Won't fire

Hello,

When I got the bike in August it would run, but only off of stater fluid and the idle was really high. Once I pulled the carbs I found a ton of rust clogging the enrichment circuit and a cracked carb body.

I recently cleaned my carbs using the old school method. Everything was very clean. I then reassembled, bench sync'd, set the float levels, and put the idle screws about 2 3/4 turns out.

I rebuilt the petcock and installed a fuel filter. I get gas in to fill up the bowls when set to prime.

I recharged the battery with a battery tender jr.

When I installed everything and tried to start it the engine would just crank over and not come close to firing. I got frustrated, disconnected the gas tank, and let it sit for a few hours until a buddy came over. I then pulled plug #4 to begin checking the spark, and as soon as I hit the starter button it fired up with #4 out....and the tank disconnected.

I tried to replicate what had just happened with no success. Connected the tank, put #4 back in, and nothing happened. All the time it was cranking over I could smell gas, but when I looked at plug #4 it was dry and pretty clean actually.

I'm sure there is something fairly simple I'm too new to recognize, but I really would like to hear it run before it gets too cold here. Thanks, Tim.

 

Ok, I just tried starting it again after letting it sit overnight. It fired right up again with the tank connected, but setup so that no gas would flow (petcock to on with no vacuum line connected). The idle was at about 3k and it wouldn't run without the enrichment circuit on. I could rev the engine, but the longer it ran, and the more I messed with the enrichment circuit, the crappier it ran and eventually bogged down and died. Now it won't restart. It ran for a several minutes though.

Also, I've noticed that the started doesn't turn immediately when I hit the button. It waits a few seconds with the oil light on, and will then crank over. Thanks again, Tim.

 

the floats probably aren't set right. you could also have plugged passages in the carbs. you need to pull ALL the jets out and spray carb cleaner to make sure that every hole you squirt in comes out another hole.

you may have cleaned the carbs but the job probably isn't complete. unless you've done ALL the necessary procedures.

 

Instead of starting a new thread I figured I'd just add my new problems to this one:

I've gotten things cleaned up so the bike starts without fail everytime, but not it'll only run with the enrichment circuit on and seems to be running too lean because it dies when the enrichment is off and I give it gas.

The carbs are old school clean and I just did a new oil and filter change. What I can't figure out is that I wet-set, with gas, the floats to the correct level and had no overflows, but I seem to be running lean and smell gas in my oil again. Petcock worked properly when doing the wet-setting too.

What would cause it to run very lean, but still leak gas through the cylinders into the oil?

Thanks for the help. I am so frustrated with this thing that the stealership is starting to appeal to me... Tim.

 

Have you done the "Clunk Test" on the carbs?

Oh and the spray test around the intakes to make sure there is no air getting sucked in.

Is the engine YICS?

 

Oil in gas=stuck float needle/valve. Stuck open gas flowing into oil tank I think.

 

Yes on the Clunk test and YICS, but no on the spray test.

 

Exactly what I would think too, but couldn't replicate this when I wet-set while the carbs were off, and when I level checked the two outer carbs on the bike on the centerstand they looked too low...

 

A lean condition means too much air... I'd be checking for leaks as well as re checking the float levels.

Fuel in the oil is commonly caused by gas running in to the cylinders and past the rings... Can occur in small amounts by flooding the engine which is not what you're suggesting with the lean condition.

I've been through similar before and just kept removing, cleaning and checking that all jets were clear, float levels were right, carbs were synced, fuel tap was working as expected and no air was getting in where it wasn't required... Just give your YICS nuts a check for tight and seal.

Eventually i got it sorted but did take some time

 

Appreciate the help. I don't mind working on my XJ, but get frustrated when I "fix" the same problem over and over, and have it work right off the bike only to fail when I take the time to install everything. Nonetheless, I have a long way to go to get it road ready. Thanks again, Tim.

 

Once I sorted my carb gremlins they went away for a long time and I learnt a whole lot about troubleshooting them... Yep I got frustrated too, but it paid off in the lnog run