Need a good carb mechanic

[1Beast]

Hey Guys,
Anyone know of a good XS mechanic in the Charlotte, NC area. I need to have some carb work done. I am slightly mechanically inclined but don't like messing with carbs. Especially when there are 4 of them to be sync'd. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[CatatonicBug]

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

My suggestion? Do them yourself! They are not that complicated, and you'll pay a shop more than the carbs are worth just to sync them. Get a couple cans of carb cleaner spray, and use a compressor for a blast of air here and there. A standard Phillips #2 screwdriver and a skinny standard screwdriver are all you should need to get them clean and tuned. If they are really cruddy, an overnight bath spray of PB blaster will help release the screws.

Follow the Carb 101 Thread and you'll be all set.

[foreda]

Year model?

What year model are your carbs?

[Kit]

Greetings, and welcome!

I agree with C-Bug. I also hate working on carbs. Never really understood them or got along with them. When I first bought mine last year, and before I found this site, I took mine to a shop to have the carbs cleaned and synced, as well as a few other things. Big mistake. I won't say how much I ended up forking over to those guys, but I will say that it absolutely was not worth it. The guy who worked on it supossedly had one of his own, which was given to him by his father, who bought it new. For someone who is supposedly a "legacy" owner, he sure didn't know jack about these things.

I've been forced to learn the ins and outs of these carbs, trying to nail down recurring problems. I think I finally have it all sorted out. I just need to track down one little part this morning, then I will be putting my work to the test this weekend.

The link C-Bug pointed you to is a great place to start. If there is a specific issue you're looking for, the forum search will quite likely turn up several topics or posts on your problem. Sometimes that's a lot of results to wade through, so if you can't find what you need, just ask.

[1Beast]

What year model are your carbs?

They are 1980. The entire bike is original with a little over 16,000 original miles. Has set alot. The carbs were rebuilt about 4 years ago with only minimal riding. I've had it for a couple of weeks now. The idling at rest is low and there is some backfire when you left off the throttle. The headers have turned blue as well.

[foreda]

They are 1980. The entire bike is original with a little over 16,000 original miles. Has set alot. The carbs were rebuilt about 4 years ago with only minimal riding. I've had it for a couple of weeks now. The idling at rest is low and there is some backfire when you left off the throttle. The headers have turned blue as well.

Run some Seafoam thru her good first! If you decide to do it yourself, they are not that hard to work on. The hardest part is removing them if you have the stock air box. Once you learn the little trick to get them off, you can get them off pretty quick.
Does it stumble or hesitate?

[mlew]

If you are ever near Apex NC I can help, Charlotte is only a 3 hour drive.

[Rettic]

Hey Guys,
Anyone know of a good XS mechanic in the Charlotte, NC area. I need to have some carb work done. I am slightly mechanically inclined but don't like messing with carbs. Especially when there are 4 of them to be sync'd. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I am in Huntersville, sent you a PM. I am halfway decent with the pains in the rear known as carbs.

[1Beast]

Thanks to all

Thanks to everyone who posted here. I have got it beat I believe. Had to replace intake boots though. UGH.... Maybe they will last another 31 years.

[Rettic]

Thanks to everyone who posted here. I have got it beat I believe. Had to replace intake boots though. UGH.... Maybe they will last another 31 years.

Awesome!! Let me know if you need help on anything else, at this point I have rebuilt my whole bike at least 2 times. It would be awesome to meet up some time as well. Wouldn't mind riding with another 11. Doing bike night at Macs in LKN this thurs with a buddy and his Rocket III roadster.

[jetmechmarty]

Wouldn't mind riding with another 11.

Come to the rally Sept 30. The Iron Horse is close enough to reach by XS11 in just a few short hours or less. You can ride with a bunch of 11s.

[Rettic]

Preggers

Come to the rally Sept 30. The Iron Horse is close enough to reach by XS11 in just a few short hours or less. You can ride with a bunch of 11s.

That would be awesome, but I am thinking SWMBO wouldn't like me too... she will be 7 1/2 months pregnant at that point... I should prob try not to do whole weekend stuff at that point.