two issues. ignition switch and one STINKY bike.

First, bike just screams, runs like a dream. BUT.. ahh the But..
Sometimes you have to kinda wiggle the ignition switch around to get it to start. I seen some articles on here about that. But no actual diagrams or pictures as to how hard it is to actually tear the ignition switch apart and clean it. The Haynes manual is worthless and it says remove switch and then it shows a picture of the removed switch. Gee THanks. I don't want to tear the ignition switch apart and have springs popping out all over or something.

Second, As I said the bike is running well, very much normal, why does it stink so bad? Like to the point that if I am following the bike on my Harley, the exhaust from the XJ gags me? Old gas? It's been sitting a while and the trip counter is now at 100 miles. since last summer. You know, it's just really hard to put tons of miles on two bikes. I'm just one person! I loaned the bike to a friend for a charity ride this weekend, and she rode in front of me for the 60 mile ride. There were a lot of bikes, 2000 or more on this ride. But yet I could pick out my Yamaha in front of me, cause the bike stunk the whole way. We rode on a while past the end of the ride, so totaling about 100 miles plus... When we brought her home, she was still stinkin... ..when I got her in the garage at home, I laid on her and revved her up and my friend said OMG no wonder you were gaggin. She stinks. BAD. Gag... Normal?
WTF.
NTgirl

 

as far as the switch no springs will come popping out just taking it off when you pull it apart clean one area at a time this way you dont get confused of what wire gos where

the smell sounds like its alittle rich maybe need a better tune the only way to find out is to pull the spark plugs and see whats going on

i hope that helps

 

I've had some pretty bad smells come from fuel sitting in carbs for long periods... Like P2 said, the ignitions are pretty simple, have a go, you've got noting to lose and replacements are not that expensive.

 

Good to know. So I will just go in there and tear it apart...I was thinking the same thing about the smell. She has a four into one exhaust on. I don't like it. But not lots I can do.... I sold the bike and bought her back, and after that time she wasn't quite how I left her Thus the addition of the 4-1 exhaust. I hate that with a passion. For sure i know she needs a carb cleaning and tune. But well you know. .....money and stuff.

 

at autozone they sell an exhaust scent fuel additive. apple, cherry, watermelon, and strawberry im thinking but it makes your exhaust smell like whatever scent you put in the tank. if you cant figure it out invest in this stuff.

 

Are there any additives in the fuel, like maybe some stabilizer? That can make the exhaust smell pretty bad and smoke quite a bit, expecially if it's a heavy dose.

 

roffles

 

LOL on the fuel scent additive. Isn't that sort of like turning up the radio if your car is making a strange noise? Anyway, even if the exhaust smelled good, it would still be noxious. I was actually starting to feel a little sick while the bikes were sitting idling before we all got moving on that ride. I can see it now... in the hospital.. what happened? I don't know... I smelled strawberries and the next thing I know, I passed out! Heh.
MaximumX, there might be a little bit of Seafoam left over from last season still floating around in the tank. I didn't see any smoke from the exhaust whatsoever, tho. I'm trying to run the tank down to almost empty and drain the rest of the contents out of it, and start out with a fresh tank of gas.

 

Possibly you have a rotting carcass caught in the exhaust? Little critters are known for making their nests in some very inconvenient places...

 

Thanks for the carcass comment, Robert. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the problem. We've all rode past dead things. LOL. GAG.
I ( or should I say the XJ's new rider ran the tank down to reserve and then filled it up with 89 octane. Still following the bike, it seems to be running a bit cleaner. I pulled the plugs and they are the prettiest tan you'd ever wanna see.
Now I have a new problem. Random high revs. j Only when warm. Should I start a new thread for this? I dunno. Lots of people have this prob. I'm going to start with lubing all cables and checking for pinched cables, as the tank was off like 6 times last year. I know the carbs need cleaned. The bike is 27 years old. But I am unemployed and just looking for the cheapest solution first. If I get decent job, I will take it in and have the carbs tuned over the winter. I think I can clean them and bench synch myself, but I think tuning might exceed my current abilities.

 

Don't tune 'over the winter'.

If you need them done, get then done right before you start riding again.
You want to tune to your weather and riding conditions anyway.

Rule out the cables really, for the high revs - if it only happens when warm.
Unless it is binding because the cable is too close to something hot?

 

That's what I was thinking. My exhaust smells like exhaust, even after the bike sat for over a year with gas and seafoam. When it ran rich it still smelled like..... exhaust.

 

It does smell like exhaust. Just really strongly.