I have a 77 xs650 that I recently bought, 24k miles, runs ok but has some issues. I checked the oil about a week ago, oil level was good, but dirty. Today I had an acquaintance who does rebuilds for xs and other bikes look it over and we were going over what needs most attention when he asked if I had changed the oil yet; told him I was going to soon. He pulls the dipstick out and it's missing the last 1.5-2"! Broke off...had to have broken off inside, as I know it was there when I checked the oil previously. It surprised me because I didn't feel any resistance when I checked the oil, I inserted the dipstick, went right it, screwed down fine. Can't understand how I managed to snap the end of it off inside.
Now I'm afraid to start it up for fear of that piece metal getting where it shouldn't. I drained the oil, and removed the sump cover/filter and checked the oil that had drained out, no sign of the 2" of dipstick. Put magnetic probe down the add-oil hole, tried the same through the drain plugs, felt around with fingers underneath as far as I could, but I didn't fish anything out.
The guy who was looking at it with me said the next thing would be to remove the electric starter as it covers the lowest part of the engine and it could settle down there. But he mentioned that doing so might require a new seal. After that, he said the right side engine cover could be removed to see if I couldn't access it there.
1. Is the next best step to remove starter as my friends suggests? What will I find behind it? I don't want to buy the service manual quite yet as I'm not sure if this is a bike that I want to keep or not.
2. Would removing the right side engine cover help access? Is there anything tricky about removing it, i.e. removing brake pedal and/or kick starter? If I have to do that, I imagine a new gasket would need to be ordered.
And then...what to do If I simply can't find the piece? Button it all up and assume that it's laying on the bottom of the engine case somewhere and that it won't do any harm?
Thanks for any comments.
Now I'm afraid to start it up for fear of that piece metal getting where it shouldn't. I drained the oil, and removed the sump cover/filter and checked the oil that had drained out, no sign of the 2" of dipstick. Put magnetic probe down the add-oil hole, tried the same through the drain plugs, felt around with fingers underneath as far as I could, but I didn't fish anything out.
The guy who was looking at it with me said the next thing would be to remove the electric starter as it covers the lowest part of the engine and it could settle down there. But he mentioned that doing so might require a new seal. After that, he said the right side engine cover could be removed to see if I couldn't access it there.
1. Is the next best step to remove starter as my friends suggests? What will I find behind it? I don't want to buy the service manual quite yet as I'm not sure if this is a bike that I want to keep or not.
2. Would removing the right side engine cover help access? Is there anything tricky about removing it, i.e. removing brake pedal and/or kick starter? If I have to do that, I imagine a new gasket would need to be ordered.
And then...what to do If I simply can't find the piece? Button it all up and assume that it's laying on the bottom of the engine case somewhere and that it won't do any harm?
Thanks for any comments.