80 CBX Broke

[twinegar]

I think I may have broken my 80, it has been hard to start for a year and I just thought the carbs were dirty. I thought I had removed the pesky automatic fuel valve on top the engine but I was wrong and it turns out it was still there today when I did a quick cleaning of the main jets with carbs mounted. I removed it too little too late because last month in order to take both X's out to ride with a friend and still thinking that the slow starting was because of nasty carbs I shot starter fluid up under the seat and let the engine suck it through. It finally started but was missing so I touched each header pipe and discovered that #3 is the culprit so I parked it. Today after the quick cleaning #3 is still weak but not dead, just takes longer to heat up than the other five. Pulled the plug out and it was black with carbon and the plug wire slid out of the cap so hoping it might be a fouled plug or wire issue added a new plug and reattached the wire to the cap. Still missing unless I open the throttle up and then it smoothes out. It was getting dark so I parked it for the night. What kind of damage does starter fluid cause? At idle I am hearing a noisy lifter just as I open the throttle and then it stops as the engine revs, only happens as the throttle opens.

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

Sounds like you may still have an idle jet problem, Twinegear.
Excellent info here, viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6817&p=51350&hilit ... dle#p51350

Starter fluid MIGHT cause damage if over-used on a diesel but it would not have done any damage to your bike.

[Jeff Bennetts]

You can get cylinder washout and it can cause scoring but you need to really over use it for that to happen.

[twinegar]

That's good to hear, I read on some forum some place that it can damage the valves or something so I'm real glad I asked you guys before I scrounged the head off my donor bike. Any of you that have pulled a top end apart know what a buggar it is. Having a severe hearing impairment (90/70) makes knowing stuff out a hideous experience. I read the article you linked me to and this winter when I do a thorough carb cleaning I waqnt to yank those jets also. I did some searching here but wasn't able to find out how to acquire new idle jets, doesn't drilling and tapping to a much larger size cause a problem?
Thanks again.

[daves79x]

You are not drilling - just tapping and reusing the old jets. Please re-read the several threads on the subject and it will become clear. You did no damage - just need a thorough carb clean.

Dave