Bike runs fine on center stand but dies on side stand

member42677

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First post but I’ve been on this site for years learning all about my 83 xs650. Have been working on my bike for a while now and it has had its times good and bad. After pulling it out for the winter it ran fine but then letting it sit another month it started having problems. The biggest one is when the bike is on the service stand it runs fine but a few seconds after it’s let down on the side stand it dies. Has a 2-1 exhaust with a silencer and backing in it. Velocity air intakes (going to go back to foam). New jets (pilot 30, main 140) new spark plugs. Would love to hear some ideas!
 

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Might try a brief shot of ether (carb cleaner will work too) in the intake when engine is trying to die. That will narrow the problem to fuel.....
 
Please describe how it dies
Splutter on Both sides
On one side
or just POFF ..and Off both sides

I am thinking electrical problem I have rarely had carburetor problems 5- 8 times and possibly never on both sides at the same time for 40 years

Please Read the tech manual on Carb Cleaning
 
Have the carb completely apart but I’ll give that a try the moment it’s clean for a second time in 5 days


Nice looking bike!

I'm with Jim on checking the float height - given your symptom. While you're in there, double check the number on your Pilot Jet: shouldn't be a 30

There is one, off-the-wall, condition re sidestand, but it involves an XS Charge ignition (not stock)
 
There is one, off-the-wall, condition re sidestand, but it involves an XS Charge ignition (not stock)
Good catch JP. 'Spose it would help if we knew what ignition you're running?
 
Please describe how it dies
Splutter on Both sides
On one side
or just POFF ..and Off both sides

I am thinking electrical problem I have rarely had carburetor problems 5- 8 times and possibly never on both sides at the same time for 40 years

Please Read the tech manual on Carb Cleaning
By both sides are you talking exhaust? It goes to one and sputters or a second if I hold the throttle a bit it will stay on and bounce off 2 grand rpm but as soon as more fuel or less is introduced it dies.
 
Nice looking bike!

I'm with Jim on checking the float height - given your symptom. While you're in there, double check the number on your Pilot Jet: shouldn't be a 30

There is one, off-the-wall, condition re sidestand, but it involves an XS Charge ignition (not stock)
Tried to do one size smaller jets because it was getting too much fuel with how much air it gets. Plugs turn black fairly fast so it’s very rich
 
IME, you're quite rich on the Main Jet and way, way lean on the idle circuit (Pilot). Also, IME, with good velocity stacks - they pull more fuel - and allow jetting that is slightly leaner than pod filters - all things otherwise equal

Now that you've corrected the float level it may want 45 pilots
 
IME, you're quite rich on the Main Jet and way, way lean on the idle circuit (Pilot). Also, IME, with good velocity stacks - they pull more fuel - and allow jetting that is slightly leaner than pod filters - all things otherwise equal

Now that you've corrected the float level it may want 45 pilots
I’m going to order the dump tune needle and jet kit from Mikes xs and also see how that goes thanks to all of you for the help so far!!
 
Since you measure your float setting with the carb upside down, a lower numbers results in a higher fuel level once the carbs are turned right side up again. So, the low number setting you found would result in higher fuel levels and richer running. That could explain your black plugs and why it would even run at all with those very small #30 pilots. Also, putting it on the sidestand with those very high fuel levels in the bowls could of resulted in even more fuel transfering from the right carb to the left one. That might cause it to flood out and stall.
 
Thinking out loud
Probably is the carburetors but to me electrics is far simpler to find

Been thinking about it ..The bike on the kick stand to the left and it dies ..
What happens if leaning equal amount to the right instead
 
Thinking out loud
Probably is the carburetors but to me electrics is far simpler to find

Been thinking about it ..The bike on the kick stand to the left and it dies ..
What happens if leaning equal amount to the right instead
Haven’t tried that yet Jan but I guess I should of explained that the bike has ran and ridden fine and eventually starts sputtering and pinning off 2k
 
I found in my recent learning experience that when your pilots are too small you have to dial up the idle adjust screw which opens the butterflies more to get an idle. This cause you to pull fuel from the needle/main while at idle which ends up being too rich. IME, when my pilot got close to correct everything improved dramaticly.
 
I found in my recent learning experience that when your pilots are too small you have to dial up the idle adjust screw which opens the butterflies more to get an idle. This cause you to pull fuel from the needle/main while at idle which ends up being too rich. IME, when my pilot got close to correct everything improved dramaticly.
Yeah with my float bowl being off it was getting way to much fuel. The idle screw was barely even touching. Could even idle with the screw all the way out. Hopefully the new jets I ordered the fixed float will be better.
 
hello all got the new jets (45 and 145) in the carb and a better vacuum. Got it going just fine but it’s still doing that same ping just off of 2k any ideas? I’m going to keep working on it.
Have a video but no clue how to get it on here
 
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