In my mind I still keep coming back to the advance also.... would cause both symptoms (hard starting and high idle).
it’ll be here in a few days.
Ok…..rant over. I feel better. 
It sounds to me like your starter is pulling more amps when hot, maybe start with a cold bike and warm up the starter with a heat gun and see if you can replicate the drop. Might be time for a rewind/replacement.Thought I’d post a little update, it’s been a while. It’s been so bloody hot here that I have avoided working out in my shop.
First a very short recap of where I’m at. After rebuilding my motor and getting it back on the road, I’ve been having issues with it not running right. When it’s cold it fires right up and runs well , but when it gets hot, things turn bad.
If I shut it off hot and then try to restart it a few moments later, it is very hard to start. My first thought was a bad coil, so they have been replaced with a used Honda MP-08 coil that tested well. I have also disassembled and cleaned and adjusted my carbs until I felt like pulling out what little hair I have left. So in early June I parked the bike, it’s hot and I was feeling cranky.
We were experiencing a little break from the heat here, a rainy system is hanging around our state and it has lowered temperatures for a while, so I took the opportunity to work in the shop today and see if I could make any headway on my XS2.
I started from zero, first I checked my battery’s static voltage with a meter, it was 12.5 volts I thought that was pretty good since it has been parked without the battery tender going. Then set my carbs to factory spec, removed and cleaned my spark plugs, set my valves ( had a couple a little loose), I recently checked my compression and it is right up there where it should be.
Set my cam chain tension ( a little loose also ) fired it up and checked my timing which was spot on. It fired right up and ran smooth and idled perfect, the throttle response was crisp and it revved easily. It also was charging well, I could see the voltage climb when revved the motor. I decided to let it run until it got hot and then shut it off and let it sit for a couple minutes then try a restart, since that was when I was experiencing problems.
This time while trying to restart it, I paid attention to the volt meter, and sure enough, while cranking the voltage was dropping significantly, like down around 9 volts. It would turn the motor over but not fire. Then I tried using the kick starter, the voltage wouldn’t drop as far and I could get it started with 3 or 4 kicks.
So my best guess is that my cheapo battery does not have enough cranking voltage when things get hot, it’ll turn the motor but not enough voltage for my ignition system. To that end I have ordered a new battery, even though my old one was only 9 months old. This time I ordered a gel battery that they advertise as being more durable for extreme temperatures and they also advertise it as holding a charge longer. We’ll see……..
I sure hope this solves my hot starting issue.
View attachment 195487
A side rant about batteries: These early bikes have smaller batteries than the later models and the selection is pretty limited, especially since I refuse to use a conventional wet cell , non sealed battery. Why do sellers advertise a battery will fit your bike when it is nowhere near the right size? And why is there no size consistency between manufacturers for the same size battery? I have learned to remove the battery and take careful measurements and then shop for hours to find one that’s not a half inch too wide or an inch too tall. It’s a pain in the ass, and then when I find a brand that works, they discontinue it!
Thought I’d post a little update, it’s been a while. It’s been so bloody hot here that I have avoided working out in my shop.
First a very short recap of where I’m at. After rebuilding my motor and getting it back on the road, I’ve been having issues with it not running right. When it’s cold it fires right up and runs well , but when it gets hot, things turn bad.
If I shut it off hot and then try to restart it a few moments later, it is very hard to start. My first thought was a bad coil, so they have been replaced with a used Honda MP-08 coil that tested well. I have also disassembled and cleaned and adjusted my carbs until I felt like pulling out what little hair I have left. So in early June I parked the bike, it’s hot and I was feeling cranky.
We were experiencing a little break from the heat here, a rainy system is hanging around our state and it has lowered temperatures for a while, so I took the opportunity to work in the shop today and see if I could make any headway on my XS2.
I started from zero, first I checked my battery’s static voltage with a meter, it was 12.5 volts I thought that was pretty good since it has been parked without the battery tender going. Then set my carbs to factory spec, removed and cleaned my spark plugs, set my valves ( had a couple a little loose), I recently checked my compression and it is right up there where it should be.
Set my cam chain tension ( a little loose also ) fired it up and checked my timing which was spot on. It fired right up and ran smooth and idled perfect, the throttle response was crisp and it revved easily. It also was charging well, I could see the voltage climb when revved the motor. I decided to let it run until it got hot and then shut it off and let it sit for a couple minutes then try a restart, since that was when I was experiencing problems.
This time while trying to restart it, I paid attention to the volt meter, and sure enough, while cranking the voltage was dropping significantly, like down around 9 volts. It would turn the motor over but not fire. Then I tried using the kick starter, the voltage wouldn’t drop as far and I could get it started with 3 or 4 kicks.
So my best guess is that my cheapo battery does not have enough cranking voltage when things get hot, it’ll turn the motor but not enough voltage for my ignition system. To that end I have ordered a new battery, even though my old one was only 9 months old. This time I ordered a gel battery that they advertise as being more durable for extreme temperatures and they also advertise it as holding a charge longer. We’ll see……..
I sure hope this solves my hot starting issue.
View attachment 195487
A side rant about batteries: These early bikes have smaller batteries than the later models and the selection is pretty limited, especially since I refuse to use a conventional wet cell , non sealed battery. Why do sellers advertise a battery will fit your bike when it is nowhere near the right size? And why is there no size consistency between manufacturers for the same size battery? I have learned to remove the battery and take careful measurements and then shop for hours to find one that’s not a half inch too wide or an inch too tall. It’s a pain in the ass, and then when I find a brand that works, they discontinue it!
When I have had a need, concern or question regarding my bike and car batteries (and charging), I have turned to Battery World in Syracuse. ALL that they deal with is batteries, and the owners have a dizzying amount of technical knowledge on the subject. I see that you have a business called Batteries Plus Bulbs (how much of a distraction could bulbs be, after all?) on 12845 W Bell Road in your fair city. I wonder if they could be of similar help in your situation.Well I figured the battery would be the easiest first step, I’ll give it a try and see where I’m at. If that doesn’t do it then I’ll start thinking about the starter. I’ve got time before the weather gets cool enough to ride.
oh that candy red looks like moms toffy apples she made, last time I was given one I was grumpy about something that I forget and threw in in the bushes, when I cooled down I asked mum for another, I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to know the results from that
that full red tank will look beautiful Bob nice choice
OR, cable connection.
