1980 XS11 Conking out...

[seriousjimmy]

Bike sat for a couple of months out in the weather.
Leaking carbs...
Just had the carb float needles replaced...
Oil changed before carb fix.
Carbs no longer leak.
Starts right up, idles smoothly,
runs great for a bit then dies...
Slight gas smell in oil.
A bit of oil in airbox?

Crankcase venting problems?
Gas having leaked down into the crankcase fro previous leaking issues?
Need to changeg oil again?

Still loving this bike...

[Parr8hed]

change the oil again, what else did you do to the carbs? Follow all of the disasembly/cleaning tips in the tech section. also maybe concider a petcock rebuild and/or some in line fuel shut offs. all of this is realively easy and inexpensive.

[MAXIMAN]

Sounds like carbs overflowing into cylinders and crankcase. Definitely change oil.

Overflow could be due to sticking floats for a variety of reasons.

-Make sure gas tank is clean
-may have to rebuild petcocks
-control diaphram may need kit...rust/trash could be inhibiting operation
-make sure carbs are still clean and float levels are right.

Also you may need to replace the air filter if saturated with gasoline.

[seriousjimmy]

Thanks for the replies, gents!
Carbs have been thoroughly cleaned...
Have checked out the 'petcock' rebuild/issue threads...
Will change air filter and check for gunk in the fuel lines/tank.
Sounds like an easy fix...
All else works fine for a 25 year old bike.

[Parr8hed]

I really like my inline fuel shut-offs. I just got 1/4 inch brass plumbing valves and put them in the fuel lines. Just one quarter turn and gas is on, or off. No leaking even if carbs and petcocks are not 100%. A little cheap insurance. Been using these for 3 years now, no problems yet!

[cueball]

give the diaphragm fuel taps the big A, get some on/off/reserve one from partsnmore.com. end of problem.

[seriousjimmy]

cueball:


Sounds like a plan to me...

[cueball]

partsnmore.com have them advertised for wider spacings between the bolts, oldbikebarn.com have different sizes, are a little more costly.

[Parr8hed]

so are those like replacement petcocks? Checked partsnmore website did not see them, do you remember where they were?

[Parr8hed]

i'm stupid, found them. Are you using one or 2? When I changed fuel lines I feel like maybe my setup is giving me some starvation issues. I really feel as if it were my setup. I recently rebuilt my petcocks and they still leak. I do have the in line shut offs, but could eliminate the old leaking petcocks (even though a fix has been described to me) I could also get rid of the in line shut offs as they are way back underneath the seat. Hmmmm.....

[cueball]

how many outlets are there underneath your tank

[Parr8hed]

2, but heard of some plugging one and having a "y" off pf a single petcock

[cueball]

might work, then again,might need two taps to supply enough fuel when the wick is turned up.