Is there a cheaper relay that interchanges for 36100-MM5-008 (fuel cutoff relay) on an '88?

We're trying gravity but it's still not starting.

Settle a disagreement for me: the black nipples coming out of the carbs (the higher pair, since the lower are for the fuel line. Are those vent to atmosphere, vacuum, or something else? I don't know what they're supposed to hook to.

 

I don't know of a cheaper relay, but those black nipples are vacuum gauge ports for carb syncing. Make sure they're in good shape or else you'll get a vacuum leak

 

And that's why my bike isn't running. Somewhere in there I've got vacuum hoses not hooked to anything. Where should those nipples hook to?

 

The nipples should be blanked off. The only time you need them is when you're syncing the carbs

I'm not sure if I'd make the leap to vacuum leaks as being the cause of your no-start though. Unless you've got the California version, there's not much of a vacuum system on these bikes. Later models got a vacuum-fed fuel system, but the 87-88's used a fuel pump. That said, mine would idle even bypassing the fuel pump, so if it's not starting, I'd probably start with the basics and work back from there

 

Yeah, turns out I was looking at the overflow vents... yeah, the bike is in the hands of my father who's skilled on classic cars, hoping he can figure it out because I can't.

 

I don't believe you need a fuel cutoff relay when going to gravity feed. When you remove the pump you have removed what the relay is controlling.

 

TBT is correct. Your on/off/reserve **** becomes the cutoff relay of sorts. It will be a good practice to turn it to the off position wheile parked if going gravity fed.

 

Ugh. It was water in the fuel. 2 weekends of making myself sick with stress over this and I never checked for water in the fuel.