3k Stumble

[BA80]

Well this thing is about to piss me off....................I cleaned the carbs put it all back together and it runs worse now............I think this thing is cursed and that's why I got it at such a good deal.........

Beating my head against the wall now.......carbs are off again and going to go through them one more time in the morning.......if that doesn't help well there may be a XS for sale cheap.........tired of dealing with it when its a simple fix I am sure.

Hell my other bikes were not half is hard to deal with.......

Are you SURE it's a carb problem? When I first got my bike I fought a carb problem that turned out to actually be an ignition problem.

[spectra]

Are you SURE it's a carb problem? When I first got my bike I fought a carb problem that turned out to actually be an ignition problem.

Tell me more on what it was?

I tore the carbs down this morning to bare bones.......blew everything out with cleaner and air then re assembled and bench sync. Put them on and it runs like crap. I am leaning towards something other than carbs. How would it run great except for a little hesitation to not wanting to run at all. I cant even get it to run well now........

[motoman]

Are you SURE it's a carb problem? When I first got my bike I fought a carb problem that turned out to actually be an ignition problem.

+1!.......carbs are possibly having electrical issues. A good start for this is remove leftside ignition cover, tugging on pick-up coil wires looking for wire insulation that stretches a bit indicating the fine little wires under insulation are broken......a known common issue resulting from mechanical advance rotation eventually weakening and breaking wires under insulation. Do DO this and report back findings.

[spectra]

+1!.......carbs are possibly having electrical issues. A good start for this is remove leftside ignition cover, tugging on pick-up coil wires looking for wire insulation that stretches a bit indicating the fine little wires under insulation are broken......a known common issue resulting from mechanical advance rotation eventually weakening and breaking wires under insulation. Do DO this and report back findings.

Was already a step ahead of you and cover was off and looked at wires and someone was already in there......one wire has been spliced already. others look decent.

Update this thing has a mind of its own as now it run good again Idles great and rolls off idle decent with just a little backfire as I think its running lean now. Black on plugs is gone and now a little grey on there. I did replace the plugs as I had another set in the garage.

So question is if I re jet do I do both the mains and the pilots or ? this is all new to me............

Thanks!

[motoman]

Neither at this point. Just LOOKING at those pick-up coil wires is NOT correct method of inspecting them. You need to use both hands and tug every inch of those wires. The previous repair, if soldered and not crimped using a shortened butt connector then sliding the small piece of shrink tubing over it can be at fault. The heat from soldering those wires weakens the wire, and can break again next to repair. The suspect issues need to be solved BEFORE any re-jetting is even considered.....always, always.

[HalfCentury]

If it ran like crap and now runs great with no concrete explanation as to why the change, then it sounds like you have an intermittent problem. My non-expert opinion is that it is most likely an electrical problem.

Personally, I would ignore the carbs and try to find the mechanism that is the root of the intermittent problem. Try to induce the problem by wiggling wires and connectors while the engine is running.

These bikes have 35+ year old wiring and 35+ year old interconnects, etc.

[ThrottleJunky]

Hang in there, man you'll figure it out! I had a host of problems with one of my bikes, and eventually sorted it all out.

First, when you had the carbs apart, did you change the orings for the needle and seat, or at least check them along with that filter? If those orings are bad, which they were on both of my bikes, they'll leak fuel and things will never be right.

Next, really pull on those wires for the vacuum advance while the bike is running. I was chasing my tail, assuming I still had "carb problems" when I finally tugged on those and it killed the bike every time. I soldered them and took the bike for a run and was so happy it was all fixed....until it broke down on me.,..

That turned out to be a blocked vent inside the fuel cap. I took the fuel cap apart and the tiny little hole in the rubber grommet was plugged solid. I fixed that and my bike runs like an absolute champ. She just purrs at idle, and when I crack the throttle she is off like an animal possessed. Wish I wasn't so far north of you, I'd be happy to help you out.

[spectra]

Neither at this point. Just LOOKING at those pick-up coil wires is NOT correct method of inspecting them. You need to use both hands and tug every inch of those wires. The previous repair, if soldered and not crimped using a shortened butt connector then sliding the small piece of shrink tubing over it can be at fault. The heat from soldering those wires weakens the wire, and can break again next to repair. The suspect issues need to be solved BEFORE any re-jetting is even considered.....always, always.

Will do on the wires......the one connection that was fixed looks likes its soldered and heat shrink.

I did go over them feeling as I know what a messed up wire looks like. I have a few older XS models in he smaller size. I re wired one and thought of going that rout on this but decided against it.

If it ran like crap and now runs great with no concrete explanation as to why the change, then it sounds like you have an intermittent problem. My non-expert opinion is that it is most likely an electrical problem.

Personally, I would ignore the carbs and try to find the mechanism that is the root of the intermittent problem. Try to induce the problem by wiggling wires and connectors while the engine is running.

These bikes have 35+ year old wiring and 35+ year old interconnects, etc.

I agree and yes have been jiggling wires and poking things trying to get something to happen........but nothing so far.

Hang in there, man you'll figure it out! I had a host of problems with one of my bikes, and eventually sorted it all out.

First, when you had the carbs apart, did you change the orings for the needle and seat, or at least check them along with that filter? If those orings are bad, which they were on both of my bikes, they'll leak fuel and things will never be right.

Next, really pull on those wires for the vacuum advance while the bike is running. I was chasing my tail, assuming I still had "carb problems" when I finally tugged on those and it killed the bike every time. I soldered them and took the bike for a run and was so happy it was all fixed....until it broke down on me.,..

That turned out to be a blocked vent inside the fuel cap. I took the fuel cap apart and the tiny little hole in the rubber grommet was plugged solid. I fixed that and my bike runs like an absolute champ. She just purrs at idle, and when I crack the throttle she is off like an animal possessed. Wish I wasn't so far north of you, I'd be happy to help you out.

Thanks! and yes wish you were closer another set of eyes is always better.......

[BA80]

Tell me more on what it was?

I tore the carbs down this morning to bare bones.......blew everything out with cleaner and air then re assembled and bench sync. Put them on and it runs like crap. I am leaning towards something other than carbs. How would it run great except for a little hesitation to not wanting to run at all. I cant even get it to run well now........

Looks like it's covered already. Mine was an intermittent pick up coil wire contact issue, inside the insulation.

[spectra]

Looks like it's covered already. Mine was an intermittent pick up coil wire contact issue, inside the insulation.

I am pretty sure they are ok. I poke prodded and pulled on all of them to no avail on having anything happen.

Was bored this afternoon so got to reading and pulled my meter out. Found an article on checking ohms at the ignition box so did that and everything checked out.....cleaned all the connections and new grease on there. Checked coils they panned out at 1.5 just like it says.....cleaned and greased all terminals.

Still going over posts trying to see if there is that little thing that I may have missed......bike runs but is still a little sluggish in the low end and spits a little.

[BA80]

That actually sounds a bit like a pilot circuit/ pilot jet issue. Incorrect style or aftermarket pilot jets will cause that.

I'm assuming your plugs are fresh and you've trimmed the plug wires and made certain they are getting good contact.

[BA80]

I am pretty sure they are ok. I poke prodded and pulled on all of them to no avail on having anything happen.

Was bored this afternoon so got to reading and pulled my meter out. Found an article on checking ohms at the ignition box so did that and everything checked out.....cleaned all the connections and new grease on there. Checked coils they panned out at 1.5 just like it says.....cleaned and greased all terminals.

Still going over posts trying to see if there is that little thing that I may have missed......bike runs but is still a little sluggish in the low end and spits a little.

Have you checked the OHMs?

[spectra]

Have you checked the OHMs?

Yes was getting 792 between the 2 sets of wires and even wiggled to see if it moved and also rotated the motor nothing changed.....

I am not a wiz with the multi meter but think I did it right

[BA80]

Yes was getting 792 between the 2 sets of wires and even wiggled to see if it moved and also rotated the motor nothing changed.....

I am not a wiz with the multi meter but think I did it right

That seems a bit high, should be around 750.

[spectra]

That seems a bit high, should be around 750.

Will check again tonight.....its 100 plus in the garage and 75 in the house bike is in the garage........even with the fan blowing I said this is nuts it can wait.

If to high what would that indicate? I know very little when it comes to electrical stuff. Just enough to get myself in trouble.