ANLAF
XS650 Guru
The kickstarter used to be a smooth action - now I am on the point of opening up thetop end to see of the problem is in there.
BACKGROUND - when I got it the bike sounded like that old cartoon bike in Aristocats (if the have children, you'll know what I mean), bagging away as if it was firing on both cylinders at the same time, wanting to be a single - an what do you know, the wires from the coils went into a single wire then headed out to the points. It was doing the old TINGLE after all. Come to think of it, the bike stopped if I removed the right cylinder suppressor cap (I think the problem lies on the right side - read on!).
Everything was fine, then I lost neutral, 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. I have just finished solving the gears problem (replaced damaged shifter-shaft, made the correct adjustments, put in new clutch plates and springs, and made sure there was nothing that might affect the kickstarter mechanism). I have redone the wiring, and adjusted (in the recommended order) the cam chain adjuster, the valves clearances, then put in Boyer ignition. When I went to start the bike something had changed - the kickstarter smooth action had transformed overnight into a wild beast. Now, I am not small, 220lbs (okay, 235lbs) and there wss no way I could budge the thing without using all my force (the little darling chatted back and nearly broke something bone-like, and left a 1/4 inch reminder of who's boss imprinted in the back of my leg).
I got the bike running when I thought it wasn't looking. The carbs were slightly out of adjustment (you might have seen the thread about butterfly valve synchronisation) which might have contributed to backfiring through the carburettor, but the problem is a bit more systemic than that.
Plugs out, fine. The valve action feels good. Plugs in (ignition off), and there we have it - back to square one (so the carbs are eliminated). It was running rich on the right cylinder (I put that down to the carb mal-adjustment) but there is quite a good deal of carbon in there (looking through the spark plug hole and in the exhaust outlet). I put a small brush in the right cylinder via the exhaust valve just in case there was something blocking the valves seating correctly - nothing, just powdery blackness, nothing that might have held open a valve.
As I see it, the only thing I have changed that might affect the kickstarter so much is adjust the cam chain to spec (it was popping out 1/4" and staying out about an 1/8"). This suggests the chain was much too tight, and I put it to spec; then the valves 0.06mm and 0.15mm (I think the inlets had been set a little wider, 0.07 or 0.08; then I put in the Boyer.
If anyone has an idea of the cause I would be grateful, otherwise it strikes me the sensible thing to do would be to take the cylinder assembly off, check that cam chain and mechanism, and give the valves etc a clean.
Any suggestions greatfully received.
Anlaf
BACKGROUND - when I got it the bike sounded like that old cartoon bike in Aristocats (if the have children, you'll know what I mean), bagging away as if it was firing on both cylinders at the same time, wanting to be a single - an what do you know, the wires from the coils went into a single wire then headed out to the points. It was doing the old TINGLE after all. Come to think of it, the bike stopped if I removed the right cylinder suppressor cap (I think the problem lies on the right side - read on!).
Everything was fine, then I lost neutral, 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. I have just finished solving the gears problem (replaced damaged shifter-shaft, made the correct adjustments, put in new clutch plates and springs, and made sure there was nothing that might affect the kickstarter mechanism). I have redone the wiring, and adjusted (in the recommended order) the cam chain adjuster, the valves clearances, then put in Boyer ignition. When I went to start the bike something had changed - the kickstarter smooth action had transformed overnight into a wild beast. Now, I am not small, 220lbs (okay, 235lbs) and there wss no way I could budge the thing without using all my force (the little darling chatted back and nearly broke something bone-like, and left a 1/4 inch reminder of who's boss imprinted in the back of my leg).
I got the bike running when I thought it wasn't looking. The carbs were slightly out of adjustment (you might have seen the thread about butterfly valve synchronisation) which might have contributed to backfiring through the carburettor, but the problem is a bit more systemic than that.
Plugs out, fine. The valve action feels good. Plugs in (ignition off), and there we have it - back to square one (so the carbs are eliminated). It was running rich on the right cylinder (I put that down to the carb mal-adjustment) but there is quite a good deal of carbon in there (looking through the spark plug hole and in the exhaust outlet). I put a small brush in the right cylinder via the exhaust valve just in case there was something blocking the valves seating correctly - nothing, just powdery blackness, nothing that might have held open a valve.
As I see it, the only thing I have changed that might affect the kickstarter so much is adjust the cam chain to spec (it was popping out 1/4" and staying out about an 1/8"). This suggests the chain was much too tight, and I put it to spec; then the valves 0.06mm and 0.15mm (I think the inlets had been set a little wider, 0.07 or 0.08; then I put in the Boyer.
If anyone has an idea of the cause I would be grateful, otherwise it strikes me the sensible thing to do would be to take the cylinder assembly off, check that cam chain and mechanism, and give the valves etc a clean.
Any suggestions greatfully received.
Anlaf