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Mailmans XS2 , the rebuild.......again
- Thread starter Mailman
- Start date
How about a Sansui 5000X? even still have the box it came in but not the packing materials!
While in the shop or garage, I mostly just listen to the radio. I'm usually elbow deep in grease and oil so can't be bothered with changing tapes or CDs. But I do have small computers I built w/ better than average speakers in both places, and over the years I've changed most all of my music collection to digital (MP3, FLAC), so I can play specific stuff if the fancy strikes me.
I'm just amazed that people pay like 99 cents a song from iTunes and other streaming places. I've heard iTunes sells something like 20,000 songs a minute, lol, 24-7 all day every day. That's crazy, especially when you can make your own for free. Granted, some downloading is illegal, but it's not if you've ever purchased that music in the past. You own the rights and can legally download a new digital copy. I've managed to replace practically my whole old record collection with digital copies. I find this great if you have a newer car because most play MP3's through their radios now. I just load the songs I want on a little memory stick and plug it in.
I'm just amazed that people pay like 99 cents a song from iTunes and other streaming places. I've heard iTunes sells something like 20,000 songs a minute, lol, 24-7 all day every day. That's crazy, especially when you can make your own for free. Granted, some downloading is illegal, but it's not if you've ever purchased that music in the past. You own the rights and can legally download a new digital copy. I've managed to replace practically my whole old record collection with digital copies. I find this great if you have a newer car because most play MP3's through their radios now. I just load the songs I want on a little memory stick and plug it in.
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Looks like you play "Rock" music
I had an older pioneer amp/tuner stereo that used huge speakers, the kind with amps built into each speaker and speaker cables that were as thick as my little finger. That thing could kick. Back in the 80's i cranked up some AC/DC, went outside to work on my first XS650 that I rode from Michigan to Houston (was my main transportation to/from college). I was wearing cutoff jean shorts in flipflops with no shirt. I guy driving by slammed on his brakes while I was wrenching and yelled "your house is on fire". I ran into the house and that stereo had literally melted and caught the curtains on fire. I ripped the burning curtains off the wall and managed to throw them out the window. Had to go to the hospital for burns on my arms and hands. I miss that stereo, lol.
I would not be able to work in the garage without music. I sold my Sansui direct turntable on Ebay I picked up in Hong Kong in 74. Lasted only 30 min. This is what I have now. I moved all the stuff into the garage where I spend most of my time. Has Bose speakers front and back with an M&K subwoofer. I can really crank it up as my better half can attest to.
LTGTR
XS650 Addict
I sold a Musical Fidelity Amp and CD player on Ebay a couple of years ago. After I had promised it to a bloke who rang up and said he was on his way, I got calls from people who said I could name my price, some said they would double whatever I had been offered, one bloke rang up from England. I had to honour my original agreement with the first buyer or I wouldnt be able to look at myself in the mirror. My wife still gives me shit over that sale and if I'm selling something she always says "I bet your selling it too cheap". The CD player used Valves which protruded out the top of the unit. You could toast bread on the top of the Amp.
Regards Ray.
Regards Ray.
For the last eight months, my XS2 has ran for exactly one day.
First it was the failed tank liner.
Which ruined both my gas tank and my motor and clogged up my carburetors.
Which led to sourcing a new tank and having @Jim give it a dazzling new paint job.
And rebuilding my engine…..again
And de gunking my carburetors,
I thought I had my troubles on the run, I had my bike out for a 100 mile run and it ran great, with one small exception, the rpm’s were slow to drop when I let off the throttle and I was getting some popping on decel.
It seemed I had a small air leak in my carbs , so off they came again. I addressed the problems and they were ready to go back on again.
Before I put them back on, I was looking into my intake tracts and that’s when I noticed oil dripping from the valve guides. The melted tank liner had ruined my valve stem seals and I failed to replace them when I rebuilt the motor.
So I ordered new Viton valve stem seals and replaced them , as outlined in an article I wrote,
http://www.xs650.com/threads/valve-stem-seals-replacement-without-pulling-the-motor.59722/
So that brings us to May 1st, carbs are back on, new valve guide seals. I’m ready to go! Beautiful morning , I start my bike up, and it seems like my old sweet bike is back. I left for a test ride.
As soon as my bike got hot, things started getting weird. I had stopped to take a photo and when I tried to start my bike, it cranked and cranked and cranked…..nothing. I tried again, crank crank crank….it finally fires and seemed to be running fine. But soon it started popping out the exhaust. I pulled over in a parking lot and shut it off, I made a small adjustment on the carbs and tried to start the bike…..crank crank crank crank….nothing. I tried again cranking and cranking and finally BOOM! A huge backfire and then it started. I rode straight home.
When I got home I didn’t shut it off, I grabbed my timing light to see what’s up. Timing was spot on. I shut it off.
Tried to restart it again…..crank crank crank BOOM! Another huge backfire. So loud a neighbor came running over to see what exploded. When I tried again to start the bike ……nothing. It was dead. At that point I parked it and walked away. I really needed to walk away.
After thinking about it for a couple days, I began to think this might be my Emgo coil that came with my Pamco kit.
A lot of guys have had trouble with them, and since my trouble started when the bike got hot, it moved to the top of the suspect list.
Which led me to buy some used Honda MP08 coils off eBay.
I shined them up and tested them,
And got it mounted up. I like the way it fits, way better than that goofy Emgo coil with the spark plug wires exiting the side of the coils, and it’s smaller too.
Looking down from the top, you can’t even see it, it’s completely covered by the top frame rail.
Just a couple days ago, I put the carbs and air boxes back on, and the gas tank, and set the valve clearances again.
This morning I took it back out for another test ride, I am hopeful that I’ve finally exorcised the gremlins. The bike started easy and settled right down to a nice steady idle, no more popping at idle or on deceleration. It pulls strongly and the Rpms don’t hang up anymore. I shut it off several times and it fires right back up like it should, no more backfires! So wish me luck boys, maybe I finally get my bike back.
First it was the failed tank liner.
Which ruined both my gas tank and my motor and clogged up my carburetors.
Which led to sourcing a new tank and having @Jim give it a dazzling new paint job.
And rebuilding my engine…..again
And de gunking my carburetors,
I thought I had my troubles on the run, I had my bike out for a 100 mile run and it ran great, with one small exception, the rpm’s were slow to drop when I let off the throttle and I was getting some popping on decel.
It seemed I had a small air leak in my carbs , so off they came again. I addressed the problems and they were ready to go back on again.
Before I put them back on, I was looking into my intake tracts and that’s when I noticed oil dripping from the valve guides. The melted tank liner had ruined my valve stem seals and I failed to replace them when I rebuilt the motor.
So I ordered new Viton valve stem seals and replaced them , as outlined in an article I wrote,
http://www.xs650.com/threads/valve-stem-seals-replacement-without-pulling-the-motor.59722/
So that brings us to May 1st, carbs are back on, new valve guide seals. I’m ready to go! Beautiful morning , I start my bike up, and it seems like my old sweet bike is back. I left for a test ride.
As soon as my bike got hot, things started getting weird. I had stopped to take a photo and when I tried to start my bike, it cranked and cranked and cranked…..nothing. I tried again, crank crank crank….it finally fires and seemed to be running fine. But soon it started popping out the exhaust. I pulled over in a parking lot and shut it off, I made a small adjustment on the carbs and tried to start the bike…..crank crank crank crank….nothing. I tried again cranking and cranking and finally BOOM! A huge backfire and then it started. I rode straight home.
When I got home I didn’t shut it off, I grabbed my timing light to see what’s up. Timing was spot on. I shut it off.
Tried to restart it again…..crank crank crank BOOM! Another huge backfire. So loud a neighbor came running over to see what exploded. When I tried again to start the bike ……nothing. It was dead. At that point I parked it and walked away. I really needed to walk away.
After thinking about it for a couple days, I began to think this might be my Emgo coil that came with my Pamco kit.
A lot of guys have had trouble with them, and since my trouble started when the bike got hot, it moved to the top of the suspect list.
Which led me to buy some used Honda MP08 coils off eBay.
I shined them up and tested them,
And got it mounted up. I like the way it fits, way better than that goofy Emgo coil with the spark plug wires exiting the side of the coils, and it’s smaller too.
Looking down from the top, you can’t even see it, it’s completely covered by the top frame rail.
Just a couple days ago, I put the carbs and air boxes back on, and the gas tank, and set the valve clearances again.
This morning I took it back out for another test ride, I am hopeful that I’ve finally exorcised the gremlins. The bike started easy and settled right down to a nice steady idle, no more popping at idle or on deceleration. It pulls strongly and the Rpms don’t hang up anymore. I shut it off several times and it fires right back up like it should, no more backfires! So wish me luck boys, maybe I finally get my bike back.
A wise man once told me,
"Never underestimate your ignition systems ability to fool you into blaming the carbs."
"Never underestimate your ignition systems ability to fool you into blaming the carbs."
Considering all the issues you’ve had of late, and all the crazy places your mind could have gone as a result, I’m very impressed you arrived at this so quickly. Fingers crossed this was it (and well done on honing in on it!)
Thank you! I still need to get it out for a real run to see how it holds up, but I’m hopeful.
I am anxiously awaiting the results !
Mailman rides again. 
Let's hope you have turned the page on a very unfortunate chapter. So much thoroughly undeserved grief, hassle and expense.
LTGTR
XS650 Addict
Best of luck Mailman - you truely deserve it.
Regards Ray.
Regards Ray.
Thanks Raymond, I’m ready for some good luck.
Thanks Ray, I appreciate that.
Can we get this thread back on track talking about knives again?
Sheesh @Mailman ; quit barging in!
Forwarded that post to a friend that needed to see it!
Oh man, I hope your friend isn’t having as much trouble as I have had!
Ok you guys can go back to talking about stereos, or knives or whatever. 
Exact symptoms to look at the coil. Good job.
