Oil in the air filter

OK. We're working on my XJ. I have all the info you guys gave me and all the info I got on the email list ready. BF says that before he put it in storage there was oil in the air filter. He asked me if I had told ya'll that and what you said and I said, "Um no". So there you have it. What do you say? LOL!

We checked the compression as best we could today. Can't get it to fully start to get it "warm" but got readings in the 130-140 range all across the board.(I swear I read somewhere that the engine should be warm when testing compression)

When we tested the compression one of the plugs was very fouled. At first we thought that it was oil but now that we're looking at it, it looks like it's carbon mixed with gas. There is definitely gas on the plugs we can smell it.

We took the petcock off and it's nasty and gunky. It's gonna need a new one I think. There's a plastic piece that goes into the tank that's just completely and utterly gummed up.

So far that's what we've done today. Haven't attempted to take the carbs off yet. Fortunately, the gas coming out of the fuel filter and petcock don't smell or look "bad". The gas in the tank is another story though. YUCK! It'll need cleaning.

 

On a side note, we attached a hose and a small funnel to the fuel filter and put a small amount of new gas in and she started RIGHT up!! I swear to god I almost cried!!! I DID do a small happy dance.

 

have you gone through the carbs?

 

We have NOT taken anything off the bike yet other than the gas tank and the petcock. No carb work done, no valve work done. My BF says that he put it in the shop before he put it in storage to have the carbs tuned. So, no, we have not done anything to them yet. It was suggested on the email list that I make a solution of 50/50 seafoam and gas and put it in the carbs overnight to clean the "splooge"(their word not mine) out of the system. I am thinking on doing that tonight while I clean the tank.

 

Unless the Carbs are disgustingly filthy and heavily varnished, ... there is no need to dip them.

IF you DO dip them, ... use a "Plastic/Rubber Safe" Product like Berrymans.

I just use Carb Cleaner from Spray Cans.
Spray Cleaner and a small, stiff bristled brush will clean the Alloy Parts and Bowls.

 

I would take that tank off, empty all gas out and clean the inside of that tank real good......you may need a petock rebuilt kit from Chacal.....if your petcock filter is all goo'ed up......I would suggest getting the deluxe rebuild kit which includes one.......also you may want to run an inline filter as well between petcock & fuel rail........

 

Rebuilding a Petc0ck is a crap-shoot.
You can be as meticulous as a neurosurgeon and still come-away with having wasted your time and money.

I recommend buying a NEW Petc0ck.
If there's a problem with it, ... just return it.
The vast majority of Original Petc0cks are 25 years old and still functioning.

For all the trouble that a malfunctioning Petc0ck will cause, ... treating yourself to a New one is an ounce of prevention that will prevent a ton of trouble you don't need.

 

If you need a new petcock I'd get one of these and do away with vac' line and diaphragm and O ring and spring. On Off Res, 1 moving part,you'll need to cap the vac port on the carb inlet.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261196176942 ... 1423.l2649

No doubt there are many others around, it just needs to fit and seal.

 

I have "Chem Dip" we used on my BF's Honda Shadow carbs but I wasn't planning on dipping them really. Considering he had them tuned before he put it in storage and it's doubtful that there's really too much gunk in there since the gas that came out of the fuel filter wasn't turpentine I was just going to run the 50/50 mix of Sea Foam and gas through the system and let it clean out any little bits of sludge and bad gas that may be in there. BF says it was run dry before he put it away but we all know that there's still some bits of gas left behind.

When she started up yesterday when we put good gas directly in she started on the first turn and not only did she start right up but she PUUUURRRED. Cleaning the tank today. Cleaned out the Petcock filter yesterday with carb cleaner until it flowed out freely. Took the petcock apart, cleaned IT and put it back together.

There IS a small filter between the petcock and fuel system but it isn't much of a filter. Picking up a good one today and putting that on. Hopefully she'll just start right up and run. Then I'll change the oil and filter and start checking the lines to see if any need to be replaced and start cleaning up the rust.

 

WOW! If that fits it's 1/3rd the price of a new one and 1/2 the price of a used one. That's freakin awesome! I will go measure and see it it'll fit! THANK YOU!

 

Get your VALVE CLEARANCES in spec before you try to do any serious carb tuning.

 

I was wondering when you would chime in!

 

We're rapidly approaching page 2 of the discussion and it hadn't been brought up yet as being a prerequisite. Somebody usually brings it up first.

 

Non-Vacuum Operated Petc0cks are risky business on a quarter-century old bike.

Forget to shut it Off and you risk flooding the crankcase, ... which begets headaches and becomes expensive.

I don't trust the Petc0ck.
I fitted a Universal Fuel Shut-off Valve on both of my Bikes.

Available at most Hardware Stores.
Made by Briggs & Stratton.
Ten-bucks.
Twenty minutes.

Peace of mind.

"Paint" the RED area and Hose Clamps with Black Nail Polish and the Shut-off Valve virtually disappears.

 

I have two questions (that's probably going to open a can of worms.)

Question 1: If the floats are properly adjusted and working with new needles and seats, is a leaky petcock really an issue?

Question 2: Whether you have a vacuum operated petcock with universal shutoff or non-vacuum petcock, don't you run the same risk of flooding the crankcase if you forget to turn it off?

 

We have no plans on doing anything with the carbs AT THE MOMENT but I know that the valve clearances need to be done. Thank you for the reminder.

I will run that other shut off valve as a backup I think. Better safe than sorry!