VCPatel
XS650 Enthusiast
Friends,
I have a 78 Special with over 36000 miles that has nothing but pod filters [as far as I know].
It ran OKAY, and I was playing with carburetor settings only to find the left cylinder was being very difficult-- typically lots of sputtering and always seeming to run rich [black plugs].
Then, one day she just lost a lot of power-- seemed to go practically nowhere. Saw that there was oil accumulation on the outside of the "jug." It was/is pretty clear it's only coming from the top and bottom of the jug. When I start the engine- she will run, but very sporadically. Also-- the RPMs shoot up to about 4K and they stay there. White smoke comes out of the left cylinder.
Do these symptoms seem to correlate well with leaking head/base gaskets? In particular, the 4K RPM engine speed confuses me. I have been told that a very lean condition (from the gasket leak) could cause this, but the leak isn't large enough that the engine won't run.
Also-- the PCV outlet on the left [mine has two outlets] is blocked-- I don't know why. Should I unblock that sucker?
Initial thoughts are that I should go ahead and "rebuild" the top end with new gaskets and piston rings and misc. hardware. Are there any particular things to check before I commit to that route? I have tried torquing the heads, but it hasn't helped much. Just want to make sure I fix this problem and that it NEVER comes back. Want to enjoy at least SOME riding this summer [it's my first motorcycle].
Here's prob. the best pic I have of the old girl for now:
I have a 78 Special with over 36000 miles that has nothing but pod filters [as far as I know].
It ran OKAY, and I was playing with carburetor settings only to find the left cylinder was being very difficult-- typically lots of sputtering and always seeming to run rich [black plugs].
Then, one day she just lost a lot of power-- seemed to go practically nowhere. Saw that there was oil accumulation on the outside of the "jug." It was/is pretty clear it's only coming from the top and bottom of the jug. When I start the engine- she will run, but very sporadically. Also-- the RPMs shoot up to about 4K and they stay there. White smoke comes out of the left cylinder.
Do these symptoms seem to correlate well with leaking head/base gaskets? In particular, the 4K RPM engine speed confuses me. I have been told that a very lean condition (from the gasket leak) could cause this, but the leak isn't large enough that the engine won't run.
Also-- the PCV outlet on the left [mine has two outlets] is blocked-- I don't know why. Should I unblock that sucker?
Initial thoughts are that I should go ahead and "rebuild" the top end with new gaskets and piston rings and misc. hardware. Are there any particular things to check before I commit to that route? I have tried torquing the heads, but it hasn't helped much. Just want to make sure I fix this problem and that it NEVER comes back. Want to enjoy at least SOME riding this summer [it's my first motorcycle].
Here's prob. the best pic I have of the old girl for now:
