Thanks for the Add!

[Getzapped]

Just got my account. Thanks for adding me.
I acquired in a trade a 1980 midnight special.
Its in great shape. 20k miles. It was not running.
I did a carb teardown,.
Drained oil which was filled to the top. My guess is the gas drained into the oil over years.
Made a new starter button which was missing.
The petcocks have the dripsies gonna have to rebuild or get new ones.
She runs like a monster now.

Only issue i see is it runs like crap once the low fuel light comes on. Is that a common problem?

[DiverRay]

Yeah, the Specials do NOT like to run when low on gas! If the light is on, go to reserve and find a station. Other than that, a TKat fork brace is about the only thing I would say you could use, other that roads with no traffic and less cops!
Welcome to the madness of the XS1100.

[3Phase]

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on finding a low-mileage Midnight Special!

... Only issue i see is it runs like crap once the low fuel light comes on. Is that a common problem?

Well, yeah, it can be a problem because by design it means you're low on fuel and all engines run like goldfish when they're low on fuel, not just Yamahas. Like Diver Ray said, switch to Reserve and find a gas station.

The warning light is controlled by a thermistor that stays cool and stays off when it's submerged in the fuel in the tank. When the fuel gets low enough to uncover the thermistor there normally isn't much margin between the "low-fuel" warning light and the "you-fool" walking light. If the one in your tank is bent, hanging a little low in the tank, or it's old and just doesn't start to conduct current until a little later than it's supposed to then you're pretty much out of fuel when the low-fuel light comes on.

There is the very remote possibility of an ignition short to the thermistor wire and to ground in the tank but it's far more likely that you are running out of gas when the light comes on. Don't do that.

Welcome to the forums!

[dbmb0416]

Yes I made the mistake of running out gas just once. Now when she hits the 100 mile mark or so I'm looking for a station. I'd rather stop for 5 minutes and put 2 gallons in then walk for 2 hours.

[Getzapped]

Ok i will make sure to keep it gassed up then!

I forgot to mention my other problem. I had to remove the exhaust to change thr oil filter. It is kerker 4-1 exhaust. And that oil filter cannot come off with that exhaust in place.

[bikerphil]

I reckon all bikes are not created equal. I can access my oil filter on my Kerker 4-1 system just fine (no oil cooler adapter) and my Special runs great with only one petcock (right one is blocked off) all the way down to empty on reserve until nothing left. YMMV

[skids]

Did you flush out the crud in the bottom of the fuel tank and clean off the petcock filter towers? I would try that. Someone said they ran the fuel outlets from the petcocks to a tee to take advantage of the best flowing petcock... That may have been more applicable to standards however.

[Getzapped]

Im just gonna rebuild or replace them. Im gonna use the winter to fix it up.
I was messing with it today. Drove around the neighborhood and did some adjustment.
It seems to take a while to warm up.
Like 1 min on choke then a couple off choke.
I did a good inspection on it and it looks like it was dropped. Nothing major, scrapes on the handle bars and a good ding in the headlight bezel and it looks like the front fender is crooked.
I will probably replace the handlebars. I really dont like that long sweeping feel of these ones. It will get ther and i dont want to do any permanent changes. I will need a new seat, my legs are too short.

[cajun31]

Hey Zap

I too have the same bike you have and also have the kerker 4 into 1. My filter comes off fine. The trick is to drain the oil from the bike....put the drain plug back in. Start the bike and slowly rev for about 10 seconds then shut the bike off and drain oil again. You don't want the bike hot or especially the pipes hot. Running the bike should suck most of the oil out of the filter and allow it to drain from the bike. Once you get to this point remove the filter bolt and allow as much oil as you can to drain out then you should be able to turn the filter enough to clear the pipes. Granted it is messy but can be done. I don't worry about the small amount of oil on the pipes .... it burns off quickly. Some folks just use some carb cleaner to clean the oil off the pipes. Taking the pipes off will ultimately result in your needing to replace the exhaust gaskets. Not doing so will result in popping on deceleration due to those gaskets allowing air into the pipes. Some folks on here will tell you to replace the gaskets anytime you remove and reinstall the pipes. Any how that's my two cents.

[kevxs]

wow reading this makes me really glad I don't have a kerker 4-1

[Getzapped]

I removed them as i am inspecting everything. I am going to have to replace the exhaust. The bottom is smashed flat. It must have been bottomed pretty hard or several times pretty hard.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Zapped,

Regrettably, if you haven't tried to find exhaust systems, they are NO LONGER MADE by any aftermarket company for our bikes, Jardine, Mac, Kerker, etc.! So...if you have an otherwise decent looking and working system, then you're going to want to try to keep it and fix it.

I read a thread on here a while back about a way to get the dents/crushed pipes fixed without any welding on the pipes. Getting a section of chain and getting a steel ball of similar but slightly smaller diameter than the ID of the pipe, but enough chain to be able to get it into the headers, and then out the other end, and then have a way of pulling it thru the pipe and it can press out the dent in the pipe as it passes thru it.

I can't recall how the ball would be attached to the chain, but I'm sure someone will reply on this info.

T.C.

[Getzapped]

It looks like the headers are good and the muffler is intact.
Its the crossover that is smashed. I have welding equipment if i have to make new pipes. And i have been seeing part on ebay. I will get it sorted eventually. Its gonna be a nice winter project.