Tried to go for a ride this evening and pulled the XS out of the garage. Suited up and attempted to start the bike. No electric start. Battery voltage ok. Flipped kill switch and ignition switch several times and still no starter. Also noticed the horn wouldn’t work. Started it with the kick starter and it fired up. Warmed it up for a few minutes and rode off. Seemed to be running ok but had a slight misfire which I attributed to it being cold.
Rode several blocks and the misfire persisted. Even stalled at one light but go figure the electric starter worked. Pulled into a parking lot and checked fuses - all ok. Starter and horn still working intermittently. Wiggled the wiring harness from the ignition switch and found if I moved it the right way, the starter and horn would work. No biggie, I’ll check the switch and inside the headlight tomorrow to find the gremlin. Noticed after being parked, one of the carbs was leaking from the overflow. Don’t know which one though.
Fired the bike back up and got on the highway. Accelerated ok but may have been a bit sluggish. Rode at about 65 mph and the bike started to lose power within 1/2 mile. Eventually it was only running on the right cylinder. Limped it off the highway, pulled into a parking lot. Checked plugs and switched them from side to side. Started the bike up and seemed ok. Adjusted mixture screws. Went for another highway run with petcocks on reserve and gas cap cracked open to eliminate a possible venting issue. Left cylinder died again.
Limped it home at slow speed and occasionally the left cylinder would kick back in but not for long. By the time I got home (several miles), if I kept the revs up it felt like both cylinders were firing again. Even on acceleration it seemed pretty good.
Got it home in the garage. Will have a look tomorrow. Any ideas what I should check first? I’m thinking carbs have to come off for sure.
Rode several blocks and the misfire persisted. Even stalled at one light but go figure the electric starter worked. Pulled into a parking lot and checked fuses - all ok. Starter and horn still working intermittently. Wiggled the wiring harness from the ignition switch and found if I moved it the right way, the starter and horn would work. No biggie, I’ll check the switch and inside the headlight tomorrow to find the gremlin. Noticed after being parked, one of the carbs was leaking from the overflow. Don’t know which one though.
Fired the bike back up and got on the highway. Accelerated ok but may have been a bit sluggish. Rode at about 65 mph and the bike started to lose power within 1/2 mile. Eventually it was only running on the right cylinder. Limped it off the highway, pulled into a parking lot. Checked plugs and switched them from side to side. Started the bike up and seemed ok. Adjusted mixture screws. Went for another highway run with petcocks on reserve and gas cap cracked open to eliminate a possible venting issue. Left cylinder died again.
Limped it home at slow speed and occasionally the left cylinder would kick back in but not for long. By the time I got home (several miles), if I kept the revs up it felt like both cylinders were firing again. Even on acceleration it seemed pretty good.
Got it home in the garage. Will have a look tomorrow. Any ideas what I should check first? I’m thinking carbs have to come off for sure.