This should be page 1 of “The revised XS650 Owners manual”.
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What have you done to your XS today?
- Thread starter I am Carbon
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- maintenance
Oil seepage doesn't bother me either.
But, an oil coated engine does.
They tend to run hotter...
But, an oil coated engine does.
They tend to run hotter...
Absolutely agree on that point 2M - clean is better. Besides, that way you can see if things are changing for the worse (they never seem to change for the better).
Pete
PS - I like your new avatar!
I've been watching that avatar now for 10 minutes and the guy is still kicking. Must be one fit biker. Yesterday I got the bike nice and hot and dumped the oil. No horror stories to tell. This was 900 miles and the bike seemed to be a bit noisier than usual. I think this hot weather has been extra harsh on the oil. I plan to switch to a V-twin oil next time - what's so special about oil for V-twins? Is it that they meet HD approval?
Vee-Twin / Schmee-Twin - that’s just marketing bumpf to get the Hardly-Makeitson crowd to buy their stuff from the dealers.
In truth, it’s all about the SAE viscosity.
Most of those oils are 20W50 which is what I thought was the recommended oil for the XS650. In any event, it’s so hot around here in the summer that the more viscous oil is no problemo.
Pete
In truth, it’s all about the SAE viscosity.
Most of those oils are 20W50 which is what I thought was the recommended oil for the XS650. In any event, it’s so hot around here in the summer that the more viscous oil is no problemo.
Pete
Disappointment this morning! Woke up old and creaky but that's not it.
I have been installing a starter in my '76 that had been removed by PO. Got the left side all buttoned up today and hoping to not have to open up the clutch side. I tested it with a separate power source. Starter whirs nicely and that's it. Which means that the PO was a very thorough fellow and has removed the connecting geartrain from the clutch to the starter. Looks like I will be kicking for a while yet as I have higher priority jobs on this bike to do.
I have been installing a starter in my '76 that had been removed by PO. Got the left side all buttoned up today and hoping to not have to open up the clutch side. I tested it with a separate power source. Starter whirs nicely and that's it. Which means that the PO was a very thorough fellow and has removed the connecting geartrain from the clutch to the starter. Looks like I will be kicking for a while yet as I have higher priority jobs on this bike to do.
Danged PO's lakeview!
Dang!
On the 76 "Red Hammer" finished off the complete oil change, hooked up the clutch cable, bolted on the left side cover, took the carbs off to see why float valves let all that gas into the engine and the octagonal fitting holding it in was installed pretty much just finger tight on each side, corrected that and reinstalled them. Was ready to reinstall the tank and lines when MaxPete dropped by and helped out the last bit. I won't say it was a one kick wonder off the bench,
but adjusting the idle screw got it starting somewhat regularly, enough that Pete and I did a country block on our machines. (16 miles).
Once underway, the Hammer is a joy to ride, lots of power, no misses, nothing leaked out and nothing fell off. All good.
Now to fix those pesty turn signals - and research to see if the missing starter gear train can be reinstalled without tearing the motor down completely.
Once underway, the Hammer is a joy to ride, lots of power, no misses, nothing leaked out and nothing fell off. All good.
Now to fix those pesty turn signals - and research to see if the missing starter gear train can be reinstalled without tearing the motor down completely.
Yup, all in all a very nice day indeed. I started at the Amherstberg Vintage Car and Bike Show which had around 3-400 vintage cars and about 13 bikes including the redoubtable Lucille.
There was an amazing array of hot rods, modern muscle cars, nutty oldie 60s-70s muscle cars and two top fuel rail dragsters. On the bike side was our rag-tag collection of vintage bikes which included a 1939 Nimbus sidecar rig (Danish military bike) a Chiang-Shiang side car rig (basically a 1939 BMW military bike made on original German tooling that the Russians ”liberated” and then donated to Mao TseTung’s Chinese Red Army - gotta love those Russians - always “liberating” things....ooops no politics - my bad
), plus the usual collection of Nortons, BSAs, and BWMs, a Moto-Guzzi Eldorado and some nice older Japanese bikes.
After the show, I rode the 60-odd miles to Lakeview’s home to pickup the clutch adjuster cover that he generously donated to Lucille. I puddled along the north shore of Lake Erie - what a pleasant ride. At Lakeview’s place, we worked on getting his red ‘76 going and it paid off! That bike goes like stink, doesn’t smoke or leak a drop and we had a ball!
After that, it was 60 miles home to Windsor and to bed for Lucille. On the way she developed a strange ticking noise - likely valve train related, so I backed off a bit to give her a break.
I’ll check that out in the morning. There’s always something with these old gals.
Pete
There was an amazing array of hot rods, modern muscle cars, nutty oldie 60s-70s muscle cars and two top fuel rail dragsters. On the bike side was our rag-tag collection of vintage bikes which included a 1939 Nimbus sidecar rig (Danish military bike) a Chiang-Shiang side car rig (basically a 1939 BMW military bike made on original German tooling that the Russians ”liberated” and then donated to Mao TseTung’s Chinese Red Army - gotta love those Russians - always “liberating” things....ooops no politics - my bad
), plus the usual collection of Nortons, BSAs, and BWMs, a Moto-Guzzi Eldorado and some nice older Japanese bikes.After the show, I rode the 60-odd miles to Lakeview’s home to pickup the clutch adjuster cover that he generously donated to Lucille. I puddled along the north shore of Lake Erie - what a pleasant ride. At Lakeview’s place, we worked on getting his red ‘76 going and it paid off! That bike goes like stink, doesn’t smoke or leak a drop and we had a ball!
After that, it was 60 miles home to Windsor and to bed for Lucille. On the way she developed a strange ticking noise - likely valve train related, so I backed off a bit to give her a break.
I’ll check that out in the morning. There’s always something with these old gals.
Pete
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Jpowell
XS650 New Member
Hello, today I was given a 79 Yamaha 650 xs. My stepfather has had this thing in his garage as long as I can remember. He has just in the past few years tore the whole bike down with the intent to make a “bobber”. Went to his house this weekend to help rebuild his front porch, and he gave me this bike saying” I don’t have time to mess with it”. So any advice, parts links, would be greatly appreciated.
My sincere and respectful advice is - DO NOT make it a bobber until you have put it back together and ridden it as a Standard XS650.
You’ve got one of the most desireable models of one of the best bikes of the 1970s - give it a chance to show you what’s a terrific ride it truly is.
Jpowell
XS650 New Member
Appreciate, I have all parts to get bike running, motor compression is well within specs, so I will definately give it a shot.
Good -tons of help here. So, ask questions, post photos and have a ball!
Jpowell
XS650 New Member
Really appreciate it.
Yup, all in all a very nice day indeed. I started at the Amherstberg Vintage Car and Bike Show which had around 3-400 vintage cars and about 13 bikes including the redoubtable Lucille.
There was an amazing array of hot rods, modern muscle cars, nutty oldie 60s-70s muscle cars and two top fuel rail dragsters. On the bike side was our rag-tag collection of vintage bikes which included a 1939 Nimbus sidecar rig (Danish military bike) a Chiang-Shiang side car rig (basically a 1939 BMW military bike made on original German tooling that the Russians ”liberated” and then donated to Mao TseTung’s Chinese Red Army - gotta love those Russians - always “liberating” things....ooops no politics - my bad
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After the show, I rode the 60-odd miles to Lakeview’s home to pickup the clutch adjuster cover that he generously donated to Lucille. I puddled along the north shore of Lake Erie - what a pleasant ride. At Lakeview’s place, we worked on getting his red ‘76 going and it paid off! That bike goes like stink, doesn’t smoke or leak a drop and we had a ball!
After that, it was 60 miles home to Windsor and to bed for Lucille. On the way she developed a strange ticking noise - likely valve train related, so I backed off a bit to give her a break.
I’ll check that out in the morning. There’s always something with these old gals.
Pete
Pete,
Who is the hottie next to the Norton??
She’s the younger sister of the bike’s owner. She was there with her own ‘60s Ford Mustang.
Jez MaxPete, I didn't even notice anyone standing next to my dream bike. I noticed that on your trip with Lakeview you had a "ball". I'm guessing that was a Lucille Ball...
highboy_coupe
XS650 Addict
My bike was accepted by the DVLA so is now registered in the UK .
As a treat I changed over to foam filters, added breather filter, rebuilt carbs (again) with new float needles/bodies/o-rings and gaskets, which resulted in the left hand one pissing fuel out my shiny new foam filter as soon as I turned the tap on .
Turns out float needle was twisted round a tiny bit and was catching it on the needle body.
I also fitted 330mm black Hagon shocks, turns out that tiny bit of height DOES make it easier to get it on the centre stand!
I have also put on a new 80mm stainless brake hose and routed it to the best of my abilities.
Oh, and I had the sump plate machined to accept a small spin on oil filter, it really isn't bad for clearance.
So with that I just need to put my new number plate on and I'm off to work on it for the first time tomorrow, can't wait.
As a treat I changed over to foam filters, added breather filter, rebuilt carbs (again) with new float needles/bodies/o-rings and gaskets, which resulted in the left hand one pissing fuel out my shiny new foam filter as soon as I turned the tap on .
Turns out float needle was twisted round a tiny bit and was catching it on the needle body.
I also fitted 330mm black Hagon shocks, turns out that tiny bit of height DOES make it easier to get it on the centre stand!
I have also put on a new 80mm stainless brake hose and routed it to the best of my abilities.
Oh, and I had the sump plate machined to accept a small spin on oil filter, it really isn't bad for clearance.
So with that I just need to put my new number plate on and I'm off to work on it for the first time tomorrow, can't wait.
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Niiiice
