Recent content by Tobz

Use a short piece of heavier chain. That way you're sure to get it out. BB's or stones can get stuck inside and cause problems down the line.

Thank you for all the info. I hope to get back in the garage tonight to work on some things and apply these. I really appreciate it and the humor, as well.

OK, I'm about to start pounding my head on my work bench. I still don't have a headlight when the bike (81 xs400 SOHC Heritage) is running. Good bulb, good fuse, wires in the switch are good. Where is the headlight relay? Also, I've had the bike out for a couple short shakedown runs and the...

It has to be a ground wire. Just sucks that I gave go through a spiders web of wires to find it.

Power to the fuse box is good and there's power on both sides of the fuse. Hooked the light to the battery and it works, too. No power to the dimmer switch, though, when the bike is running. What am I missing?

I'm drawing a blank here. The headlight elements look good and the fuse looks whole. An idea why I don't have headlights when the bike is running? Tail light and brake lights work fine. I hate electrical issues. :wtf:

Good charge on the battery and a little ether and it lives. Need to adjust the idle up a little and I think it's all good. Thanks, everyone.

Still not leaking fuel, but can't get the bike to fire. It has spark, fuel is getting to the carbs and it popped on carb clean. But it won't fire and run. Had the carbs rebuilt and I trust the shop that did the work. Unfortunately, the battery died and I need to charge it and give it another go...

The guy I bought it from said it was leaking when he was working on it, so when I pulled the petcock apart, I thought he had assembled it correctly. Turns out that the spring was on the wrong side of the diaphram and also that the diaphram was junk. Once I had the two peices of the diaphram on...

Finally got the fix on it. No leaking. You guy have been a great help.

I have to say, all of you guys have been a huge help and have given me hope to get this thing running. I really appreciate it. I hope to get some pics up here soon. Been working on a homemade cafe seat and a few other mods to make it stand out a little. Thanks everyone.

I picked up an '81 XS and having an issue with the petcock. It's leaking from the back side of the body where the spacer and diaphram for the vacuum line are. I put in a new gasket kit and have the spacer in (I believe) the correct way. Yet the fuel still seeps through and drips down the fuel...