Well, I bought the bike! (pics, etc.)

[knewsom]

Update!

Well, I got the main jets nice and clean, as well as the diaphram assemblies. (those weren't in the dishwasher, but the caps were, they look alright - I think the chrome ones need polish).

Even though I can't go and completely reassemble the carbs yet, I wiped the whole thing down again, and reassembled what I COULD (the diaphrams/springs etc, air valve, main jets). 'course, being tired as hell and a total FNG, I put the caps back on without the springs! greeaaaat! had to take it apart and re-do, but now I know better.

I think everything is going to work out well! One of the main jets was really a bitch to get it, had to tap it with a screwdriver and hammer, but I lined it up right, and the groove went right over the nub. All I need now is my parts, and the carbs will get fully reassembled, and put back in the bike.

As for the float, I'm not sure what to do there - I'll probably end up buying 4 new plastic ones, as I suspect they last longer, due to lead solder being soluble in gasoline?

I guess this thread has turned into sortof a blog, I think I'll keep posting once in awhile just to keep myself focused.

For now, it's time to pass out (been up since 7).

-Kris

[skids]

Re: Update!

Kris, don't worry about it. You aren't the first one to put the caps on without the springs. In fact, I know a guy (real well) that has done that TWICE. (rolling eyes, shaking head)

Originally posted by knewsom
'course, being tired as hell and a total FNG, I put the caps back on without the springs! greeaaaat! had to take it apart and re-do, but now I know better.
-Kris

[knewsom]

LOL - cheers Skids, now I KNOW I'm not alone!

[pathfinder]

I hate when I do that. Well maybe not me but that other guy that works on my bike till the sun comes up.

[knewsom]

lol - well, at least I got the spark plugs put in right.

OK, so I didn't have any trouble getting the new spark plugs put in right guess that means I'm not a TOTAL moron. The old ones were burt beyond recognition, as black as the heart of a Balrog! Changed the oil too, and adjusted the tensioner - I guess I actually DID have one, and I'm just missing the plug in the front of it - sorry if I alarmed anyone there, I was alamred myself. The oil was also pretty grody, even though apparently it had been recently changed! The filter looked like it had been through hell and back, so black it looked char-broiled! I'm stoked to get all that gunk and itty bitty pieces of metal out of my engine! It was my intent to do quite a bit more, but there was an earth day fair at Sac State that the wife wanted to go to, so there went part of my daylight.

This has really been an adventure so far, especially since I don't have a manual yet! I ordered the CDROM with the factory service manual PDFs on it and the FICHE, but for some reason or another, I can't seem to get it to work in my computer. I may have to ask for another, or for him to just upload the files to my online dropbox. A Clymer's is out of the question for the moment, because I am SORELY out of funds - my car isn't sold yet, and payday isn't 'till Friday.

Got my pilot jets, and I'll be one step closer to re-assembled carbs once they're in. Thank you Mike's XS!!!

Can I get confirmation that the plastic floats on Mike's will work? I'm worried that since one of mine was bad, one of the others will soon follow, and I think I'm going to replace them all. I'm inclined to go with the plastic, as previously mentioned, but I just want to make sure that they'll work in my '78.

ok, that's all for now - tomorrow - gas tank!

-Kris

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Knewsom,

See this thread, but you can just scroll down to the next to last reply:MikesXS Plastic Floats in 78-79carbs thread!
T.C.

[knewsom]

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
Hey Knewsom,

See this thread, but you can just scroll down to the next to last reply:MikesXS Plastic Floats in 78-79carbs thread!
T.C.

woo-hoo! Sweet, I won't even have to adjust the height! "thow 'em in there and start 'er up" is my favorite kind of part.

[webbcraft2150]

Glad to hear you did have the tensioner in place. Heres a tip to replace the plug. Clean the area well with brake cleaner, let dry and the fill with black RTV and let it cure. Been workin on my rig for years. Hang in there man, it will soon be all together, workin like it should. You have the satisfaction of doing it yourself, knowing how everything works, and have an trick ride.

[SG-Olli]

Originally posted by knewsom


The tire still has its nubs on it though, which I take as a good sign, especially since they don't break off in my hands (the rubber isn't brittle or anything yet), and the tire is a Metzler, made in Germany. Maybe they have a special serial number date tracking sorta thingie setup...?

+
The nubs being still there does not mean the tire is new. It is just not used a lot.
Throw the tire away as far as you can or have at least somebody with some experience take a look at it.
Metzeler does not make tires for the old bikes in Germany for at least 5 years. Those are made in Brazil.
The only tires made in Germany are for the new crotch rockets.

[knewsom]

Originally posted by webbcraft2150
Glad to hear you did have the tensioner in place. Heres a tip to replace the plug. Clean the area well with brake cleaner, let dry and the fill with black RTV and let it cure. Been workin on my rig for years. Hang in there man, it will soon be all together, workin like it should. You have the satisfaction of doing it yourself, knowing how everything works, and have an trick ride.

Thanks man, good tip! I got some RTV sealant today!

[knewsom]

Originally posted by SG-Olli
+
The nubs being still there does not mean the tire is new. It is just not used a lot.
Throw the tire away as far as you can or have at least somebody with some experience take a look at it.
Metzeler does not make tires for the old bikes in Germany for at least 5 years. Those are made in Brazil.
The only tires made in Germany are for the new crotch rockets.

*wince* ouch, 5 years old at least!? how could there be no cracking in the rubber? Why does it still FEEL like new rubber? *sigh* well, I knew I was going to have to buy ONE new tire... now I guess I'll have to buy TWO.

[knewsom]

The world's cheapest source of phosphoric acid IS.....

....Safeway brand diet cola...? I couldn't track down ANY citric acid or phosphoric acid ANYWHERE, so I decided to pick up 5 litres of diet cola. I figgured that stuff has to be acidic enough to burn out most of my rust if I leave it in there all day in the sun!

If not, I'm still going to rinse it out with diesel and/or WD-40 afterwords, then rinse with gas, and THEN fill 'er up.

we'll see how it all works...

[xs650mike]

Originally posted by knewsom


*wince* ouch, 5 years old at least!? how could there be no cracking in the rubber? Why does it still FEEL like new rubber? *sigh* well, I knew I was going to have to buy ONE new tire... now I guess I'll have to buy TWO.

As SG-Olli has pointed out, nubs or the absence thereof has absolutely no relationship to the age of the tire. Metzler tires come with more "hair" on them than almost any other brand I can think of, I've got 2 completely worn out fronts that still have hair on the edges. Some brands come already "shaved" from the factory. It's really easy to determine how hardened the tires are on an XS11. Just take it out for a ride and wick it up good on a corner exit, if it immediately gets sideways then the tires need changing.

[knewsom]

Originally posted by xs650mike

As SG-Olli has pointed out, nubs or the absence thereof has absolutely no relationship to the age of the tire. Metzler tires come with more "hair" on them than almost any other brand I can think of, I've got 2 completely worn out fronts that still have hair on the edges. Some brands come already "shaved" from the factory. It's really easy to determine how hardened the tires are on an XS11. Just take it out for a ride and wick it up good on a corner exit, if it immediately gets sideways then the tires need changing.

well, looks like I'm buying two new tires. Better safe than sorry.


on a POSITIVE note, it looks like diet cola is an AWESOME way to clean out a gas tank! So far it's working well. (well, except when I shook it and it blew one of my seals that I made for the petcocks and level measure.)

what I USED for seals: thick heavy card from a manilla folder, SLATHERED in RTV, slapped on there. works like a dream with NON-carbonated anti-rust agents.

[mason79]

rubber do break!

Originally posted by knewsom




well, looks like I'm buying two new tires. Better safe than sorry.


on a POSITIVE note, it looks like diet cola is an AWESOME way to clean out a gas tank! So far it's working well. (well, except when I shook it and it blew one of my seals that I made for the petcocks and level measure.)

what I USED for seals: thick heavy card from a manilla folder, SLATHERED in RTV, slapped on there. works like a dream with NON-carbonated anti-rust agents.

i'm just curious, why don't you run those tires as a test to see how they handle, and if you experience a blowout and at what speed, and what is the cause of catastrophy.

you see the guy who sold me my bike put new dunlops k491 tour elites in the rear and a k291 ( i don't think they make this one anymore) and i know his age and experience does not overide common sense, his 49k miles crisscrossing the country on this bike may, his parking the bike "inside" for 15 years;(i think) and commenting on it being "new" they do have alot of rubber;may lead me to take a risk with these tires, i may wake up one day and go shopping and post a thread, but maybe not, i went 110 on a front that has cracks, stupid maybe, 110 is stupid.

why? my conclusion is these are touring tires able to handle a payload of; at the time upresedented proportions, i think from reading it out hauled anything in the time period, yes our venerable XS1100.

I a liteweight dude at 135, barely asking of what the beast can offer, i stripped the 150 lb tour package.

i figure the rubber when new had a 100% true to the capacity, my at 50% now, still be safe enough, if i never post again, maybe i became a ghost, nuff said.

question to all, did anyone personally or had a friend blow out a tire, because it was old and cracked?, i never had enough rider friends to know this