81 XS 1100 Start

[steptoe]

excellent news,,and our little site works again ,, {bringing members together once more}

gotta love it

[Jonesy]

No worris Brett, I got your txt....was having a fathers day do at the time so didnt want to break the phone out and start texting at the restaraunt.....maybe I'm old school in that regard?
I'll bring some spare vac caps with me and some feeler guages and shim tool if you havent done the valves  clearances yet. To save a bit of time you could have the tank and valve cover off

[AussiXS11G]

really??
first time at 100km/h on 2 wheels?
how was it?

[petejw1966]

hey bretts,

when u did the compression test
did u do it with the engine at operating temp
and with the throttle held wide open?

the above will make a difference to ur readings if
u checked them cold.    jat

[BrettS]

Hi Guy's
Thanks for all the ideas, I just went over the bike again.
First off I found that the vacum caps I got are no good. I found one missing and later one hit me in the leg after a back fire. 
I did a compression test, one cylinder seems out a little too much. 1,2 and 4 read at 115 and 3 reads at 95 so 20psi out. Seems the bike will run ok at this but guess that will need to be solved at some point in the near future.
I spent time (not rushed) doing another vacum tune and it was MUCH better. I wired the vacum caps on and then adjusted the cam chain.
Took it for a ride out the back road and it is running pretty good. I can tell it is not yet perfect with just the occasional very slight lag, but it is getting much closer.
I think once I get the headlight and tail light working consistently and a battery clamp it would be ready for a pit inspection.
Looking forward to seeing Jonesy later in the week and we will see what he has to say 
Oh and that is the first time I have done 100kmh on a motorbike, that will take a little getting used too 

[steptoe]

there is 1 thing that may be worth checking,

during your time dismantling things did you ever take the timing plate off the crank?

it is possible {if the po has given it a hard time} it will fit on 180 degrees

,

it's in the first couple of minutes

[Jonesy]

Ay scarfie, hows it goin'
it is possible if you miss the  big EX & IN cast into the cams....would probly be a bit catastrophic but

[SCARFEY]

I forget if it's possible on the XS but on the CBX its possible to put the wrong cams in the wrong place. worth checking

[excess.11]

Brett ,
Backfire and popping can be attributed to incorrect sealing of exhaust gaskets.
It concerns me the timing isn t advancing when you accelerate the motor.......this would definately causeflat spots as well as what your experiencing.
The  ports where you synch the carbys may show vacuum ......but the port from the carby does nt seem to be doing it s job .......advancing the timing when you accelerate the motor........ from what you ve told me.

[BrettS]

Hi Jonesy, the timing does have me a little mystified but wonder if that is to do with the timing that is set. I believe I can check the amount of vacum for the vacum advance with the carby tune gauge and the manual has what it should be.
I plan on spending a day going over it again in the next couple of days. I will do the compression test as well.
The carbies seem to be working ok at the moment but with my inexperience I wonder about leaks before or even after the carbies as it does leak some where there when it has the occasional little back fire. I haven't rebuilt the carbies from Bryan yet.
I blew my budget on the weekend so the bike will not be heading to the mechanic until after I make some more money. So feel free to have a tinker when you get here.
Look forward to that 

[Jonesy]

Hey Brett before you send it off to a shop, unless you really trust the mechanic, I can give you a hand with some of the finer points if your willing to wait until the OPD shut in early september at NPM
check your messages

[excess.11]

Brett , i think your close enough on the setup of most areas.........although you will have to get the vac advance unit working.
I m thinking that is where the flat spot is developing you spoke about.
So if the unit itself is advancing when you suck on the tube connected to the carby........it seems to be an issue of non or not enough vacuum to operate the unit.
Did you hook up the carby s Bryan sent you......... to see if you get vac on that set??

[BrettS]

Champ Jonesy, you had me optimistic with your sensible thinking and this afternoon I took quick look. After a bit I found another loose wire. Perked up and I was game to reconnect the fuel gauge again which does not seem to work. Oh well.
Took it for a run on a back road which was heaps fun but it is still not running sweet yet.
I will give it one more good go over next week when time permits, I still haven't adjusted the "cam chain" or valve timing. Not sure that was suggested yet but it seems a very simple operation of loosening then tightening back up. I haven't progressed to checking the valve clearences yet though either Jeff 
If I don't get it after a check for leaks and a patient tune I think it will be productive to get a bike mechanic to give it the once over for me. I have gone over it enough that I will now learn from an expert I reckon.
I think it may just be a tunning issue but if there are too many leaks in the old hardware and such I might just keep chasing my tail at the moment.

I will have to look for the tip over switch Pete thanks. I remember reading about the fan Steptoe and in hind sight I should have got one set up. Especially since I guess a motor not running right may get to heat extremes quicker?
Oh and still need a bloody timing light . My guess is the timing is ok but when the bike runs rough it upsets the timing through the vacuum.

 

[steptoe]

like they say it will be simple,,,,

one thing with the carby tune and syncing,, do you have a fan of some sort {going flat out} to cool the engine while it,s running??

[petejw1966]

also wouldnt hurt to see if uve
upset the tip over switch, which sits
under the tank.