Stuck Floats???

[RobSwind]

Hey everyone. Thanks in advance for any help.

Due to an injured knee and a subsequent 2 week battle with a sinus infection and ear infection, I haven't ridden my 1980 xs1100 in about 6 week.

Today was great weather, so I went out to crank her up and BOOM... no crankage. My battery is strong, I seem to have spark, and at least half a gallon of fuel in the tank. But it doesn't want to fire on any cylinders.

Stuck floats???

This is my first guess, but honestly, I'm more familiar with newer, fuel injected bikes and single carb engines. I could pretty much guess with 100% certainty that it would be a stuck float on a single carb system. But is it likely that all 4 carbs on this think would stick after 6 weeks of sitting up? Ehh... maybe closer to 7 weeks?

If you think this might be the problem, what's the best way to unstick the floats. Can I take the carb rack off and flip it over, tapping on the bottoms with a screwdriver handle? Or will I need to disassemble the carbs?

If you don't think my problem is carbs, what would be your prognosis?

[tcoop]

I have had this same problem in the past (not starting after sitting for a while) but the problem was too much fuel as in leaking carbs and fuel going into the crank case.

Check you oil level (while on the center stand) if it is above the sight window you may have the same problem.

to see if you are getting any fuel open the drain plug from the carb bowls, if fuel comes out in a stream your getting fuel. (make sure you put something there to catch the fuel)

did pull out the choke?

did you open the petcock? I often forget to do this one my self.

[RobSwind]

I did open my petcocks. In fact, both of my petcocks have a tendency to leak slightly even when closed. So let me go check the oil level. That's a good call.

This bike hasn't sat for more than a week since I bought it last year. So 6 or 7 weeks is quite abnormal.

[MPittma100]

No Start

Carbs may also be dried out having sat that long with petcocks off. May have to turn them to prime to start. Use choke too.

[RobSwind]

Awsome. Looks like that was exactly the issue.

Like I said, I knew that my petcocks (mostly my left ones) leaked a little when turned off, but in the past, it always leaked out of my pod filter at the first carb.

But since I knew I wasn't going to be riding it for a while, I put it on the center stand. This must have tilted the bike forward enough to cause the fuel to leak into the cylinders and therefore into the crank case.

I'll be changing the oil first thing in the morning.

[RobSwind]

My model doesn't have a choke.

[mlew]

My model doesn't have a choke.

All XS11s have a choke. Either a lever on the left side of the carbs or a thumb lever on the left handle bar below the horn button.
Seems like its time to rebuild the petcocks and replace the carb needles to prevent it from happening again.

[Schming]

All XS11s have a choke. Either a lever on the left side of the carbs or a thumb lever on the left handle bar below the horn button.
Seems like its time to rebuild the petcocks and replace the carb needles to prevent it from happening again.

Technically all models of the XS 1100 have Enricheners not chokes as they are labled on the thumb lever. Just sayin'

[MPittma100]

Changing Oil/Filter

Change the oil and filter AFTER you repair the petcocks and carbs. Otherwise, you will be changing it again. Next time on center stand, place a 2x4 under the front wheel. Fuel will run into the air box instead of engine. When you leave fuel in the system for extended periods, use non-ethanol. Carb leaks will likely not reoccur with that fuel.

Fuel leaks equal potential engine damage and fire hazard.

And, yes, there is/was a 2 stage choke.

[RobSwind]

39-years-old, and still learning, EVERY DAY!

That's why I love you guys.

I didn't know about the choke on the side of the carbs.

I've only had this bike for a year, and since it's my first multi-carb bike, I've been learning a lot. I did find out shortly after I bought it that the left petcock had a decently significant trickle when shut off. But since the fuel had always been leaking from the pod filter while on the side stand, I chose to repair other stuff first, including rebuilding and rejecting the carbs.

The hipster kid I bought it from told me he'd just rebuilt them, and while they did look nice and shiny, my plugs kept fouling out. He'd rebuilt them using kits for the '78--79 model carburetors, which had significantly larger jets.

Also several wiring issues I've had to track down and resolve. It's been a work in progress.

Thankfully, in about 6 weeks I'll be purchasing my first brand new motorcycle. A Moto Guzzi Griso 8V. But I have to admit, I've had so much fun with this XS11, I'm seriously thinking about keeping it and continually improving on it. With just more than 15,000 original miles, I should get a lot more bar hopping time out of this bad boy.

[mlew]

Technically all models of the XS 1100 have Enricheners not chokes as they are labled on the thumb lever. Just sayin'

Call it choke or enrichment, its the same thing.

[Prothec]

Call it choke or enrichment, its the same thing.

The purpose is the same; cold start enrichment, but they work differently. A choke cuts off air while enrichment adds fuel without cutting off airflow. The result of either is an enriched air/fuel mixture.

[RobSwind]

Well, now I'm baffled. I got the oil changed this morning, and still nothing.

Now it seems I have no spark at all. Seriously? After only 6 weeks of sitting up, now I have no spark on all 4 plugs?

Any ideas fellas?

[RobSwind]

I know there is a main fuse, but if that were bad, I wouldn't be able to turn it over at all. Is there a fuse specifically for the ignition coils? If so, where might that be located?

[aquamantx]

You May Want To Check your wire connectors at the fuse and main brain box. A bad or weak connection could cause this.