bralkan

I had in the thread I linked too. I assumed it was petcock at first because I am a nub. I knocked around the floatbowls and it runs now. Should it clear itself or will I have to empty the bowls? edit: throttle is jerky sometimes / unresponsive - is the debris just floating in and out of the jets / whatever?

I talked to my mechanic and he doesn't think its the petcock (i looked at it and it looked ok - not that I know exactly what I am looking for). He suggested tapping the floatbowls to see if anything is stuck in there - would that cause it to free flow out the air intake?

...

I am having a similar problem: http://www.yamahaclub.com/forums/index.php...amp;#entry47881 Have you had any luck?

I let the bike sit and went back out to crank it. Each crank pours gas out of the air intake on the carbs. Is the petcock fubar?

Craigslist wouldn't be a bad place - don't have to sell it. Never know what you might get. Since it is ready to be shipped, in a way, you may try listing it in other big cities around the country.

Thanks for the info on the choke and the wiring diagram. I got it working and I think I have a way to get the headlight to work. I have a new problem though: I have been running it without airfilters (been having to work on it to much and it had been dieing before it was worth it to be them back on). I put them back on today and the bike sounded great when I started it. I pulled out the driveway and it was going great. As I round the first turn out of my driveway I try to accellerate but no matter how much I opened the throttle the RPMs went down and down until the bike cut off. I push it back home (100s of feet) and I can smell lots of gas. I pull the filter and boots off and gas poured out the carbs from the air intake. Anyidea why it started flooding?

It seems to stay on if I keep my hand on the throttle. I tried again tonight and it would idle with the choke open.After awhile I closed the choke and it idled for a good while before it cut off (what I would expect for not running more than 10-15 minutes). It would start right back up. One question though, is the choke supposed to have more states than just open and closed? (it is a 1980 XS400 special ii, but with points (long story).) I have another question too - I have a working headlight but It won't turn on with the bike. Instrument panel lights up and the tail light works. There are no directionals (as in none are connected). I have a multimeter but I am not sure exactly which wires I should be testing for current and at what voltage. Anys uggestions? Thanks for the answers to the nub questions.

Went out there this morning - took out the plugs and cleaned them really well with compressed air. Put them back in, kept the choke closed and cranked on it. Finally it started it. I let it sit for a minute, keeping it at about 3k rpms. I opened the choke to see what it would do and it killed the engine. Any ideas?

When I open the choke the bike just turns over and doesn't sound like it is sparking. I took the plugs out and they are sooty and have un-burnt fuel on them. If I close the choke it sounds like it wants to spark and it would if I just opened the choke. But, as I said, opening the choke kills it completely. Any ideas? Carbs?

I'm going to take a look around there. I am picking up the bike monday from the shop. I plan on doing the rest of the work myself (as much as I can anyways). I will check that. I did decide that I am going to replace the CDI "black box." I have a question - will the high performance coils for TCi ignitions for the xs650 work for the xs400? Part #17-6803 at mikesxs.com

The wiring in mine is a bit, well, custom. I'm not sure what the guy who had it before me did to it. The stock fuse box is not there and it uses some kind of in-line cap style for the fuses. You're basically telling me to replace the fuse box, then? Someone mentioned fuses earlier, but would that go in line with works, dies - I replace coils, works and dies - I replace pickup trigger, works and dies ? Its been sitting at the shop more than in my garage. I knew nothing about bikes when I got it (it was a gift) and I've come some way, but I think I want to start getting my hands dirty. Oh, the mechanic at the shop said something about a "black box under the engine" that is a part of the TCI system - what is he talking about? CDI maybe? Or do I need to just tell them I'm broke and bring the bike home? PS - I was thinking "downgrading" to points because it woudl be cheaper. I'd like to keep the TCI system if I can, but it has been crapping on me left and right and I really want to get this bike to stay sparking.

Alright, I can't get this thing to spark at all. It is a TCi ignition and I'm thinking I want to put a POINTS system in because that is really the point I'm at. The TCi system has been replaced and it still won't spark the coils. Battery is fine, wiring is ok. So the question: How hard would it be to convert to POINTS and will the xs650 parts from mikexs work or do I need to look on ebay for xs400 POINTS systems? Thanks.

Alright, so I replace the coils. It fires right up. Next day, no spark. Coils still test ok, so I replace the pickup. Fires right up. 3 days later, no spark. Next step is to start going through the wiring (i've already cleaned all the contacts / sprayed them) and actually replace it, I guess. Any ideas?!?!

When you are talking about the idle adjustment screw, are you talking about the screw on the bottom of the right hand-side of the carb? I backed it off and it looks rounded, not pin sharp. But I don't see how it could have broken anything off in the carb - it just seems to move a lever up and down.. Now, I don't know what I am really looking at. I have a Haynes but it hasn't been much help. Also, the carbs were cleaned about 2 months ago. Had the two jets and floats replaced. It had to basically sit for 2 months after that because of ignition system problems (waiting for parts stinks). Thanks again.

Sometimes it will idle and then slowly die. Othertimes, it won't idle at all and I have to keep the throttle open, just a bit. I have to leave the choke open as well (idle jet prob?!). The Idle adjustment screw on the bottom of the carbs doesn't seem to help much in maintaining any kind of idle, let alone one at 1200rpm. Any suggestions? Thanks, -John PS - I am a noobie, but quick and willing to learn.