Rogue21
XS650 Addict
Greetings Everyone,
I have been reading lots of good information from this website for many months now, bought an XS back in November, became a member at the start of this year, and this is my first post! (I hope I am posting this in the correct location)
I have this internal desire to work on machines and really admired what people have done with their 650s, and I knew it was the right motorcycle for me. I bought a 78 xs650 (miles and history are pretty much unknown), its in pretty rough shape and needs a lot of work. When I bought the bike, the owner swore that it was a runner, but a dead battery must be the reason why the thing wouldnt kick over. I had driven 2.5 hours and an ice storm was coming so I was under a time crunch. I bought the bike for bottom dollar in hopes that I could get it started. Fast forward to now, the bike currently runs, but not perfectly. I have just a few questions if anyone can help me out.
Things I have done: Cleaned the carbs. Just got the carb rebuild kits in the mail and will be putting in all the new parts soon. Timing chain adjustment and valvle adjustment are complete. Cleaned the advance timing unit and installed new springs.
I can get the the bike to kick over and idle pretty good, but it likes to backfire (through the exhaust i think) every once in a while when i rev the engine. Also, when I rev the engine, the revs like to 'stick' a little bit, they wont come down right away. Is the advance timing unit supposed to snap back right away? Even tho i put the new springs in it seems like it is sticky (and when the bike is running the ATU wont close right away..maybe that is due to the revs sticking?). If I rev the engine too fast (a quick and sharp twist) the engine chokes out and dies on me.
Sorry this is so long, but one more thing. What is the purpose of the vaccum petcock that goes from the tank to the intake manifolds? and what is the purpose of the breather tubes that run from the top of the engine to the air boxes? Whats the benefit/harm to just closing these lines off and not worrying about them? Thanks for all the help!
I have been reading lots of good information from this website for many months now, bought an XS back in November, became a member at the start of this year, and this is my first post! (I hope I am posting this in the correct location)
I have this internal desire to work on machines and really admired what people have done with their 650s, and I knew it was the right motorcycle for me. I bought a 78 xs650 (miles and history are pretty much unknown), its in pretty rough shape and needs a lot of work. When I bought the bike, the owner swore that it was a runner, but a dead battery must be the reason why the thing wouldnt kick over. I had driven 2.5 hours and an ice storm was coming so I was under a time crunch. I bought the bike for bottom dollar in hopes that I could get it started. Fast forward to now, the bike currently runs, but not perfectly. I have just a few questions if anyone can help me out.
Things I have done: Cleaned the carbs. Just got the carb rebuild kits in the mail and will be putting in all the new parts soon. Timing chain adjustment and valvle adjustment are complete. Cleaned the advance timing unit and installed new springs.
I can get the the bike to kick over and idle pretty good, but it likes to backfire (through the exhaust i think) every once in a while when i rev the engine. Also, when I rev the engine, the revs like to 'stick' a little bit, they wont come down right away. Is the advance timing unit supposed to snap back right away? Even tho i put the new springs in it seems like it is sticky (and when the bike is running the ATU wont close right away..maybe that is due to the revs sticking?). If I rev the engine too fast (a quick and sharp twist) the engine chokes out and dies on me.
Sorry this is so long, but one more thing. What is the purpose of the vaccum petcock that goes from the tank to the intake manifolds? and what is the purpose of the breather tubes that run from the top of the engine to the air boxes? Whats the benefit/harm to just closing these lines off and not worrying about them? Thanks for all the help!