XJ1100 raw gasoline in YICS port

The XJ1100 is back together and running (poorly) after restorations

1.rebuilt all three calipers
2. rebuilt both master cylinders
3. installed all stainless brake lines
4. installed new intake manifold boots
5. probed all carb passages and holes with guitar strings ( what I had on-hand)
6. adjusted valve clearances. Several were out of spec
7. installed new petcocks
8. performed CarbTune Pro sync

The bike stumbles. There are definitely less than 4 cylinders working at 100%.
There is a small amount of raw gasoline in the YICS port.

Plug #2 is fouled. Plug #3 is dry and perfectly tan. Swapped the plug wires and the problem stays with cylinder #2. Swapped the plugs and the problem stays with cylinder #2. Trimmed the end of the plug wire and reinstalled the visibly shiny wire into cap #2. Stumbling and fouled plug #2 remains.

The bikes has a raw fuel smell when I bring it back to the driveway after a shakedown trip around the neighborhood.

Performed a bowl fuel height measurement with clear fuel line connected to carb #2 drain nipple. Measured while the bike was running. The fuel height of carb #2 is about 2mm lower than the bowl gasket.

Oil level was about 1/2 quart low. I have not run it much since the last oil fill up.

I am looking for sage advice.

 

Check to see if you have spark at plug 2

 

I believe that swapping wires and plugs proves that there is spark in wire #2 and plug #2. When plug #2 and wire #2 is installed in cylinder #3, the plug is dry and tan. Correct me if I am wrong.

Plug #2 is fouled. Plug #3 is dry and perfectly tan. Swapped the plug wires and the problem stays with cylinder #2. Swapped the plugs and the problem stays with cylinder #2. Trimmed the end of the plug wire and reinstalled the visibly shiny wire into cap #2. Stumbling and fouled plug #2 remains.

 

Do a compression test on cyl 2

 

Good idea. Back to basics. Thanks.

 

Did you dissemble and rebuild the carbs and set the float levels properly? Your list of things done is extensive but not much mention of work on carbs other than poking through holes.

 

I performed a dry compression test. 130 PSI across all four cylinders. I guess this means that a second appointment with the carbs is in my future. I much prefer a second appointment with the carbs than appointment with the piston rings or valves.

I did not do a float height measurement. That will be on the list. I should also replace the shaft seals and anything else that was missed the first time.

 

if your wet set fuel level is good DO NOT adjust float height

not sure doing this when running is correct

 

The reason I performed the fuel level measurement when running is that there was a large air bubble just below the bowl drain nipple. I used a syringe to push the air bubble back into the carb to have no bubbles in the measurement fuel line. This caused an overfill of the carb bowl. Running the bike sucked out the excess fuel in the bowl and showed me the true fuel level in the bowl. #2 fuel level is very good. About 2mm below the bowl gasket. I will not mess with the floats or needles. I will check the fuel levels before the carbs go back on the bike.

When I went through the carbs recently, I pulled the float needles and dressed the rubber. There are no leaks out of the carbs. I think the fuel levels and the floats are fine.

This xj1100 rack of carbs was spotless inside when I pulled them. No rust particles anywhere. No varnish anywhere, When I refurbished an XJ650 in 2008, there were rust particles in every nook and cranny of the carbs and varnish on the bottom of the float bowls and plugged enrichment circuits.

This xj1100 bowls have clear enrichment circuits.

 

You cannot do a proper fuel level measurement with the bike running.
You really can't even do it with the carbs on the bike unless you jack up the front to get the carbs level.
setting fuel levels.pdf