Fuel prob 900 Diversion

[japbiker]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and experiencing a little difficulty with my xj900 Diversion. It is a 1999. It has been running fine but, the other day it started missing not long after starting.

Thinking it was probably just a bit of dirt that would shift with a good run I set off. Stalled at the junction half a mile away so I restarted and continued. After several hundred yards and still misfiring lots of dark smoke being thrown out of the exhausts or, at least the one on the right. Bike then cut out and after pulling up and dismounting, noticed contaminated fuel was pouring out of one of the small rubber pipes that terminate below the frame and just ahead of the riders right hand foot peg. Not sure what this is called but it is attached to the air intake box, so guessing it is some sort of overflow.

Drained some fuel from the bottom of the tank, it is nice and clean but the stuff coming out of the little rubber pipe has the colour of well used engine oil. I removed the air intake box, drained and cleaned it out, removed spark plugs, cleaned and dried them, then stuck it all back together. Ran great for about a minute then once more commenced misfiring and chucking out mucky fuel. Recently serviced so spark plugs, oil, oil filter and air filter are all fairly new and bike has 8K on the clock.

Not sure if this is something obvious to a much more experienced Diversion owner than me but it has me beat for now. Any helpful suggestions greatly appreciated.

Paul

[Greendivvy Beeb]

Possibly a sticking float in one of the carbs.
Also check the choke mechanism, cable and the slider rod on the carbs moving freely and the choke plungers on the carbs all engaged and returning fully in when the choke is off.

[japbiker]

Hi,
Sorry for taking so long to reply. Thanks for your suggestion Greendivvy Beeb. I have just got it sorted today.

It was in the general area you predicted. It turned out to be the needle valve O rings. A new set of needle valves from Fowlers is well over a hundred pounds. So ordered some O rings off ebay for about three quid.
After all that unburnt fuel flooded the cylinders, I did an oil + filter change. Reckon the engine oil ended up being 40% petrol! Also the air filter was dripping wet with the stuff, so that ended up in the bin too.

Anyway job done for lunchtime but, biblical rain this afternoon precluded a test drive. All seems bang on however and no problems expected with the next ride out, which will hopefully be tomorrow morning.

Regards

[Greendivvy Beeb]

Glad you cracked it in the end.