DOHC carbs removal UGH!

SandyR

SandyR

XS400 Enthusiast
Messages
36
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
B.C. Canada
Am I missing something about carb removal? Is there a secret? Just removed the carbs and it took two of us a huge amount of messing around. I have serious concerns about re-installing them. We got them out without removing the airbox but maybe that was a mistake.

Any suggestions for future reference would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Sandy
 
They are that ugly. It took about 2 hours with help to get the carbs back in and hooked up the first time I did it. About the same every time there after. I chose to install pod filters rather than have to deal with that hassle a couple or 10 more times while testing jets.

I think that the easiest way to get the carbs in and out with the stock airbox is to drop the motor down, pivoting it on the lower rear bolt. Once the carbs are back on, slowly raise the motor and guide them into the intake boots. Sometimes more work makes the job easier. That said, I've never actually done this.

With pods I can re and re the carbs, with a jet change, in about 30 minutes. This is a good enough reason to me to switch to pods on a DOHC motor...
 
If you get rid of the airbox and tubes and change over to pod style filters carb removal/install becomes much simpler.Be glad your only removing 2 at once and not 4 of them.
 
One of the keys is to completely remove the clamps holding them on before you begin. Also, a little vaseline goes a long way for re-installation. But as long as you straddle the bike, and work one side at a time, they should still come on and off with a bit of work.

Part of the problem may be that the longer they've been sitting, the harder it is to remove them. Just be thankful we only have 2 to worry about...
 
I have built the crabs on a 77 gl100 and thought I would shed tears. I have to pull my carbs on 83 maxim 400 tomorrow. Please tell me it will not be worse than the Goldwing
 
The good news is it is back together and running on both cylinders. The problem has been with the left cylinder and I found 2 plugged passages in that carb. One cleared easily with carb cleaner and a bicycle pump but for the other one after a half hour struggle I was forced to use a drill bit the same size as the passage. Never mind the lecture I know it is not the best idea and I understand the risk.

With help from my son we were able to get the carbs back on in about 1/2 an hour. The extra set of hands makes a big difference. I'm not too thrilled after reading how many times some guys have had their carbs off. If it becomes a problem I'll resort to pods although I think they look better on a Special rather than a Maxim.

Sandy
 
SandyR said:
The good news is it is back together and running on both cylinders...Sandy
Click to expand...
I'm curious, did you use the technique described by Dave above to mount them with the engine tipped forward then jack the whole works back into place?
Bentwrench has described doing it that way with one pair of hands and it sure sounds good in theory.
 
We did it without tipping the engine but I'm sure I would have had a real struggle doing it the way we did if I didn't have an extra pair of hands to help. I would look seriously at tipping the engine if I was doing it by myself. I have nightmares about knocking the o-rings out of place on the engine side doing it the way we did it.

Sandy
 
I've taken off the carbs of my '89 DOHC a lot recently, had also never done it before. Have to say I'm getting the hang of it now. What I do is I make sure I loosen the airbox (not remove, just have it hang loose so you have some wiggle room), loosen all rings around the rubber in/outlets and then I take off the left outlet rubber (the one that mounts the carbs to the cylinders) using a very blunt screwdriver to have some leverage. Then just slide the carbs sideways and out to the right.

Good thing you got it running again after you put it on, it took me at least 3 times to get them cleaned properly. Guess it was good practice, though :)
 
Nice catch with the crabs 'SCORPIO' (ref : LA-RIVER-RAT) Too funny. When I first met my wife I told her I had PILES. Of course she thought I meant money so she married me.
 
After reading all sorts of stuff about pod filters I'm still undecided about making the change. I would be interested if any of you DOHC guys could tell me if you would do the change again if you are now running pods.

thanks,
Sandy
 
SandyR said:
... I would be interested if any of you DOHC guys could tell me if you would do the change again if you are now running pods. thanks, Sandy
Click to expand...
I have no personal experience with them and would be too scared to try them unless it stopped running as it is.
However, there is lots of good discussion on this thread and, it would appear to me at least, that the question is not "pods or no pods", but "if pods, which pods".
http://www.xs400.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8924
 
I would do it again. Stock, at my altitude, I was running out of steam in the top end. In 5th, the bike just couldn't make it past 6000rpms. So I needed to rejet anyway.

If you're going to rejet, you may as well switch to pods. I mean, besides being much easier to get the carbs off, they also give you (in theory) more power when jetted properly.

I say "in theory," because I've never put the bike on a dyno, and probably never will. But, more air and fuel into a tuned engine means more power out.
 
If the bike is completely stock, I would think twice. Otherwise, even with just a muffler change, I wouldn't hesitate. A pair of pod filters and a crankcase filter is about the same price of a stock air filter, or about double if brand name pods are purchased. The time and effort saved every year is worth it in the long run, even if there is no performance increase. And everyone here should know that annual carb cleaning is pretty much required maintenance.
 

Similar threads

Ben_Wagner
Quarantine Project: '81 XS400 Special
Replies
6
Views
1K
Ben_Wagner
Ben_Wagner
S
'80 XS250 rebuild
Replies
0
Views
577
Sam1
S
Addison
Newbie, getting destroyed by basic stuff.
Replies
2
Views
866
Addison
Addison
member14827
1979 XS400 build with Mikunis -- carb advice needed
Replies
16
Views
2K
xschris
X
G
1982 XS400 SECA cam timing mark confusion
Replies
3
Views
2K
thomas2800
T
Back
Top