New to the XJ and have some weird symptoms.

Hello! I just traded bikes with a guy and got a 1982 XJ1100. The guy went through and cleaned a ton of things and got it close to riding well, but decided he wanted what I had. So now I have to finish the last few odd things.

It doesn't start without spraying starter fluid spray onto the pod filters. Then when it runs for a bit and gets to a normal operating temp, it won't stay running. What would you all think might be the problems? He said he thought the coils might keep it from running once it was warmed up. But that was just his idea.

That's all I got. I haven't done anything besides trying to start it without spraying the pods (which didn't work and it didn't fire up).

The carb boots look cracked, but I'm not sure if that is okay or not.

 

Okay welcome to the xj world , your carb boots are cracked , take black RTY fill in the cracks with a good layer , the second issue with pods your jetting may have been changed or not , you would have to pull carbs to check jet size , this one of the problems running pods. You have to experiment with jetting ...there is NO magic jet size go to large in jet size might run good at high rpm but not idle right , to small and might run good at idle but run horrible at high rpm.

 

Just cause the boots have cracks doesn't mean they go all the way through. Like jetfixer said pull the carbs and check the jets and the carb boots. If they are stock size I'd try to find a airbox and go from there. If you want to go with pods I'd get the bike running stock first then experiment.

 

if you spray starter fluid on the pods and get a backfire your pods will burn up your bike.

check out your enrichment circuit to see if it is clogged, problem may be the wells in the bowls are clogged

 

Yes the starter circuit was clogged on my XJ 900f.

 

he is dead serious about the back fire !!!! I learned the hard way on my xs850 special !!! i did what xjrider suggested and went back to the stock air box that solved the starting issue.

 

yup I did this to pods to fire up bike pods went up in flames good thing I had my fire extinguisher next to the bike. would have lost the bike and barn.

better to pull off the pods when using starter fluid.

 

Thanks for all the replies!

Anyone got a stock airbox I can buy...?

 

Looks like a couple parts on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=XJ1100+airbox&_sacat=0

 

The passage above feeds the starter/choke circuit, there is a tiny jet in there that can't be removed but plugs up.
A tiny tip cleaner, or two strands from a copper wire twisted together will clean it. It's very fiddley, as the jet is only like .010" and tough to clean if it's super plugged.
Must be cleaned from the top passage untill you can squirt carb cleaner thru it and out the bottom.
Hope this helps.

 

So I see that there are a ton of little parts and things for the airbox.... Found a breakdown on Bike Bandit.

I found the bottom (#21), the top (#8), and the hose thing (#15).

What other parts will I need to find?
17, 20, 25, 26, and 28 look important.

Also, what are the rubber boots called that go from the carbs into the box? I need those...

 

Any ideas? I'd hate to buy the 3 parts for $100 and be missing a ton of random needed pieces.

 

The bike should run without an airbox. The throttle will lag a bit with no intake, no pods etc. But it should run and idle.
Fix the starting issue first before you worry about changing out the pods for an airbox.
I bought mine with pods and a header it starts fine, runs all day and luckily seems to be jetted for them.
Take your carbs to the church of clean

 

Speedy, the best advice you received so far is from Colin, pull the carbs and clean the heck out of them and rebuild them. Fun fact: 95% of all idle or running issues comes from poorly maintained carbs.

 

Thanks so much!

Are those gallon carb dunk kits worth the money? Or should I just take a brush and a can of carb cleaner to them?

 

yes they are but you will have to replace any orings

 

My preference is Berrymans one gallon carb dip ,there is a basket in the can to hold your parts , after a full tear down all O rings and jets removed soak each carb about 45 minutes . Wash the carbs afterwards with hot soapy water Dawn dish soap is best , let dry and reassemble . Spray carb cleaner will not get in the small passages of the carb ,and the way ethonol sets up this can plug up said passages . Using seafoam and Stabil is about all we can do unless you find Non ethonol fuel.