Bike won't start without a good shot of Quick Start.

Hey everyone,

Okay I have a 1983 xj1100. I got some carbs off of a 1984 xj1100 parts bike I have. I completely tore the carbs apart, soaked them in carb cleaner, got new float bowl needle assemblies and other parts. Put the carbs back together, set the bowl height (I think I got it right), bench synced the carbs and voila.

It would not start. So I picked up a can of Quick Start from my local Canadian Tire store and shot a bunch in the air box. And it eventially started. After letting it warm up a bit I backed the rpms down to about 1300 by using the little knob at the bottom middle of the rack (it adjusts all the carbs the same). I could shut it off and start it a will.

However. If I let it set for a hour or two I have to turn the little knob back to roughly where it was and squirt more Quick Start into the airbox. Once it starts again I can turn the rpms back down and it will start regularly and easily as long as it doesn't sit too long.


Any Ideas.

Dave...

 

Easy on the Quick Start, as it has an appetite for piston rings. The little knob on the carb rack is your idle adjustment. My carb knowledge is painfully limited, so take it away, RickCoMatic.

 

Um...how is your enrichment circuit (choke)? If it isn't completely clean and functioning properly, you cannot expect the bike to start cold.

 

Im with ManBot on this one, enrichment isn't functioning.

 

Well I know that they are not dirty because I just took the whole thing apart, soaked in Carb Cleaner for at least a day, blew them out with more carb cleaner of a compressed can type, and then wiped them clean and blew compressed air in every orfus know to a carb.

Does anyone know the order in which the choke assembly goes back together in the carb. I might of made a mistake here.

 

Here's a great how-to on breaking the rack...it should show you how to orient the enrichment circuit rod. http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... kdown.html

Also, you well in the front of your fuel bowl needs to be COMPLETELY clean. This is where fuel is dawn up for your enrichment circuit. Did you spray carb cleaner in well and get a fountain coming out the other side? http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... spray.html

Finally, is your battery fully charged and your charging system up to snuff? There have been issues reported on this site, where the battery has enough juice to spin the engine, or fire the plugs, but not both at the same time. Evidence of this is usually found when the bike will "catch" if you let off the starter button at the right time.

Still think it's your enrichment circuit tho. Usually a soak in carb cleaner can still leave the tiny passages gunked. Don't believe people who say these bikes are cold natured and hard to start. My enrichment circuit is VERY clean and my 1982 Seca 750 starts right up every morning, down to the mid 30s.

 

As soon as I am done my coffee I am going to take my bowls off and double check the enrichment cirucuit.

I will let you know what I find.

 

Okay a quick check.

My Enrichment (Choke) assembley (the part that connects to the rod that is connected to the choke cable) consists of a valve, spring, and top (that screws into the carb body and holds the whole thing in place).

Does this sound about right for a Mikuni B34 carb.

 

That is correct hordave, but you also need to take the fuel bowls off and clean the passage that the enrichment valve is connected to. I thought I had mine clean, but little did I know they weren't even close. I actually used a dull needle (not sure if this is the correct method) and liberal amounts of carb cleaner to clean the passage because the old gas and crap was so hard that was the only way I could get it out.

Check out the link Manbot posted above and it should help you greatly. The link that ends in Spray. ---> www.xjbikes.com/Forums...spray.html

 

okay I checked out my enrichment system right from the bowls to the butterfly valve and it all seems good. I shot carb cleaner through the float bowl passage and then I shot air up through the long copper post and it came out by the butterfly valve very well.

So I strapped then back on. And I come across the next problem. I will start a new post for that. it is here:

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... tml#215890

 

Yay Team,

Well my 1100 finally runs. Not quick start no nothin. Now I can sync my carbs and see how sweet I can make her run. Then bleed some brakes and take her out for a ride.

Thanks to everyone for you help and advice.

Later...