Great opportunity for a nice step by step write up
-
Enjoy XS650.com? Consider making a donation to help support the site.
XS650.com receives a small share of sales from some links on this page, but direct donations have a much greater impact on keeping this site going.
What have you done to your XS today?
- Thread starter I am Carbon
- Start date
-
- Tags
- maintenance
Started working on retuning the EFI for the XS1 cam and no base gasket. Idle is about the same, but higher up the fuel demand is definitely higher.
The process, I warm it up and take a ride with the laptop hooked up data logging. After that ride I take a look at how it's running, afr vs rpm at what TPS setting. In this case I had to add fuel almost everywhere, now that it is closer I take another few short rides with the laptop with autotune turned on. On each ride I go to a nearby hill and start in 2nd at the bottom almost lugging the engine and take it to redline going up. Each time the fuel map gets adjusted closer to being right by reading the wideband. Then once it's running well enough I'll take it on a longer ride.
The process, I warm it up and take a ride with the laptop hooked up data logging. After that ride I take a look at how it's running, afr vs rpm at what TPS setting. In this case I had to add fuel almost everywhere, now that it is closer I take another few short rides with the laptop with autotune turned on. On each ride I go to a nearby hill and start in 2nd at the bottom almost lugging the engine and take it to redline going up. Each time the fuel map gets adjusted closer to being right by reading the wideband. Then once it's running well enough I'll take it on a longer ride.
Attachments
Didnt do anything to my XS but changed the clutch spring in my Yamaha Roadstar. Took a few hours and went real good with exception of the gasket removal on the chrome cover. I even tried with rolok disk and no go but took more time scraping it off gently. Plates checked out within spec to buttoned all back up and put back oil in. Took it out for an hour test run and all is great! Its got a kung foo grip on my clutch plates now! 
pics from start to finish.
pics from start to finish.
Took the bike to work this morning. When I turned on the choke, gas started pouring out of the carbs. This has been a regular occurance since last fall if it sits too long without running. This time though I thought it had stopped but apparently the gas on the LH side was still leaking back into the air filter. I pulled the choke up and down a few times and revved it up, and it finally stopped. My left exhaust was smoking for a little bit after that. Anyone care to explain why it would be doing this? Is something not sealing properly? It seems to happen more often when I engage the choke for a cold start. Opening/closing the choke and revving it up usually stops it within seconds; and after it’s running it doesnt happen again. I’m planning on changing the oil tomorrow, and taking out the clutch plates to scratch up with sandpaper to see if I can remedy my slipping in the higher rpms. Will report back.
Last edited:
Do you leave the bike on the side stand rather than use the center stand?...............Are the floats original or aftermarket?...
Would have made a good build thread with all your posts instead they'r all lost in this thread
Would have made a good build thread with all your posts instead they'r all lost in this thread
I think all my posts WERE condensed to a build thread, but I guess I’ve gone and messed that up again. I hardly ever use the side stand, and never to park it and walk away. Not sure about the floats; I still havent been inside the carbs
Last edited:
Hi tzimmerm,
you ain't never gonna even have a hope of fixing a fuel problem until you've been inside the carbs, eh?
Not this again....
. This is what everyone told me when I first got the bike and was getting it running. I sent them to oldskoolcarbs and he rebuilt and polished them for me, and it’s run great ever since, about 5,000 miles. Just popped them on and adjusted the idle screw. I am definitely avoiding getting inside them unless absolutely necessary, but I did technically solve my fuel problems once before without having to. 
. This is what everyone told me when I first got the bike and was getting it running. I sent them to oldskoolcarbs and he rebuilt and polished them for me, and it’s run great ever since, about 5,000 miles. Just popped them on and adjusted the idle screw. I am definitely avoiding getting inside them unless absolutely necessary, but I did technically solve my fuel problems once before without having to.
yeah, technically you are correct.Not this again....
But all you will ever learn by paying someone to fix something is how to open your wallet.
I re-read my post; it does sound a bit self defeating. I’ve done a lot of other work on the bike, and at this point I’m probably not really too intimidated to get in them, it’s just so dang inconvenient. Rest assured I’m not going to be paying anyone to get in them for me again. I’m still going to put off breaking in myself as long as I can.
Nah. Don't beat yourself up. OldSkool makes them beautiful and functional and for the price it's hard to beat. Mine ran great with just a few tweeks to the left side pilot to reduce popping. I have not touched them since.
Not much today either. Torqued the countershaft sprocket nut, and secured it. Then a little upgrade to the crankcase ventilation. Replaced the older, bulkier " two hose" setup with the later "single hose", and added a PCV reed valve from Heiden Tuning.
For now, I'll leave the hose en open, later I plan to connect it to one of the air filters.
For now, I'll leave the hose en open, later I plan to connect it to one of the air filters.
Finally tackled that "Hard Start When Cold" issue after my son (bike's owner) had to get 3 of his lacrosse teammates to push-start him after practice yesterday.
A bit of reading turned up 5Twins awesome photo of the float bowl jet.
I removed the bowls without pulling the carbs, as they had been gone thru by the PO. Wow are those jets tough to clean! I tried carb cleaner, brake cleaner, an ultrasonic bath, diesel, a mix of acetone and gasket remover, PB'laster, and even a "Vibro-Graver" on the bottom of the jet housing. Must have spent 2 hours at it, interspersed with other projects while soaking.
What finally got it was sticking it into the metal cage of a 1,000 watt shop light and heating it until it started smoking!
Sure enough, that was the problem with hard starting.
That helpful pic from 5Twins:
What's a "Vibro-Graver"?
A bit of reading turned up 5Twins awesome photo of the float bowl jet.
I removed the bowls without pulling the carbs, as they had been gone thru by the PO. Wow are those jets tough to clean! I tried carb cleaner, brake cleaner, an ultrasonic bath, diesel, a mix of acetone and gasket remover, PB'laster, and even a "Vibro-Graver" on the bottom of the jet housing. Must have spent 2 hours at it, interspersed with other projects while soaking.
What finally got it was sticking it into the metal cage of a 1,000 watt shop light and heating it until it started smoking!
Sure enough, that was the problem with hard starting.
That helpful pic from 5Twins:
What's a "Vibro-Graver"?
Last edited:
When trying to clear the choke jet with compressed air, it's tough to get the rubber tip on the blow gun to seal well in the top hole because of that air passage slot entering it from the side. I have a long needle tip for my blow gun. It allows me to stick it down into the passageway and rest it right on top of the jet. Then I get a nice strong blast of air through it .....
I actually bought a whole set of these tips and boy, are they handy for carb cleaning .....
I actually bought a whole set of these tips and boy, are they handy for carb cleaning .....
Someone made a very nice offer to buy my XS so I accepted. My baby has now left the nest and I will feel naked until I get my Virago finished - it just needs a final clear coat for petrol resistance. I plan on using 2K Pro XL clear lacquer in a spray can - any comments welcome.
Just changed the oil on the bike. Not as bad as in the past, but a bit metallic. I took a short video; can anyone give me their opinion? Does this look too bad? While in there, I took the clutch pack out and scuffed up each metal clutch plate with 220. I intended on checking thicknesses, but my digital caliper was dead. Wouldnt have made too big a difference anyway; I don’t have anything else on hand to put in there anyway. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq-gggOT4Q8
Speaking of fuel tanks, there is a beautiul 75 tank here on the local CL for 150.00. There is a dent in it, but it is otherwise perfect. I’m really tempted to buy it, but then I’d be tracking down and buying new sidecovers. The price seems exceptional though.
Alright! Just got back from a 30 mile ride to test the clutch- hopped on the interstate, full throttle in 5th all the way to 90 MPH and no slipping! Accelerated hard up to 60 on the highway and back to the interstate where I ripped through the gears up to 85. No slipping! Definitely the first step to take before spending money. I did just what this guy did in the video- layed out one sheet of 220 on the counter top and rubbed each side of each plate around a few times.
