I started to view the pictures of the new case paint but I could not get past the dip stick.
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Mailman’s XS2 a full on restoration
- Thread starter Mailman
- Start date
Alrighty then, where were we?
Back at it today. Today I wanted to get some gas in those carburetors and check my float level using the clear tube method. Here are the results.
Left carburetor, let sit for 20 minutes , no overflow and level looks good.
Right carb, same thing, 20 minutes with the gas turned on and no leaks.
By the way Gary, that cut down oil can is pure genius! It is exactly the right size to fit in the space beneath the carbs and it’s reusable. Thanks for the tip!
One other observation, during the entire 40 minutes of having the gas turned on, the left carb deposited two drops of gas on the floor from the overflow tube. I’m thinking that’s not a real world problem, with the bike running and shutting off the petcock, like USUALLY do.
One other comment. This test was done with the bike up on the center stand with puts the carbs at a slight angle.
If you move the hose forward or back, the bowl looks to be either too full of too low.
Miscellaneous tidbits, I re routed my clutch cable yet again to ( hopefully) it’s final position, and I re installed my shifter lever and left foot peg.
Later,
Bob
Back at it today. Today I wanted to get some gas in those carburetors and check my float level using the clear tube method. Here are the results.
Left carburetor, let sit for 20 minutes , no overflow and level looks good.
Right carb, same thing, 20 minutes with the gas turned on and no leaks.
By the way Gary, that cut down oil can is pure genius! It is exactly the right size to fit in the space beneath the carbs and it’s reusable. Thanks for the tip!
One other observation, during the entire 40 minutes of having the gas turned on, the left carb deposited two drops of gas on the floor from the overflow tube. I’m thinking that’s not a real world problem, with the bike running and shutting off the petcock, like USUALLY do.
One other comment. This test was done with the bike up on the center stand with puts the carbs at a slight angle.
If you move the hose forward or back, the bowl looks to be either too full of too low.
Miscellaneous tidbits, I re routed my clutch cable yet again to ( hopefully) it’s final position, and I re installed my shifter lever and left foot peg.
Later,
Bob
Lookin’ great Bob - but you gotta get riding before furnace season sets in!
Pete
Pete
Bob, I'm curious.
Did your XS2 carbs come with end caps for the throttle shafts, on the inboard side?
The XS1 carbs have them.
The old parts manuals show them on the XS1 and XS2 carbs.
Although they're not called out as available parts, they're available...
Did your XS2 carbs come with end caps for the throttle shafts, on the inboard side?
The XS1 carbs have them.
The old parts manuals show them on the XS1 and XS2 carbs.
Although they're not called out as available parts, they're available...
Thanx, Bob.
I'm not seeing a pronounced reduced diameter on your XS2 throttle shaft inboard boss, as compared to on my XS1B carbs.
So, it would seem that the endcaps would not fit, are not used on XS2's, and TX650's..
I'm not seeing a pronounced reduced diameter on your XS2 throttle shaft inboard boss, as compared to on my XS1B carbs.
So, it would seem that the endcaps would not fit, are not used on XS2's, and TX650's..
JUST A TEASER........
No work being done today, I’m out of the garage. But this is how I left it yesterday afternoon. No petcocks on the tank yet, no gas obviously, still a few details to nail down. But.......
This is the first time it’s been all together in 418 days!!!
That’s just a little throw away photo I took at the end of the day, but you get the idea. I’m really hoping it runs better the next time I start it. I went through the carbs again , but nothing really jumped out at me. I should be able to start it again in the next few days. I also still need to check the charging system, I haven’t had the opportunity yet.
Soon.......
I can’t wait.
Bob
No work being done today, I’m out of the garage. But this is how I left it yesterday afternoon. No petcocks on the tank yet, no gas obviously, still a few details to nail down. But.......
This is the first time it’s been all together in 418 days!!!
That’s just a little throw away photo I took at the end of the day, but you get the idea. I’m really hoping it runs better the next time I start it. I went through the carbs again , but nothing really jumped out at me. I should be able to start it again in the next few days. I also still need to check the charging system, I haven’t had the opportunity yet.
Soon.......
I can’t wait.
Bob
I am actually hoping for other members input regarding this angle condition with the bike on the centerstand for needle/seat testing and float bowl overflow.
Having mostly experienced 78,79 BS38's which do not have a float bowl overflow tube, I've become aware of the advantage for a more level test in my cases.
If the float bowl were to overfill it seems an advantage for detection of the excess gas to flow immediately rearward toward the air filters rathar than forward and into the intake tract.
Is this rational thinking on earlier BS38's as well ?
-RT
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I try to get the carbs as level as possible, both front to back and side to side, when doing the clear tube check. Your levels look pretty good for a 25mm setting. To get the front to back more level, try sticking a board under the front tire, lifting it so the back tire touches the ground.
As far as setting floats, a little tilt won't hurt. What's important (as Bob pointed out) is the position of the sight tube. Floats are centered in the bowls by design. A (slight) fwd or aft tilt won't affect the level. Where you position the tube will.
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WOW Bob - just WOW.
Pete
Pete
Fantastic Bob!
I'd be thinking on planning some significant photo OPs before she gets dirty, like with golf courses in the background, important buildings, you with the Governor, ...etc.
I'd be thinking on planning some significant photo OPs before she gets dirty, like with golf courses in the background, important buildings, you with the Governor, ...etc.
...you with Cheryl Tiegs, you with Claudia Schiffer.....etc.
Oh yeah! You know it! Ummm.....maybe not the governor.
. Now you’re talking!
Ok guys, what am I missing here?
Remember when I first started my bike? It ran crappy, I couldn’t get it to idle, and the left spark plug was all wet with gas. I thought I must have a float height issue on my left carb. So the carbs came off, went through everything again, I did the clear tube float check, everything is good. So that brings me to today.
I fired the bike up and it sounded like it did the other day. The right cylinder sounds very healthy , deep and throaty, when you hold your hand at the end of the muffler you can really feel the firing pulses. The left cylinder just sounded like it was pumping air, the exhaust felt just like chuffs of air. Then I laid my hands on the pipes, the right side is quickly getting hot, the left side is cold to the touch.
I pulled the left side plug wire and hooked it up to a spare spark plug and grounded the plug to the motor. Cranked the engine and I see a nice fat spark. Tried a different plug in the left cylinder , still not firing. The plugs smell like gas, so I’m pretty sure it’s getting gas.
Then I re checked my valve clearances, bang on, .003 intake and .006 exhaust
Just to confirm, the bike will start and run on just the right cylinder, but when I disconnect the right cylinder, the engine just cranks but won’t fire.
Then I pulled the airboxes and propped open the slides, hooked up my compression tester, and the readings are lower than I’d like, but the engine has not been broke in and it was cold, held the throttle wide open and took readings.
135lbs left cylinder
145lbs. right cylinder
That should still be enough to fire
So let’s recap. I’ve got fuel, spark, and compression, I know my float levels are good, and I know my valves are set properly and the right cylinder is firing just like it should.
So why is my left cylinder going chuff chuff chuff, instead of boom boom boom?
Signed exasperated in Arizona
Remember when I first started my bike? It ran crappy, I couldn’t get it to idle, and the left spark plug was all wet with gas. I thought I must have a float height issue on my left carb. So the carbs came off, went through everything again, I did the clear tube float check, everything is good. So that brings me to today.
I fired the bike up and it sounded like it did the other day. The right cylinder sounds very healthy , deep and throaty, when you hold your hand at the end of the muffler you can really feel the firing pulses. The left cylinder just sounded like it was pumping air, the exhaust felt just like chuffs of air. Then I laid my hands on the pipes, the right side is quickly getting hot, the left side is cold to the touch.
I pulled the left side plug wire and hooked it up to a spare spark plug and grounded the plug to the motor. Cranked the engine and I see a nice fat spark. Tried a different plug in the left cylinder , still not firing. The plugs smell like gas, so I’m pretty sure it’s getting gas.
Then I re checked my valve clearances, bang on, .003 intake and .006 exhaust
Just to confirm, the bike will start and run on just the right cylinder, but when I disconnect the right cylinder, the engine just cranks but won’t fire.
Then I pulled the airboxes and propped open the slides, hooked up my compression tester, and the readings are lower than I’d like, but the engine has not been broke in and it was cold, held the throttle wide open and took readings.
135lbs left cylinder
145lbs. right cylinder
That should still be enough to fire
So let’s recap. I’ve got fuel, spark, and compression, I know my float levels are good, and I know my valves are set properly and the right cylinder is firing just like it should.
So why is my left cylinder going chuff chuff chuff, instead of boom boom boom?
Signed exasperated in Arizona
