Re: 82 xj750 Maxim engine cuts out

 

On Tue, 31 Jan 2006 02:37:24 GMT, someone@some.domain (e) wrote:


Trust me, that's on my to-do list.  I'd like to find a spare carb (or even a
complete set) to practice on, as I've never done this before.


Refer to the aforementioned XJ Mailing list.  It's supposed to clean the fuel
system, and there apparently was a debate as to which is/was better -- Seafoam
or Chevron Techron.


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Don't be paranoid.  Everyone's not out to get you.  I am.
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. wrote:

Never used Seafoam, but Techron is holy.  It's the only additive I've ever
used that actually did what it says it will do.

Years ago, I got a consulting job in CT that would last a year.  (I live in
WA.)  In the confusion of getting ready to leave, I forgot to do anything
about the full tank of gas in my '86 XJ700S (Maxim-X), which had its fuel
petcock turned on, as always.

When I got back home, I started the bike, only to find it coughing and
choking something terrible.  Not looking forward to tearning down four carbs
and cleaning them manually, I decided to pour in a whole bottle of Techron
and see what would happen.

There was an immediate improvement.  When the tank was empty, I poured in
another whole bottle of Techron, and filled the rest of the tank with
gasoline.  It got better and better as I ran through that tank.  Never
needed any other attention after that.

Now I run a bottle of Techron through every vehicle I drive (Miata, Jeep,
FJR, R6) with the last tankful before an oil change.  I don't do carbs
anymore, but I've never had a problem with injectors, either.

If Seafoam is as good as Techron, it must be wonderful stuff, too.

 


EffJay R. Yamaha wrote:


Bzzzzt! Technon doesn't do what you think it does, except as an
additional benefit that may or may not happen.

If you go to Chevron's websites that glorify Techron, you'll learn that
it's mostly for cleaning intake valves, which collect a lot of
carburized oil that leaks past the intake valve guide oil seals.
Techron has some sort of copper-based material in it that will prevent
the carburized oil from sticking to the valve head. Carburized oil can
accumulate in such large globs the valves will not close and the intake
valves will actually burn because they are never closed.

The problem that motorcycles with CV carburetors encounter is that the
tiny idle passages get plugged up so easily, especially the single
orifice that is regulated by the
idle mixture screw.

You need a strong carburetor cleaner to get that stuff out of there. DO
NOT use a carburetor cleaner that contains cresylic acid, like
Berryman's B-9 Parts Dip. That's for
cleaning car parts that are covered with road grunge and petrified
grease.

What you want for cleaning CV carbs is Berryman's B-12 Chemtool Choke
and Carburetor Cleaner. You can get it in aerosol form for spritzing
out the jets and passages, or you can buy the liquid form, a 15-oz.
can, for less than $3.00 at Wal*Mart.

B-12 contains xylene, acetone, and methyl alcohol. If you can't get
B-12, look at STP
and Gum Out carb cleaners.

The easiest way to use the liquid B-12 is to put 3 or 4 ounces of it in
a full tank of gasoline and just go for a ride. Somewhere along the
way, you may notice that the engine idles a lot faster, so you can turn
the idle mixture knob down. The knob will usually be located between
the pair of carbs on the right hand side of the engine, unless you have
a sportbike with a full fairing. In that case, the master idle knob is
probably on the left side of the machine and the knob may be concealed
under a rubber plug, as it is on my FZR-1000.

 

Alfred J. wrote:

Cute sound effects.  My granddaughter would like that, probably.

But what I think Techron does, or what Chevron's website says it's supposed
to do, has absolutely nothing to do with what makes me so happy with it.

What it has done for me does.  If it's only a side-effect that saved me all
that work, then it's a side-effect that I'll take all I can get of.

 


EffJay R. Yamaha wrote:


Well, Chevron must love you, because you're happy with a product that
doesn't do what you think it's supposed to do. The effects that you
imagine that Techron accomplishes may actually result from the alcohol
additives in the fresh gasoline you add to the gas tank the first time
you refill the tank.

Techron is almost a placebo when it comes to carburetors. I know. I
tried it last summer and it didn't work. It gets up to 100 degrees here
everyday from June 1 through September 30. Gasoline evaporates in my
carbs and plugs them up.

Berryman's B-12 is designed to remove gum and varnish from carburetors
and it
accomplished that job quickly and efficiently and it costs $1 to $2
less for a can of it.