seafoam....

You may wish to consider pulling the carbs before the winter Max. If there is gunk in there, you have no idea when it will gum up a passage or worse yet, leave you stranded. I'd rather find out now in the comfort of my home/garage in conditions that are controlable than out in the middle of a ride somewhere miles from help. Just a point of view, think about it.

 

Robert, you make a very good point. I am just in the process of ordering a colortune and carb sync tools, so I'm going to wait until I have those in hand before I disassemble anything on my carbs.

There are several different ways that I've seen it suggested, all depending on how bad you figure the oil system is gummed up. Some people drain some of the oil and add half a can or more, and in extreme cases I saw one suggestion of running straight seafoam instead of oil! 8O

I chose to go with the minimal amount of 3-4 ounces then ran the bike for 5 or 10 minutes on the center stand, working it through all the gears to make sure it worked it's way through everything. Then drained it and replaced the oil filter.

I chose a fairly cool evening to do this so I didn't overheat the aircooled bike, and didn't run the engine under load as the oil was thinned out. I will do this before every oil change now to clean out the years of sludge.

If you go with a stronger concentration in the oil it would be a good idea to fill the bike with cheaper oil afterwards and run it a bit to rinse/flush the last of the seafoam out, then change the oil and filter to your normal blend. I had to pack the oil and tools with me to the location I was doing the work, so I chose not to have to carry the extra oil for this session. When I'm settled in my new home I'll give it a deeper cleaning.

Hope that helps you a bit.

 

I did the full strength, 1 can to the crankcase. I did drive the bike in my driveway, no high rpm's. Put it back on the center stand, then drained the oil. Re-filled with cheap oil, ran it for some miles (maybe 20), then drained the oil and re-filled with good stuff. Also changed the filter.

 

Piersol, did you notice any difference after that treatment?

 

Not a whole lot, I just did it to clean out the sludge and junk. My bike sat for 10 years before I got it, and I hadn't ridden it much at all before I did the seafoam in the crankcase. It did turn my oil black pretty much instantly, so I know there was a bunch of crap in it!

 

Speaking of seafoam, last night my internet was really slow, so I unplugged our cable connection and squirted some seafoam in there. Clean it right up for us, now...

 

Maximator: Thanks. I was just unsure. I had put a couple ounces in mine once then drained the oil after about 20 miles of riding. oops. Oh well, it fixed my starter clutch stick and my tensioner problems. Afterwards when I reset my tensioner, it actually kept tension and stopped making noise.

I may flush it again before the next oil change.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I hate all the time I waste cleaning the spam and other junk off my hard drive, maybe I'll use seafoam next time.

 

It's great for treating diaper rash.

I've also used it to cure my dog of worms.

I've heard that putting a shot in your womans coffee every morning for a week will take 20 years off her age. (NOTE: In many Northern states this treatment should only be used on women at least 36 years old as you risk violating laws against statutory rape. In most Southern states women must be at least 33)

:wink:

 

I drank a can of Seafoam and it cured my cancer, took 50 pounds off my ass, and gave me the strength of a bear!

 

If you add 8 ounces of the stuff to a hot bath ...

Your athletes foot goes away.
Your hemorrhoids shrink.
Your mosquito bites stop itching.
Your acne disappears.
Poison Ivy itch is relieved ...

and ...

You'll have NO need for Levitra, Cialis or Viagra!!!!

Ask your Doctor if SeaFoam is right for you.

If he says "No" ...

Tell 'em I said it was OK !!!

 

Something tells me Rick would know all to well about Levitra, Cialis, Viagra, and how Seafoam is a good substitute for that

 

Ouch!

 

Rick does seem to be a man of experience, exspecially when it comes to carbs and carb cleaners.

He is a wealth of info. So his advice should be heeded.

Let me know if anything other than carbon build up, comes off in the bath tub. lol

 

I have heard nothing but good things come from Rick's advice. He's a definite asset to the forum.

I use seafoam in my lawn mower, chain saw, weed wacker, snow blower, vehicles, etc. But I've yet to try it in my XJ. I'm a little apprehensive to try it in a 25+ year old XJ1100, but I've had great experience with it in the past so I guess it can't hurt.

 

Once you get the knack of going through a set off Carbs a few times ... you'll be making-up Tools and multi-tasking across all four of them as you clean them.

My Carb Kit includes:

Real Dental Tools (from when they weren't looking one time.)

A medium length Cap Screw that matches the Threads of the Emulsion Tube ... for Driving it Out and Capturing it to Pull the Slotted and Keyed one's back in.

A longer Cap Screw with matching Emulsion Tube threads. This one with the Allen Head cut-off ... for chucking in to the drill and spinning the Emulsion Tube to scrub-off the build-up and shine them.

A Big Nail ... with the pointy-end machined down to help drive-out stuck Float Hinge Pins.

Several sets of Welder's Tip Cleaning Tools. The most frequently used probes pulled-out of the set and stuck into a champagne cork for quick access.

A modified set of Mini-Diagonal Cutters. The cutting edges deliberately dulled for "Wedging-Out" Hinge Pins on MIKUNI's.

Screw Drivers that have been modified to FIT the Turning Slots on Jets and Pilot Mixture Screws.

One small Screw Driver that has been "Chopped, Channeled and Sectioned" for setting-up Pilot Mixtures.

It fits the Slot with Zero wiggle and the Handle is Indexed at the bottom with color-added notches for 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 Turn increments to use Dialing-in Mixures.

Carbs I do for those who send them to me for cleaning are returned with the Top of each Pilot Screw hole INDEXED from where the Screw Head is Positioned when Bottomed-Out.

If they need to add a Eighth of a Turn IN or Out ... there's no guess work.

 

Don't use it on a 25 year old bike unless you want it to run like a much newer bike.

 

That's the Mission!

Get the Old Bike's running like New Bike's.

I have not once recommended SeaFoam.

But, I have recommended maintenance and repair procedures that work just as good.

In some cases ... better!

 

uh oh! So you're saying that you don't recommend the use of Seafoam Rick? Or are you simply stating that you haven't ever endorsed it in the past?

So, what are your thoughts on Seafoam and older bikes?

Geez...if Rick decides he doesn't like it....then I have to not like it too....I have no brain of my own.....I must follow the crowd....he he he!

 

I picked a can up a week ago and added only 2oz or so to my tank, nowhere near what you guys are saying. Maybe I should add some more the next time I refill. Anyhow, I haven't notcied much of anything with my bike, but I wasn't having problems either. I did add some to my mower and it's running great