Search results

To those with trailering experience... what is the minimal size trailer that would handle a stock 76? Tractor Supply has a 4X7 lightweight trailer (350 pounds) that my small car can probably handle just fine. But I don't know if it would be long enough. I'd rather have the bike go straight...

I see that I had a similar post about this problem last year. But I have not fixed the problem. 1976, stock, with stock BS38 carbs. My last compression check, done a year ago with warm engine and wide open throttle, was 145 right cylinder and 140 left. That said, the left cylinder has a...

Never gave this much thought before. But I installed a new voltmeter the other day, and while inside the headlight bucket, I cleaned up some wire routing. The bundle from the ignition switch was routed such that the protective sheath was outside the bucket, with the individual wires fed...

1976 XS650C. Stock, but with PMA. I know the answer is somewhere right under my nose, but I haven't found it. And as many of you know, I do not easily comprehend electrical systems. :shrug: I have replaced my toasted PMA with a new one (complete HHB kit). The old one (Mike'sXS) had the...

I'll be installing a replacement PMA and reg/rec from Hugh's today or tomorrow. My previous PMA, which was installed by the PO, is deceased. He never mounted the reg/rec. He simply had hung it over the swing arm with a single zip tie! He also left the OEM regulator in place. I think I'd like...

First off... my bike is a 76 XS650C. I have a PMA (appears to be the one Mike's sells, as installed by PO, part# 24-2669) and stock points ignition. The battery is a AGM installed by PO. I don't know how old it, or the PMA and it's components are. I luckily avoided being stranded for the...

I decided it was past time to replace the old (could be original) dried out and cracked fuel line. I ordered the thin wall hose and wire clamps from Mike's. (BTW... they shipped super fast.) I had read good things about those two items. The hose is part 20-4010 and the clamps are 20-4017. I...

I have seen how paint stripper easily removes the ugly, old plastic coating on aluminum bits, as I've tested some areas on my bike. But does anyone have experience or recommendations (such as, perhaps, "don't do it!") on using paint remover on the wheels with tires still mounted? I can see...

Know how when you see a bike you want, you tend to look at it through rose-colored glasses? And after you own it for a short while you realize every Phillips head screw has been rounded off, among other problems? Well... that's me... hopefully not you! Anyway... I'm going through...

For my peace of mind, I'd like to have a lock nut on my cam chain tensioner. Will the Type E lock nut and copper washer fit/work on my Type D tensioner (1976 XS650C) without modification? If so, other than finding the parts, are there any concerns? Thanks!

A couple of Saturdays ago, I spent most of the day working on the newly acquired bike. One of the projects was to remove and replace the sump filter. It was then that I found out that the sump plate had probably never been removed. I had to do quite a bit of beating to get it off. When it...

I found the following thread that definitely relates to the problem I'm having with my '76: http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30627&highlight=left+cylinder+cold I'm posting this because my carbs are BS 38, while the above thread applies to BS 34 carbs. The intermittent firing from...

Looking for REAR turn signal mounting hardware for 1976 XS650C. Please see the pic. Needed hardware consists of 4 items for each side (total 8 parts). The "stays", items 20 and 21 are specific to the right or left side. The other items are not "side specific". I do not need the signals. If...

I have found a lot of great info on the forum on how to remove the bezel to get at a loose speedometer faceplate. I have no problems with that job. What I specifically have not found, is how to remove the speedometer from the 1976 XS650C. I'm thinking there could be differences among the...

1976 XS650C. Starts/runs great. Burns no oil. Under 8,000 miles, if odometer and PO are correct. Cam chain tension good. Valves adjusted good (003 and 006). Compression with warm engine and wide open throttle is 145 right cylinder and 140 left. I built a manometer last week and used it...

I installed "Superbike" bars this afternoon. They are a little shorter and a little more narrow than stock. I played around with the cable routing for quite a while. And though there doesn't appear to be any kinking and the throttle works smoothly, I don't think it's a good setup. The clutch...

This question is related to a thread I previously started regarding locating TDC on a PMA equipped bike. I finally had a chance to play around with it this weekend, and I found that my old Yamaha dial indicator that I was going to use is behaving in a "sticky"manner. Perhaps it's because I...

Sitting here at work, thinking of finding TDC to mark my newly discovered PMA. Please don't tell my boss! :wink2: I found my ancient Yamaha dial indicator while digging through a tool box yesterday. It has the 14mm threaded adapter for the spark plug. As the spark plug enters the head at...

First, the PMA installation the PO told me nothing about. (And no timing marks.). Now I see that there is no lock nut on the cam chain tensioner. Guess a squirrel must have taken it! Grrrr. Darn PO. Can someone tell me what size it is, so I can get another? I DO need it... right???

IS this! Darn predictive text. Well... this changes things. Perhaps my bike isn't as stock as I thought. Was going to check cam chain tension and when I pulled the rotor cover off, I saw this. No timing marks and nothing that looks familiar to me. What kind of ignition mod do I have...