could have multiple problems starting with leaky intake boot

Ok my friend rode my bike and it was running hot and lean(found out during the ride) he said it was the intake boots from the carbs to the engine. So i sealed them up with rtv silicone and when i fired it up it was idling at like 3/4 throttle. Before he went on the ride we adjusted what we thought was the idle. What we adjusted was the The little knob comin out of the carbs on the airbox side right in between carbs 2 and 3. After that it idled pretty well.
Another thing that could cause trouble was when put the pet c0ck swith on prime the overflow must have gotten in the airbox because gas was draining out of the the drain tube to the airbox.

 

I have an update i started it again and it did the samething. But it ran a little while because i was controling the throttle by the kill switch. I change the oil before all this and must have added to much cause oil was blowing back into the airbox.

 

Re: could have multiple problems starting with leaky intake

Yes it could cause real trouble, like in a FIRE trouble.

One (or more) of your fuel inlet needle/valve units, inside the carbs, are not seating properly and are allowing fuel to flow into the carb bowl(s) all the time, and then they overflow both into your airbox AND into your engine pan, where they mix with the fuel and then promptly wipe out all the bearings in the engine........

So, here's what you do:

a) turn the petcock off of prime; the prime position allows fuel to flow whether the engine is on or off. This will stop the fuel from constantly draining thru the stuck float valve(s) until you can...........

b) pull the carbs and determine why/which carbs have bad float valves. They could be hung up or just worn out.

c) Fix/replace those leaking float valves, drain the oil, re-fill with fresh oil.

d) All of the above before you ever start your engine again!

 

thanks for the reply. i check the oil and sure enough their was gas in it.
i think i am gonna pull it apart and do everything over. can anyone tell me what the knob is between carbs 2 and 3 on the airbox side. if that is not the idle screw then could someone tell me where that is. i have done alot of reasearch on where it is and just cant find it. thanks

 

The "knob" is the main ("master") idle stop screw. It adjusts all 4 via #3's linkage.

The other three carbs have butterfly position adjustment screws on them that are their "individual" idle stop screws. You don't mess with those except for when you do the vac sync.

All 4 carbs have pilot mixture screws in them.

 

thanks for the reply. i pulled the carbs off and i lubed up the float and made sure they quit sticking and made sure they were all even. then i made sure all the slide diaphrams were sealing and two of them were not so i made sure they sealed. they must have came loose because i double check to make surew they were sealing ealier. i changed the oil and it has ran the best it ever has thanks for the help

 

Slides that came loose...not sure what you are referring to here......the rubber diaphrams of the slide fit into the ridge on top of the carb & are held in place by the carb hat....the slide moves up & down the carb throat with throttle action & vacuum.....not sure how they come loose...

 

Lubricating carb float parts does nothing; they are submerged in gasoline which would quickly wash away any lube.

There's a procedure for "making sure they're all even." It's not something you just eyeball when they're apart. See: http://www.xj4ever.com/setting%20fuel%20levels.pdf

If your float levels aren't set correctly you are just going to end up with a motor full of gas again.