81 XS 1100 Start

[Jonesy]

Hey Brett
Yeah fault finding electrics sux, especially if like me your not electrical savvy.
Mate after a stint of nights you should be really switched on and ready to find the problem.....nuh
My 2 bob for what its worth, check you havent disturbed the small grey, orange or red/white wires that go to the coils
trust me it'll be something simple if it was running before you put the tank back on....famous last words ay.

[BrettS]

Hey thanks guy's, I have just been keeping an eye on the leak at the moment.

Got the carby tune kit yesterday and after getting the bike back with it's new front tyre I got stuck in, well stuck into stuffing things up.
Didn't get very far with the colour tune. Was working fast as I could but it still must have got too hot and the extention jammed up. I read that is a warning it is too hot. It was also back firing which made the reading haywire.
Anyway moved onto the carby tune, I couldn't get enough vacuum to get a reading so as the instructions suggested I turned it upside down. Turning screws everywhere and it was worse than ever.
Hmm I gave up and started packing up when I noticed one fuel tap was not on. Aaaaarrrrgggg.
Set it all back up and hey presto it worked great right side up and all. I was still in a bit of a rush with night shift tonight but with getting the bars just close the bike was running heaps better and the back fire/lag had disappeared. You beauty that's better.
I put the tank and seat back on also connecting the wires from the tank that I thought must be the fuel gauge. Hadn't tried that yet so would be good to see if fuel gauge worked.
Started bike and Nothing? Hmm what have I missed now. Everything on Hmmm. Could it be that dam wire I connected. Disconnected it still nothing. Spark plug out and checked the spark nothing. Aaaarrrrggg. I have shorted something out. Looked at the obvious fuses they looked alright.
Gota get ready for work now and won't get a chance to look again till next week.
I hate looking for electrical faults Aaarrrgggg!!!!
Dam 

[steptoe]

the other thing to look at with that oil leak mate,, wash the area {not with a pressure cleaner} so no oil residue can be seen,, then you have a real idea of where it,s coming from,,

does the oil leak show pretty quick or is it a gradual thing,,, if it comes pretty quick from above the adjuster, your looking for a hair line crack across the head behind the nut you have arrowed,

have seen it several times now,, exactly  from guys doing that little nut up far to tight in the wrong head bolt order,, {there is a fix}

see where it leaks from first

[excess.11]

Another important tool to add to your evergrowing wishlist..............
They are relatively cheap........compared to the drama  that can occur in a moment of uncertainty with alloy engine casings ,  spark plug tensioning and fittings.

[petejw1966]

Thanks Jeff no torque wrench here but I might nip it up a bit.

ull be fine in nipping it up, just dont over do it.

[BrettS]

Thanks Jeff no torque wrench here but I might nip it up a bit.

[excess.11]

20 nm or 14.5 ft/lb.

[excess.11]

I ll see if i can find the torque setting for that bolt so you can tighten it up.

[BrettS]

It seems like it is leaking from the nut above the one you describe Jeff.
On closer inspection it seems to be holding the head down 
Doesn't look to bad in the picture but I find oil drips that build up on the indicated nut. I might give the area another better clean/degrease and just keep an eye on what is going on??

[excess.11]

Brett , the cam chain adjuster if original should have an external locknut on it and the bolt itself if removed should step down in size as it enters the casting with an o-ring behind the locknut.......if the thread has been stripped and a normal bolt retapped into the adjuster..........just a smear of gasket goo on the thread as you screw it in will hold back any leaking oil.
Go easy when adjusting that bolt as it  easily strips the casting .

[BrettS]

Ah shoot Bryan  I am sure I can make one up. Don't go to too much trouble looking until I have a go at making my own.
Thanks

[AussiXS11G]

thinks I have a battery clamp bits....
I'll have a look

[BrettS]

Thanks Steptoe, not sure what plan but it does seem to be getting somewhere. I was just bolting the fuel tank and seat down and remembered that I haven't made the battery clamp yet. Dam!.
But as the driveway looks worse the bike looks more like it belongs back on the road 



I let it drop cold several times today and it kept starting first pop. It will be interesting if I can get it to start in the cold of the morning.
I heard the postage was pretty good but might be waiting a while yet for the carby tune set to turn up.
I also have a slight oil leak near the heads in the front middle of the motor. Maybe something to do with the timing chain adjuster?? I will check the manual later if I can't work it out I will take a picture. Hopefully it is an easy fix as it seems the leak comes from the bolt?
Can't wait to go for a ride 

Edit: Oh and Errol I think you were right the first time. That link is for Valve stem covers??

[steptoe]

just keep ticking away at it,, , sounds like it,s sort of going to plan

[BrettS]

Well it Seeeeeeems that my main problem at the moment was an almost empty fuel tank  LOL I new it was getting low but did not realise it was causing so much trouble. But after I filled the tank again and started the bike it revved pretty normal.
I cut a little of the fuel lines and made them run left to right nice and straight with no kinks.
It is now idling pretty good consistently and accelerating pretty great with no load but bogs down a bit when I ride it. I reckon my mucking around with the pre-setting may have it more out of tune than before but I am sure I can get it better with the carby tune set.
Might ride it down the road to get the front tyre fitted.
I guess i could take that off to get fitted but that would not be as much fun? Might check if tyre cost includes fitting. I ended up ordering the night dragon as the bridgstone ones jumped in price. Maybe next time I will be in a position to shop around a bit. I am paying $139.

Oh I still get the needle and seat sticking sometimes with the fuel flooding the air filter. I guess the only thing left to do is new needles and seats but it is only sometimes. At the moment I am carefull to just turn the fuel off and maybe it will get better as the carbies are used more?
I haven't checked the float levels yet so that could be interesting to try.
Compression tester is in the mail 
Oh and I got the carbies in the mail today much better than the set I have the accelerator mechanism is so much better and the whole set looks so much cleaner even after mine went through the chemical bath. The vacuum advance line hole is VERY small. I would guess just smaller than 0.5 of a millimeter.
Can't thank Bryan enough, Champion