Prescottrogers
XS650 New Member
Hi Everybody,
(You can skip straight to the problem below if you don't want the back story)
I acquired a 77 Xs650 about a year ago. The PO had installed a 750 Kit because during an engine rebuild he f'd the end of one of the original cylinders. The bike looked and seemed turn and go. Opposite of ratty. Said he'd used it as a city A-B bike. The bike had lots of new parts, and he said he had thoroughly cleaned up the motor, including cooling fins with a dremel, cleaned and polished the heads, new cam chain, lapped the valves, gaskets, seals, etc. Seemed like it was all rebuilt and ready to go. Anyway, he said he hadn't got the carbs in sync.. Which was fine, I had a carb sync and the bike seemed to run healthy.
Got it home, rode it around during the season, but occasionally it would just quit at a light on take off or sometimes sitting, I wasn't sure why, thought maybe it was just me getting used to the bike. Maybe took it out a total of 15 times.. Then I noticed the #2 cylinder was WAY hot not long after starting it up, riding for a minute.. Worried me.
-Problem-
-Skip Here -
While working on it, I couldn't get the carbs to sync and noticed #2 cylinder ran hot pretty quick, while #1 was cool. Compression test: #1 was about 120psi, #2 was about 140-160 (This thing is a beast to kick.. Electric start not hooked up yet.) Then I did a leak down test with about 20-30psi and heard leaking in the head and the case through the oil cap.. on both sides. Did not hear anything from carbs or exhausts. I'm wondering if anybody's had the same thing, or if anybody knows something I don't..
I figure it's probably either a broken/leaking gasket by the cam chain or a cracked head.. and lastly, scored cylinder walls from a botched installation or something.. So any suggestions, help etc. is what I'd greatly appreciate before I take the engine out and tear down the head..
Thanks!
(You can skip straight to the problem below if you don't want the back story)
I acquired a 77 Xs650 about a year ago. The PO had installed a 750 Kit because during an engine rebuild he f'd the end of one of the original cylinders. The bike looked and seemed turn and go. Opposite of ratty. Said he'd used it as a city A-B bike. The bike had lots of new parts, and he said he had thoroughly cleaned up the motor, including cooling fins with a dremel, cleaned and polished the heads, new cam chain, lapped the valves, gaskets, seals, etc. Seemed like it was all rebuilt and ready to go. Anyway, he said he hadn't got the carbs in sync.. Which was fine, I had a carb sync and the bike seemed to run healthy.
Got it home, rode it around during the season, but occasionally it would just quit at a light on take off or sometimes sitting, I wasn't sure why, thought maybe it was just me getting used to the bike. Maybe took it out a total of 15 times.. Then I noticed the #2 cylinder was WAY hot not long after starting it up, riding for a minute.. Worried me.
-Problem-
-Skip Here -
While working on it, I couldn't get the carbs to sync and noticed #2 cylinder ran hot pretty quick, while #1 was cool. Compression test: #1 was about 120psi, #2 was about 140-160 (This thing is a beast to kick.. Electric start not hooked up yet.) Then I did a leak down test with about 20-30psi and heard leaking in the head and the case through the oil cap.. on both sides. Did not hear anything from carbs or exhausts. I'm wondering if anybody's had the same thing, or if anybody knows something I don't..
I figure it's probably either a broken/leaking gasket by the cam chain or a cracked head.. and lastly, scored cylinder walls from a botched installation or something.. So any suggestions, help etc. is what I'd greatly appreciate before I take the engine out and tear down the head..
Thanks!