eight_heads

I'l trade you a needle screw for 2 main jet washers

I'm a fan of the carb cleaner that comes in the bucket with a strainer

SHE'S ALIVE! I can also say that pushing the tip through the carb and using a new needle can work. I recieved my carb kits yestarday and installed thim this afternoon. She's running pretty nicely considering the filters aren't on yet. Starts up easy. I don't want to run very long without filters and having that much air getting to it, so I will be installing the airbox tomorrow. Thanks for all the help guys! Especially Drewpy for his idea!

well Tom, good luck. I am currently attempting to resurrect a '78 XS400 that was given to me. I went through all this with an '81 750 Virago a few years back. There will be alot of little things. If you are good at searching the internet and understanding how things work it won't be too bad. You will probuably have to rebuild, or at least clean very well, the carbs before she runs right. Also, you will have to synch the 2 carbs and can do this with a cheap homemade tool quite well. Search for "Homemade Carb Synch Tool" or something along those lines. Good luck and keep us updated.

Well i have successfully pushed the tip through! hopefully I did not damage the hole too much. I guess I will have to buy a carb kit for for that pilot screw and see what happens.

Will carbs off of an '81 xs400 work?

also, where can i find new mixture screws?

any suggestions on what to us to puch it through?

great to hear, thanks a million. I will try that and let you guys know!

I've got a '78 XS400 that I am trying to get running. I was cleaning the carbs today and got through the first one great. When it came time for the second, as i went to remove the idle/mix screw I found out that a previous owner had tightened the mix screw in too far and the tip is stuck in the hole. It is broken off from the screw and jamed in there. Any ideas on how i could remove the tip? It seems very stuck. The whole carb is soaking in carb cleaner right now. Where might I find a set of carbs? I checked ebay. No '78 xs400 carbs. What other years or models will fit? Or is there another alternative if I have to buy new carbs. I'm not looking to spend a whole bunch.

No, I think the timing is good. I ran it for a second off of only ether, no gas to the carbs. I know they are gummed up. So now I should just have to clean the carbs and it should run.

i believe i've got it now: Red/White + Brown = Engine On Red/Yellow + Blue/Black + Blue = Headlight On Blue/White + Ground = Starter Motor On I've got my Kill switch working and my light switch working now(well the low beam atleast, high is probuably blown) but I can't really test the starter button because I believe the starter is toast or at least has a bad connection to the solenoid. Not too worried about that right now, but will mess with it later. Does everything sound right here?

i figured out that the red/white and brown together are the kill switch and have that set up temporarily. Still not sure on the other wires though.

UPDATE: Got fire today. I put a switch on the right handlebar switch harness between the red/white and brown wire which gave me power to my coils. I also put new plug caps on my plug wires and tested by making the points contact with a insulated screwdriver to simulate engine rotation. Seem to be getting good fire to both cylinders. I was even able to get a few "pop offs" with ether. Ran for a second off the ether and died. Pulled the carbs and will be cleaning them this weekend. This project is coming along nicely. My plans are to turn it into a kick-start only cafe racer in the end.

Main switch that works off the key? Yes, it is hooked up and functions correctly.

well i have redone the fuse box already with blade fuses and all new connectors and seem to be getting voltage where it needs to be. But i need to know if i am wiring the kill switch correctly by hooking the red/white and brown wire at the right handlebar switch harness.

I meant what is the correct wiring for a kill switch? Not starter. Also, it's a 1978 U.S. model. Points ignition and 2 coils. Not sure how to tell difference between the E model and the 2E model. Also, is there a way to check the condenser?

UPDATE: Checked the coils today. Both are within range for the Primary and Secondary Coils(Lf: 3.8pri 9.6ksec Rt: 4.3pri 9.56ksec). I will be checking gap on the points tomorrow and putting in new plug caps and plugs.

What is the correct setup of the wires for the right handlebar switch? The harness has been cut from the switch and the switch is broken anyway. The wires I have going to it are this: Red/White Brown Brown/White Red/Yello Blue Blue

I am trying to get a '78 xs400 running again. What is the bare minimum I need to get this running electrical wise? I don't plan on using the electric starter and believe it is dead anyway. Also, the right handlebar switch has been cut. What wires need to be switched together for the starter? The Red/White and Brown? Also, what as far as safety switches are there that would preven spark? I can get 12v to the coils by switching the red/white and brown on the right handle switch harness together. I have them on a switch. But i don't seem to be getting any spark. Thanks.

also, what is the bare minumum to get fire to the engine? in other words, what safety switches and all have to be working? or how can i disable all the extra safety stuff to test for fire? i am getting 12v to the coils, but no spark to the plugs. i will be running off of kick start only for right now. i believe the electric starter is dead and don't want it anyway.

one more thing. What is the correct setup for the right handle bar switch? the kill switch is broken and someone cut the harness. i believe the wires are like this: blue blue blue/white red/white red/yellow brown what is what here? and what do i need hooked together for the engine to start? thanks again

That's exactly what I thought. Thanks.

I'm trying to bring a '78 XS4002e back from the dead. Someone has screwed around with the fuse box wiring and I am trying to fix it. Here's what wires I have at the box. Can someone tell me which need to go together? Red(From Battery) Red(To Headlight, MAIN) Red/Yellow Red/White Red/White Brown Brown Brown Obviously the Red goes to the Red for the power to the MAIN switch(which works) The manuals I have found online don't show the fuse box very well for a complete re-wire like this. Thanks.