81 XS1100SH Float Levels

[alan311]

Yesterday was my first real ride on my new 81 Special 11. Today is my first post on this forum. First, I want to solve the issue of my carbs leaking fuel into my crankcase and airbreather when I leave my petcocks in the on position. This leaking only happens when the bike is off and if I leave the fuel turned on. When I am riding it does not leak and when it is parked with the fuel off it does not leak.

I wanted to start by verifing that my float levels are correct, and my manual states no float level measurements. It states the 81 requires a process of making certain carbs are exactly level and using a clear vinyl tube with an inside diameter of 6mm. Please, I do not want to go through all that. Does anybody know what the measurements are?

Does anybody Know what else I should try to stop the leaking?

Thanks

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Alan,

Welcome, and congrats!!! I've got the same bike, and IIRC, I just used the ~23.00 mm setting similar to the 80 model vs. the 25-26mm, but you can go by your plug color, and where they are NOW to determine whether you need to go leaner or richer, or are about where you need to be, and just need to even them out amongst each other.

Secondly, do you still have the Octopus!? If you do, then it is not working/leaking, cause with the Petcocks to ON, they are not supposed to reach the carbs with fuel until the engine is running and supplying vacuum to the Octy which opens the control valve allowing it to flow past it to the carbs. If yours is flowing with engine off, then most likely, the Octy is trashed.

If you want to keep it, then you can get rebuild kits for it! If not, and you don't mind remembering to turn your petcocks to OFF when you stop, then you can bypass it!! You'll definitely want to ensure that your petcocks are not leaking also, by pulling the supply hoses off, and turning it to OFF, and you shouldn't see any flow. IF it trickles, then you'll need to rebuild your petcocks as well.

And, since you are getting carb flooding, then your float valve seats are not sealing right either, either sinking floats, stuck float pins, dirty gunk inside carbs causing needle not to seat! Lots of fun, welcome to carb Hell!!
HTH.

[alan311]

Thanks,

I figured the 23mm setting would work, I just wasn't sure. Yes, I do still have the Octy. I got this bike a few months ago, and just finished rebuilding the petcocks and cleaning the carbs. I was very disappointed about the leak because I had drained about 4 qts of oil from the crankcase and about 4 qts of gas that was mixed in with it. I no longer have gas in the crankcase because I already have to remember to shut off the petcocks.

Carb hell is where I will be for a while since I rode about 200 miles yesterday and it is obvious that I need alot more work in that area....At least I can ride while I work it out though...