentions the pilot jet plugs in the video which are not applicable to the 80 carbs you will be cleaning. Good luck with everything and keep us abreast of how things are going and make sure you ask if you are not sure. Carbs and other parts as Steve said are getting harder to come by so no need to destroy anything by making unneeded mistakes.

[Garagamus]

As good as the folks here in this forum are, you can't go wrong picking up the shop manual for some light reading. In many instances, someone here has been able to guide me when I'm stuck, and usually far quicker than finding the breakdown via tech illustration. Don't be afraid to throw your ideas about "Brat-ifying" your XS out there. Some things work, some won't. Not always like minded in modifications, but helpful if you plan on altering something that could make it unsafe.

[cajun31]

good point

and you can get that manual for free from a fellow members web page. Catatonic Bugs web page here... http://www.ringler.us/family/mybike.html