1980 Honda XL 80 resurrection

[lamoson]

ok so i took a video today of the problem i have been having. hopefully it helps. do i need to also try and adjust the air screw? it doesn't seem to have any effect. I can ride it if i keep it at high rpms, but then when i shift to lower gears it dies again, does great in 3rd and 4th though!! the nice thing is that i can get to start within a few kicks when its cold.

here is the vid, if you know what i need to try great, and maybe i just need to keep fiddling until its perfect.

[gvthnks]

OK, a couple questions:
1. Does the slide move up and down freely? The slide goes into the top of the carb where the throttle cable attaches. There should also be a large coil spring between the carb top and that same slide.

2. Is the O-ring in place between the carb and the mounting flange where it mounts to the cylinder?

There is supposed to be an oring there and if not it'll never run correctly.

Dude, send me that carb and I'll square it away and send it back to you.


BTW, what year is it?

[crazydrummerdude]

Originally Posted by gvthnks

1. Does the slide move up and down freely?

That's what I was wondering, too.

My XT's running pretty similar to that, because the slide's hanging up on something. I rode it around a couple laps, and said F it.. I'll tackle it when I get some free time.

[lamoson]

Originally Posted by gvthnks

OK, a couple questions:
1. Does the slide move up and down freely? The slide goes into the top of the carb where the throttle cable attaches. There should also be a large coil spring between the carb top and that same slide.

2. Is the O-ring in place between the carb and the mounting flange where it mounts to the cylinder?

There is supposed to be an oring there and if not it'll never run correctly.

Dude, send me that carb and I'll square it away and send it back to you.


BTW, what year is it?

yes the slide moves freely, and also the O-ring is there. everything checks out. i could try sealing that a little better, form a gasket or something.

and it is a 1980

[DoubleBit]

I remember a couple of things you mentioned earlier...
The float was sinking and you patched it...
That should be okay, but what if the patching made it too heavy?
I do not know how sensitive those carbs are, but maybe that's a problem.
And, when you cleaned out the carb, are you sure the idle circuit passages are clear?

[lamoson]

Originally Posted by DoubleBit

I remember a couple of things you mentioned earlier...
The float was sinking and you patched it...
That should be okay, but what if the patching made it too heavy?
I do not know how sensitive those carbs are, but maybe that's a problem.
And, when you cleaned out the carb, are you sure the idle circuit passages are clear?

i think the float problem is ok, i really don't think thats it anymore, i guess i could take the carb apart again and dunk the float to see if its working.

and i cleaned it out quite a few times, maybe something still in there, but i don't thinks so.

[gvthnks]

If the float was too heavy it would just flood and run out the overflow.

Here is the issue. If the carb was as trashed as the pics of the bowl are with varnish and rust residue then then there are problems with the carb. And I would also bet that the tank is just as rusty and cruddy inside. Should be a metal tank in 80 IIRC.

Don't try to make another gasket or seal, but with it idling as slowly as you can get it to, take some spray carb cleaner or another aerosol and spray around the mounting flange. If the RPMs increase or decrease then there is a vacuum leak there.

You have carb problems my friend. Every single passage inside that carb have to be open and free of debris or things won't work well.

You mention that the air screw has no effect on how it runs. That's typical when that passage is clogged or obstructed in some way.

That same varnish that is in the bowl is in those passages as well.

[BillsR100]

Originally Posted by gvthnks

.......

You mention that the air screw has no effect on how it runs. That's typical when that passage is clogged or obstructed in some way.

That same varnish that is in the bowl is in those passages as well.

+1 Happens on my little trail 90's sometimes.

[DoubleBit]

Oh, and if the tank is dirty, I can't say enough about the effectiveness of vinegar.. There's a thread here about steel tank storage,, it'll give more details..
I have lill' GN250 that was donated to me because it was so thoroughly corroded up. I just finished cleaning out the tank last week,, vinegar ate the rust, didn't just loosen it,, destroyed it.. Two stages of quick flushing, with hot soapy water and then mineral spirits and that baby is clean. I rode it 100+ miles yesterday to work and then the long way home,, the fuel filter shows no signs of debris.
Incredible stuff..

[lamoson]

the vid shows it all, she is working great, still a little tweaking to do to get it dialed in perfect, but she rips.

* sorry about no ATGATT, i know better, but it is just so little and cute. next time.








i need to get some boots, roots suck

[gvthnks]

Looks and sounds like you have it worked out pretty well. Congrats on being able to have that much fun for cheap......

[p3ga]

Good job! You look like you're having entirely too much fun.

Who says you can't have fun on a small bike?

Just enjoy the shit out of it. And promise you'll never let it fall into the state it was when you got it.

Soichiro Honda would be proud.....

[Suppermotodd]

I have an 1980 XL80 that needs work and this thread makes me want to go out in the garage and get started! I love the sound of the old xr75's and 80s.

Get some boots and helment cause you were flying on that thing!

[DoubleBit]

Ditto, digging that y'all are havin' so much fun with the lill' 80!
And Dittos on that boot and helmet idea!
Hell, a cheapo DOT helmet for 50$ and some wally world psuedo construction boots would be a mega boone in safety gear!
Congratulations!

[BillsR100]

Yea!!!