You will need a compression tester to check it, where abouts in London are you I run a small motorcycle workshop and have one if your stuck but im in Essex.

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

You say it's a 1988 XT600, is it a standard model or a Tenere ? If it's a Tenere, take a look at the fuel pump. I had similar problem with my Tenere, ran fine at low speed but lost power when I opened it up. I cleaned the carb and filter, no change. I then had a look at the fuel pump, it was full of muck (mostly crumbs of paper that had previously been the inline fuel filter). cleaned it and the bike ran perfect...

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rust & dust

Thats usually when its running too weak !!! Also turning down the idle speed a bit can help

If it backfires more when cold, then lean, more when hot, then rich. According to this website.


To set idle mixture, I turn the idle screw into until the bike starts to run roughly and unevenly, then wind it out until it smooths off, then perhaps a 1/4 turn more...

Compression: need a compression guage: easily bought from Amazon.co.uk

Screw it into the sparkplug port, open the throttle wide and press the starter button (you will need to disconnect the wires to the ignition coil otherwise you'll still get a spark: not good!!). Wait until the guage reading stays levels off. I'm no expert, but that is the gist of it...

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Also, do it with the engine warmed up

ok guys, i think i got the problem!!

It still needs a good tune, but now it runs good already and no stopping! heeee-haaaa!!!

Before i could not get the problem after cleaning the carb and the petrol tank, new airfilter and all. Checked the compression etc etc. Everything was fine, but it stopped all the time now even when i go slow....

So I went to Trix'es place and we did the compression test there. (Thx mate!) He then advised me to get a refurb kit for the carb and i did.

So today I got it and thought, ok, let me take this sucker of and clean it again and just replace the new parts(float thingy) and hopefully this sorts it out!

So i took it all off and cleaned it and came across this:


But before i could get there i saw the screw was stripped and i never bothered to try and get in there........

So i took the iron saw and cut a groove in the stripped screw so i can loosen it. Worked well. When itook it of, there it sat! One thick piece of crap sitting on that little filter! No wonder!

Quickly put it back together and whalla!!!!!

So yeah, it runs ok now, but as i say, just need to tune it then it'll motor again!!!

Thanks again and again for all the replies. Helped me alot and I learned alot!!

Hope this might help someone else in the future!

Cheers

Kwagga

HAH ! Thats exactly what I told you to check 2 weeks ago


It's a very common problem on the XT. Many people just bin that filter.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Nice find!! -- and thanks for sharing.

Does anyone know if this little filter is in all XT’s and TT's or only the older models?

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Yamaha XT600E '01, Honda XR400 '03, Yamaha XT550 '83

Was in my 2003 model and that was the last of the XT600E's.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Glad to hear you got it sorted

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

Sadly I am returning again with the problem with my XT.

Is was fine for a little while, but now something totally different is wrong again. When i came to my bike the next day, the petrol was all over the tarmac.....all leaked out of the carb....So i took it off again, checked everything and put it on again. Still leaking....!

Ok, so i tried to get to work like it was and what a mission. When i open the throttle, it dies. Way too much petrol. I took the carb off again put another seal in and some silicone to seal it. Done. Nicely sealed.

Now still it just puffs and backfires and dies very easily.

I took it in, and they struggle to fix it. Doono what it is.

If anyone can help again plz, that'll be MUCH appreciated.

cheers guys

kwagga

Sounds like the fuel valve is sticking or has dirt in it....... The bit that is worked by the float.

hi there it sounds like the fuel valve is sticking as pigford says, so take it out again and clean it also have a look in the fuel tank, you have either filled up with dirty fuel, easy to do if you filled up just after the tanker left the garage and there tanks are old the new delivery will have stirred up the dirt , so try changing garages . also your fuel tank maybe rusty and flakes will continue to block the carb until you clean the tank out and seal it will some kind off sealer , try undoing the drain screw on the bottom of the carb and catch the fuel in a clean container to see what is in the carb , also run a little fuel through with the screw out this can flush any small bits of dirt out . zigzag

Cheers guys,

I was so fed-up with the bike, i took it to the bike shop again and said they must sort it out. Donno what they did, but it runs like something of another planet once it is heated up...... When it is cold i have to rdie with the choke out at least for 5 mins or so....

Never use to work like that, but hey....it works!

Start very easy as well. Use to kick a bit b4.

laters

kwagga

Hi Kwagga,


Frustrating Eh!! You gave it a real good try and good on you… so things to consider if this happens again…… If you bin the filter and it the fuel system ie tank to carby.... still has crap coming through the system where is that crap going to end up In your fuel valve / "needle and seat" and then in the jets of the carburetor.

The Needle and seat are there to control the fuel flow through the carb and it only takes a small hair or flake of some sort to keep the needle off its seat. Tus fuel continues to flow out the carb and onto the floor.

The fuel can only enter the carb through the fuel hose leading to the needle and seat there are no other places for the fuel to enter the carb.

I have a set of similar carb’s so I dismantled one and had a look…. There is an O ring around the fuel valve and if this is not in good condition then fuel will leak past the valve and flow over the floor.

Provided the float was working properly when you installed it, it should hold enough pressure against the needle to keep the fuel from flowing into the float bowl or chamber. The part removed by the four screws.

I Suggest using selastic or any other sealing compound in or near the carb is not the way to go except for the most severe emergency as this may cause other problems….like a piece lodging itself between the needle and seat or in one of your jets.

When dismanteling and cleaning a cara a good thing to do is to get a carb kit and replace the O rings and gaskets.... there are kits with screws etc and these can also be replaced when you clean the crab as any movement in the O rings can disturb them and cause leakage.

Always when there is crap in the little filter clean backwards through the carb and back to the tank, its blood flowing to the heart of your engine it needs to be clean (analogy only) as I suggested to you go to your bike shop and get a small filter and fit it in the fuel line to the carb.

As for running on Choke the only thing that the mechanic may have altered would be the float level and this may be a little low causing the bike to run lean until everything heats up, even the fuel will heat in the bowl, if your not happy with running on choke and the bike is warm then go back to the mechanic and take it up with him if he has altered the float level by adjusting the “Tang” on the float if you don’t feel that you have the right answer certainly make contact through the site and seek another mecs opinion.
a goo thing to do is when you have assembled the cabs is to test for leakage. Take a Coke bottle drill a hole in the cap a little smaller than the fuel hose. poke the hose through the cap about one inch and seal with selastic..... let it set overnight ....and then put petrol in the bottle and with the hose attached to the carb inlet turn the bottle upside downan dtest for leakage. leave the bottle hanging up ao that it is above the carbs and the carbs should be level as though they were attached to the bike, leave it overnight and check in the morning . if anything is leaking then fuel will be all over the place. just 6ml not the whole tank

Very happy that you have it fixed so you can ride it and good on you for having a go



Kind regards

Cheers
Champ