Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Enjoy XS650.com?Consider making a donation to help support the site. XS650.com receives a small share of sales from some links on this page, but direct donations have a much greater impact on keeping this site going.
Well my results from pulling the heads off completely are not good.. I looked at the inside of the heads and found that both valves were missing. The cylinder was full of mouse crap, I removed that to find both of the valves. One stuck in the piston, the other sitting on the piston rod and a big hole in the top of the piston.
I have seen worse rebuilt, but........ For my money if you REALLY want this to be your bike start looking for a "parts bike" with a good engine. That is beyond economic repair.
While I'm waiting/deciding what to do about the motor, I guess I can start working in other aspects of the bike. I can get the tank, side covers and fender painted, as well as work on the front brakes.
What is the best way to drain the tank? Also how do I know if the inside is bad, everything that I can see just from opening the fuel door looks really good. I am sure the fuel in it is bad and I want to paint it, so I figured it would be easier with it being empty.
Yes empty it into a gas can. You can leave it on the bike for most of it. Close the petcock/fuel valve get a longer 1/4" hose and put it on so it will reach your gas can sitting on the floor (makes it easier if you have alot of gas in there) put hose in and turn valve on. Opening the gas cap helps speed things along too. After it stops you can then close the cap and petcock get the tank off the bike and the carefully do the same thing while holding and mauvering the tank to get all the gas out. Then you could leave it for a day with the cap open OUTSIDE to let the remaining fuel evaporate so you dont get any drips on your new paint.
I already have it off the bike, and there isn't much in it. What I read for removing the track was that the petcock could be left in the on position and fuel wouldn't flow without the bike running. So I did just that and no fuel had flowed from the tank with it in the on position.
Well today I picked up a motor from a 75 XS turns over, good compression. I also picked up some airboxes and a new rear fender. Unfortunately I don't know if I will get to work on it much this week or not.
I am pretty excited to get back into it though finally. My goal is to have it driving by the 19th of August(my birthday)
I got the motor in the bike, after opening up the tappet covers and checking the valves etc make sure everything still looked good.. I forgot to mount the carbs on before tightening all the motor mount bolts.
So now I have to loosen those all back up and tilt the motor to put the carbs back on. Damn...
Was finally able to get the alternator rotor off my old motor and on to my new one. Need to go buy some plugs and figure out what else I need to do for the electronic ignition transition from points?