coughing skunk
XS650 Addict
I've been reading and reading this forum for the past week in anticipation of picking up my new bike, a 1973 TX650. Anywho, here are some pics and some of the questions/concerns that I have.
I just picked this thing up two days ago and rode it 70 miles home with only two hiccups. The battery that came with the bike was dead and left me on the side of the highway at 12:30 in the am. Luckily, we had brought another battery and once installed we made it home hitch free. Then while cruising at ~60 the bike would choke and then once it puttered and died. I pulled over and a minute later and a couple of kicks and I was back on my way.
The few concerns I have are as follows:
At higher RPM (maybe 4500-5000? no tach.) the bike would start to sputter and die like it wasn't receiving fuel. If I backed off it would act fine. My initial thought was jets, as this bike has K&N pods on it and some sort of aftermarket(?) muffler that looks to lack baffles. Yesterday I began looking over the bike and checked the plugs first and to my surprise they were both dark, as if running rich. I then looked at the carbs and noticed the carb holders are cracking and have been repaired once before. I read here that holes in the carb bladder can produce the same symptoms that I've described but the carbs were just rebuilt (I saw the receipt), so I'm assuming that at higher RPM the vacuum created begins to suck air through the cracks in the carb holder, thus producing my problem.
The next issue that I seem to be missing my choke?? Can I get away with adjusting something else on the carb during warm up, or do I need to get the choke?
Check out this picture
My clutch was really really really stiff, but I took the cable off and reran it and lubed and greased all associated parts, and it made it tolerable now. On the ride home my hand cramped it was so stiff.
Another confusing problem is that in 2nd and 3rd gear only the bike will slip out of gear at some point until I back off the throttle, at which point it reengages. I read that its maybe the clutch springs? Or a mis alignment of the pressure plate??
Also, the bike has no tach. This is fine with me, but I think the tach sensor is unplugged, and again fine. Could someone please verify that the tach sensor is in fact the sensor in the picture below?
Are these the stock pipes? I can't imagine so, as there is no baffling on the inside and the look shorter than others.
And finally the bike!
Any and all help is appreciated!
Posted via Mobile
I just picked this thing up two days ago and rode it 70 miles home with only two hiccups. The battery that came with the bike was dead and left me on the side of the highway at 12:30 in the am. Luckily, we had brought another battery and once installed we made it home hitch free. Then while cruising at ~60 the bike would choke and then once it puttered and died. I pulled over and a minute later and a couple of kicks and I was back on my way.
The few concerns I have are as follows:
At higher RPM (maybe 4500-5000? no tach.) the bike would start to sputter and die like it wasn't receiving fuel. If I backed off it would act fine. My initial thought was jets, as this bike has K&N pods on it and some sort of aftermarket(?) muffler that looks to lack baffles. Yesterday I began looking over the bike and checked the plugs first and to my surprise they were both dark, as if running rich. I then looked at the carbs and noticed the carb holders are cracking and have been repaired once before. I read here that holes in the carb bladder can produce the same symptoms that I've described but the carbs were just rebuilt (I saw the receipt), so I'm assuming that at higher RPM the vacuum created begins to suck air through the cracks in the carb holder, thus producing my problem.
The next issue that I seem to be missing my choke?? Can I get away with adjusting something else on the carb during warm up, or do I need to get the choke?
Check out this picture
My clutch was really really really stiff, but I took the cable off and reran it and lubed and greased all associated parts, and it made it tolerable now. On the ride home my hand cramped it was so stiff.
Another confusing problem is that in 2nd and 3rd gear only the bike will slip out of gear at some point until I back off the throttle, at which point it reengages. I read that its maybe the clutch springs? Or a mis alignment of the pressure plate??
Also, the bike has no tach. This is fine with me, but I think the tach sensor is unplugged, and again fine. Could someone please verify that the tach sensor is in fact the sensor in the picture below?
Are these the stock pipes? I can't imagine so, as there is no baffling on the inside and the look shorter than others.
And finally the bike!
Any and all help is appreciated!
Posted via Mobile
Welcome!
but now that I've got the round slides...
I'm not going to waste my time attempting to prove my qualifications. I bought this as a project bike with the knowledge that it needed work. I posted on this forum for suggestions as how to diagnose and fix this thing. This is my first bike and I'm (obviously) green in that respect, so all help is very much appreciated. In regards to the chain guard, I have never heard a slapping noise but thanks, the guard will come off.
What attracted you to this bike? Just wondering... My statement about you should not have bought it is because it appears that the PO was an idiot. Those carb holders, fuel lines with no clamps, the scraped off the crap, appearance of the aluminum etc etc.and we can't even see the wiring work. It can be really tough and frustrating dealing with ANY old motorcycle. Working on one that has been thoroughly fuggled by the PO can piss off a saint. Best of luck to you and I hope you will allow me to suggest possible answers to questions you may have. 
