1980 Honda XL 80 resurrection

[lamoson]

Originally Posted by gvthnks

Running it without the airbox attached won't really cause the adverse effects you're describing. It just isn't wise to run it much that way as there is nothing to filter the air and the motor can injest sand or other debris that will harm the motor.

The forward end of the carb, the side that hooks to the engine is the intake side and there should be an oring between it and the intake manifold.

ok then i guess thats not my problem. yea the oring is there.

[dbarale]

Bad news, you're probably just wasting time trying to get it running properly until you can get the carb open and really clean it up, all passages, jets, etc.
Good news, you know the bike wants to run so there is hope.

[JRP]

The small screw is an air mixture adjustment for the idle circuit. The screw will come out and has an o-ring on it. You need to get it out and clean out the passage behind it.
Spray carb cleaner and air pressure should do it. 1 1/2 turns out is a good starting point. When you get it running turn the screw slowly in or out until you get the fastest smoothest idle. The larger screw can then be used to adjust idle speed.
Good luck!

[DoubleBit]

To answer about using ATF:
Use it now while the engine is going through all this on/off, short runs and adjustings. I'd say a few hours of running time tops, it's roughly like 5-30wt. Then go to your correct oil. Happily these lill' engines only hold about a quart and a splash, so it isn't expensive to flush 'em with a few changes.
Sounds like you got plenty of input about your carb.
Another thing these old singles seem to often need is a valve adjustment.
I'm guessing about .004", just make sure there is sufficient play for now.

[gvthnks]

Originally Posted by lamoson

ok then i guess thats not my problem. yea the oring is there.

Even if it's there, it can still leak vacuum. Sometimes the carb body can be warped a little which can let it leak past the oring.

I agree with the other post however that suggested to really clean the carb out. Once that is done, you can diagnose and chase after other issues.

Good luck

[lamoson]

thanks guys, i will give some things a try this weekend, see if i can get this scoot dialed in. it sure is fun making it happen. one of the screws to split the carb is stripped, should i drill it out, or just try and clean it with it still together? thanks

-double bit, i dig your sig.

[gvthnks]

I'm assuming you're talking about one of the screws that hold the bowl onto the carb body.

I've had good luck using vise grips to remove those screws when they're stripped or wallered out.

[lamoson]

Originally Posted by gvthnks

I'm assuming you're talking about one of the screws that hold the bowl onto the carb body.

I've had good luck using vise grips to remove those screws when they're stripped or wallered out.

i will give that a whirl.

[p3ga]

Originally Posted by gvthnks

I'm assuming you're talking about one of the screws that hold the bowl onto the carb body.

I've had good luck using vise grips to remove those screws when they're stripped or wallered out.

Yep, what he said. Vice grips are a wonderful thing. I've used "Sea Foam" with good results on old carbs. I know Advance Auto Parts (at least here in Atlanta) carries it. Just soak the carb parts overnight, then continue with carb cleaner and use compressed air to blow the remaining crap out of every orfice.

[datchew]

solvent, grease and oil, and a rattlecan or 2 of paint and make that beast LIVE!

Cool project.

[lamoson]

so i worked on it a bit today. i changed the oil and BOY was it nasty!



i got the carb bowl off and this is what i encountered, more filth.



this is about as clean as i could get it



i put it back together, and still couldn't get it started, it just kept flooding. so i pulled it apart again. I found that the float had a small hole in it and had gas inside of it. so yea the float wouldn't float. i got the gas out and fixed the hole with some apoxy.



I tried some more with no success. inmate djmase and his engine master father came up to check it out with me. we found some things wrong with the spark and the throttle cable, sorted a bunch of stuff, and got it to run. but the idle still can't be figured right. we came to the conclusion that it probably needs a new carb.

would the new carb need to be an OEM or does it really matter. What things do i need to look for? do i need a new throttle cable and slide with it, or will the stock work?

thanks

jameson

[gvthnks]

If you need a new one, for ease of replacement I would buy an identical one. They're also cheap.

I wouldn't give up on the old one quite so easily however.

Soak it in Simple Green for a few hours or get some good carb cleaner and ensure all the small passages inside the carb are clean. From the looks of that bowl, I'd suspect the rest of the carb is pretty trashed. ALL the passages have to be clean and free of debris or it won't work correctly. I'd be willing to bet that if you took the carb apart some more you would find additional problems. Jets are probably at least partially clogged.

I've never found a carb that couldn't be resurrected with some elbow grease and a couple of gaskets or seals. That is unless something is broken.

Wish I was closer. I'd help you out.

[lamoson]

cleaned out the carb again, and did some tweaking. got it running, and kind of idling. i was able to ride it around the block, and oh yea got yelled at by that ONE OLD LADY, "your not allowed to be doing that!!!!" so that was sweet. it would do fine when i was up in 3rd and 4th gear, but when i would slow down and shift into a lower gear, it would cut out on me, i think it is still getting too much gas.

But it LIVES!!!!!!

i can try and get a vid up soon.

i will do some more fiddling, and maybe to a teardown on the engine, we will see how motivated i get.

thanks again for all your help.

[crazydrummerdude]

Originally Posted by lamoson

got it running, and kind of idling. i was able to ride it around the block, and oh yea got yelled at by that ONE OLD LADY, "your not allowed to be doing that!!!!"

A year or two ago, I rode my XT down the road and back.

I was sitting at my shop when a cop pulled in. "We got some calls that you've been riding up and down the streets."
"Uh..."
"You can't do that."

Right....

[Putts]

Originally Posted by lamoson

i got the carb bowl off and this is what i encountered, more filth.

Well said, mate.

Have a beer.