remove carbs or?

wouid it be eazier to?....remove the airbox and remove the carbs on a 82 xj1100 or just take off the bowls to clean...remove the airbox to get to the bowls? cant get out 1- 3 drains but can if drilled...but number 4 cyl carb showed clear mix with low water (cant spell conden-say-tion)..no grit..but i still have to take out the light varnish fuel.....i have done other scoots and boots... hard to fit-dont fit lip even if reconed...any help,advice,tricks,or anything to make the next guy...lol

 

Re move the tank. Pry the boots off the rear of the carbs, and shove then in to the air box. Disconnect all linkages and fuel line. Straddle the bike and push the carb rack down while pulling backwards. This will remove the rack from the intake boots. Remove the rack from the right side of the bike and do a PROPER cleaning.

 

1100 is a little bit different than the other XJs. It's essentially an XS with some minor mods.

Pull the bottom off the air box and remove it. The air box is held on by 3 bolts - two at the sides and one through a strap at the top. DO NOT REMOVE THE STRAP FROM THE AIR BOX - IT'S A BITCH TO GET BACK ON.

Slide the air box top rearward and pull the rubbers off the carbs and tilt the rear of the carbs up. Pull the air box forward and down pushing the strap off the tab on the frame. The nose will drop down to where you have all the room in the world to work with the carburetors. I suppose you could fight the top of the air box out, but it isn't necessary.

 

Go ahead and take the carbs out and properly service and clean them.

Read through this , good pics for removing carbs from a XJ11.
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2 ... moval.html

 

Yes take them off and do them properly as Lew says. I got distracted by the air box and didn't answer your question.