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HARD TO START

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by ant797, Apr 9, 2016.

  1. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    been having trouble starting my xj at 1st i thaught it might be just the carbies drying out but now it wouldnt start on prime either. i took the taknk off and pulled the fuel hose and it was chockers full of fuel so i blew on it then tried starting and it did. so i hooked the tank back up wouldnt start again so i blew on the fuel hose again and it started bit slugish at 1st but going strong after a few revs and messing around with the idle screwd .oes anyone know what this problem might be its bound to happen again tomorrow too. been like this every time since i changed the jets around to right size because before it was running way too rich
     
  2. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Weak battery will do that too
     
  3. rocs82650

    rocs82650 Well-Known Member

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    Have you rebuilt the petcock and gas cap?

    Gary H.
     
  4. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    blowing in the fuel line ,pressurizing the fuel supply may force gas up pilot jets, main jets or enrichment circuit. when did you clean your carbs last?
    after checking your battery if that does not work for you clean your carbs do not forget the passages and the enrichment circuit (Starter FUEL Jet ).
    how long has it been sitting ?
    DID you find your leak yet.

    your other thread
    http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/wont-start-unless-prime-1st.86927/#post-508035
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2016
  5. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    carbs are ultra clean and i put a carby kit through it was starting fine when i had the jets the rong way around and was running ultra rich now i put them rite its hard to start .it doesnt have a fuel filter on fuel line could be that . i put the battery on charge see what happens
     
  6. k-moe

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

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    Did you wet-set the fuel levels?
     
  7. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    diddnt wet set ..the enrichment circuit if by you mean the choke works when i put the choke on
     
  8. rocs82650

    rocs82650 Well-Known Member

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    Are the air jets correctly installed?

    Gary H.
     
  9. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    if you mean the jets facing the air filter side of things one on each side of the mouth the kit diddnt come with any of these so i diddnt touch them
     
  10. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    i did mess around with the screws with the rubber caps on them air fuel screws i set them 1.5 turns out
     
  11. k-moe

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

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    Baseline is 2 1/2 turns out for the pilot circuit air screws, unless you have earlier carbs. Which model and year XJ do you have?
    Also, if you did not remove those screws and clean the idle air passages, you didn't fully clean the carbs.
    http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/in-the-church-of-clean.14692/


    You need to make sure that the fuel levels are within spec, particularly since you used new float needles and seats. There is only 3mm of wiggle room.
    http://www.xj4ever.com/setting fuel levels.pdf

    By air jets, he means the ones under the top hat, below the slide diaphragm. All of the service manuals have their positions labeled incorrectly.
    This is the corrected image:
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2016
  12. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    thanks for that i will look into it
     
  13. rocs82650

    rocs82650 Well-Known Member

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    +1.

    Gary H.
     
  14. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    i set mixture screws too 2 half turns i hadnt started it yet when i did still had to blow on it but maybe it needs to be that way from last time it started it seemed to start and idle more evenly without any popping and without having to fiddle with the idle adjuster
     
  15. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    That's only one complete turn.... Not enough--- you'll be running a lean idle mix
     
  16. k-moe

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

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    2 1/2 turns = two-and-one-half turns.
     
  17. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    If you're saying that to me, I know.

    I'm assuming a typo for the word "too". Therefore it says " set to 2 half turns". Whether a typo or not, ' 2 half turns ' is not the same as ' 2 and one-half turns ' .

    If you're saying that to him.... I just helped to clarify the difference.

    2 half turns = 1 whole-turn
    2-and-1/2 turns = 5 half-turns
     
  18. k-moe

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

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    I was clarifying my own post.
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2016
  19. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    i turned the screws full circle 2 and a half times any more and i think it would pop out
     
  20. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    K-moe, understood.

    Ant-- ok, so that is two and a half turns. That should be from a soft- seat. That being the case, you'd stil have another 3 or 4 full turns til it pops out. If you fall out just after 2.5 turns, you're not seating it properly first.
     
  21. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    all good i will see if it starts tomorrow if not i will check fuel hose for blockages and air jets hopefully i can get to jets without taking carbies out
     
  22. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    You can get to the air jets with the carbs on but it's not easy.
    How does. It start after it's warmed up ?
     
  23. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    yeah starts 1st click when warmed up its only if its been sitting a day or so its hard unless i blow on the fuel line then it fires up
     
  24. k-moe

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

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    After you let it sit have you tried setting the petcock to prime, waiting 30 seconds, and then starting it?
     
  25. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    yes have tried that and thaught it was the issue ... i think it might be good now though after setting the mix screws too 2 .5 turns yesterday it started 1st pop this morning
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2016
  26. k-moe

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

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    That's a good sign.
     
  27. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    yep thanks for everyones help
     
  28. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    turns out when i took the top lid of the carby back one of the diaphrams must of popped out of its seat and was sqeueezed between the lid ..for those trawling for answers
     
  29. MN-Maxims

    MN-Maxims St. Paul Minnesota

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    Good to know
     
  30. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    thanks for posting the the fix to your problem.
    many will not post about assembly errors made when they find them.
     
  31. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    I ALWAYS post them......
     
    k-moe likes this.
  32. k-moe

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

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    Mistakes are best when shared. :)
     

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