maintenance

Hi all, i've just joined in. Been reading your forum for a while and loving it. Now this is dangerous territory for a newbie but bugger it... So question is i'm looking at getting a 73' TX 650 or 70's KZ750 Twin ( i think it's late 70's) and i would love some feedback if anyone has ridden...

A tire I ordered about a week ago arrived yesterday with a thud at my front door. It's still sitting in the dining room. I might take it down to the garage sometime today, but no hurry. This time of year you can just take your time working on your bike(s) because you ain't going nowhere for a...

I installed my new master cylinder for my project. I cannot get the brake fluid to flow down to the caliper. I know there is a lot of air in the hoses. How long should it take to vacuum out the air? I have a hand pump. How about gravity feed? How long should that take?

Hey guys, New to XS650s and the forum. I was wondering if anyone had some insight to an issue I'm having on my 1979 Special II. It seems the throttle return lever on the left carb wont snap back on it own. The throttle cable itself has nice action and is fine. When lifting the throttle lever...

I seem to have forgotten how much trouble my first xs650 was to kick start. Is there a certain technique to it? I can start my XS with the electric, but so far no kick.

I've removed my brake caliber, the tachometer cable and castellated nut on my front wheel. Do I need to remove anything else or should the wheel spindle slide out? Does the spindle unscrew? I'm at a standstill on my front wheel removal.

I bought a grease gun at Harbor Freight for $10.00 today. How many zerks are on the xs650 and where are they? I want to get my money's worth from the grease gun. I know there is a zerk on the swing arm, that's it.

I pulled the engine out of my '79 to freshen it up over the winter and see why it's leaking so much oil. I initially thought the starter motor nose seal was shot as it seemed to have oil all over the bottom all the time. Now that I've got it out and flipped it over to look, I'm not so...

Hi Guys Ive fitted a new front sprocket, rear sprocket (all standard) and chain. Noticed a light tack tack tack or whirring noise when the wheel spins. Checked the wheel alignment using the old school string method and adjusted it accordingly. Checked chain wasn't too tight (20mm or so free...

I checked my signals on my 78 xs, the right side works fine, the left side didn't work at all. I changed the relay, nothing changed. I removed the left front signal's bulb and hit the turn switch. The left rear signal started working. I am not getting any juice on the left front signal with my...

late last December I brought home a '73TX 650, the bike started but was rough and clearly was not running well on one cylindar and the petcocks were weeping badly. So I ordered up some stuff ( new petcocks included) and tore the carbs apart for cleaning (much rust and grit debris), then life...

About to get started on some Resto on my newly acquired 74 TX650A. Just got a Clymer manual and have been reading and reading to familiarize myself with the mechanics of the 650. First off very disappointed in the manual,,,,, not very good. Under the maintanence schedule it lists Oil change...

I bought 10 w 40 oil for my XS. The manual reads 20w50. Will the 10w40 hurt my bike? I don't want to exchange the oil if I don't have to.

I just finished my bobber build and get the sumbitch tuned and timed to a tee and as i was on the side of the road pulling the plugs to check the burn lines i notice oil running down both of my lower forks. When i got back to the house i pulled my fork gaters off to see whats going on and oil...

I know the OEM service manual in the best to have, but of the three "Climers, Haynes and Chilton" which is the next best to get for a 1975 XS650?

Goo day all, I have a problem from hell trying to free up a seized bolt from the front engine mounting, I tried to use penetrating oil (we don't get PB Buster here, so can't have that luxury lol) I have tried to hammer it out, then used an imact wrench on the bold and that sheared off the head...

Hi there. I have a set uf USD Showa forks off a 03 Aprillia Mille fitted to må 1976 XS650 with 17" rims. Any recommendation on how much oil to put in the forks after end service?? Morten

A quick video on adjusting the clutch on a XS650

Is there a particular alignment needed for the brake operating arm onto the cam? There don't seem to be any obvious marks on the cam shaft, and when i got my bike the rear wheel assembly was half in boxes. Rebuilt it all a while ago with new bearings, powder, shoes etc and gave it a good...

A while back I bought a couple ten packs of aftermarket exhaust gaskets. These are the ones that appear to be a coil of thin green foam wrapped in metal foil. They are not working well and easily crush down until the pipe collar flange is touching the head. My local Yamaha dealer does not...