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trying to remove old bad fuel from ful lines before carbs..disconnected lines from petcock,

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by firemanpetey, May 15, 2019.

  1. firemanpetey

    firemanpetey New Member

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    then opened fuel bowl drains on carbs..connected squeeze bottle with new fuel to line that plugs into petcock,but cant squeeze any fuel through the lines..is it supposed to be this way? I know the petcock wont open without engine vacuum attached, but looks like fuel should be pushed thru to me.. help?
     
  2. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    Can you put squeeze bottle on carb side of petcock, and bypass petcock? Lack of vacuum may mean the valve won't open with pressure from fuel.
     
  3. Ryengoth

    Ryengoth Active Member

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    If you are connecting the carb feed line between petcock and carb then yes. If the floats are working properly the fuel should drain from all of the carbs that you have the drain screw open on. Did any fuel drain from the carbs when you opened the drain screws?
     
  4. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    apply vacuum to the petcock and the fuel will flow freely from tank
    or set petcock to prime then fuel will flow freely from tank

    do you have bad fuel in the tank as well?

    edited
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2019
  5. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    I need clarity.
    Did you remove the fuel line (large) from the petcock and hook that up to the squeeeze (hopefully nalgene) bottle, or are you hooking the bottle up to the vacuum line (small)?

    The float bowls will dry out if the bike sits long enough, and the resulting varnish can clog the drain holes after many years (especially if the drains are never opened).
     
  6. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    The fuel line that "feeds" the petcock from the rear is the vaccuum line from the intake, that opens the petcock, there should be no fuel there.
    If you put fresh fuel in the tank, either apply vaccuum to this hose manually (suck on it) fuel will flow.
    Alternativly set the petcok on prime to bypass this feature.
    Otherwise the only other way is to remove the output line of petcock, to carbs, attach squeeze bottle there.
     
  7. firemanpetey

    firemanpetey New Member

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    bypassed petcock,unhooked went ahead and took carbs off ..the floats are stuck in closed position from varnishy dried old fuel.. will clean completely now.. thank you for helping everyone
     
    MaximusXJ650 likes this.
  8. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    boiling the carbs will melt and remove most, if not all, of the varnish.
     
  9. Lodewijk

    Lodewijk Member

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    As in "putting the carbs in boiling water"? Or is this some jargon I'm completely missing?
     
  10. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    yup make some carb stew on the stove
     
    Lodewijk likes this.
  11. Chitwood

    Chitwood Well-Known Member

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    Probably best not to use one of the good stew pots
     
  12. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    I use an old Dutch oven I picked up at a garage sale and a propane burner I have for oyster steaming. I like to do it out in the garage. I disassemble the carbs, but I don’t break the rack and do not boil the floats.
     
    Jetfixer likes this.
  13. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    mmmmm rack of carbs and boiled floats very tasty
     
  14. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    My lineage traces back to the Netherlands. My wife won't let me have a Dutch oven.:eek:
     
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  15. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    The floats are raw, like oysters on a half shell.
     
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  16. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    I like to add a few carrots n onions for flavor ;)
     

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