Miss November XS2 tribute

Today was the day:

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Not a job I enjoy, feels like a bodge. But at least both instruments now have their fascia screws loctited.
 
Very slight oil weep from the filter cover on the right. Not enough to worry about but decided to do something about it anyway.

There's not much under that cover on the Orange Lady - with the screw-on filter, that filter is omitted:

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Usual routine, using the old one as a template, cut out a new gasket:

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Used thicker gasket paper this time. Well, that might help . . .

All buttoned up:

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There is a trace of oil at the bottom of the cover - that's because I didn't wipe the cover out and it spilled a little while being replaced. Won't know if the leak has gone till we've been aht'n'abaht.

All good fun.
 
I guess that is a simple gasket to make but it's not very expensive so I always bought it. But, it's one that seems to last forever. I don't recall ever having to change it again after initially installing a new one when I get the bike.
 
Yesterday, felt that slight 'click' on coming to a standstill at a junction. In fact, think I've felt it two or three times. Not too surprised, I think I tend not to make the head bearings tight enough in the first place.

So this morning, tightened them up a bit. Jack under front engine mount so I can swing the forks to and fro, loosened the steering top nut, likewise the pinch bolt, snugged the adjuster and lock-ring down with C-spanners. So here's Miss November in the June morning sunlight after her minor 'procedure':

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Now, off to do the road test.
 
That was fun. Been out along some minor roads. Met a Tesla in Lilliesleaf - it's a long, winding, single-street village with cars parked everywhere so you have to trickle through quite slowly. Wasn't bothered when this car decided - although I suspect it was really the driver who decided - to pull out in front of me. Hoped the car would turn off and head for the main road, but unfortunately it headed the same way I was going. Annoying?

Well yes, it became slightly annoying. This was the classic thing of fast car/slow driver. Messed about so slowly along the village street, and the bends outside the village. Then the road straightens up as it climbs a hill ½ mile further on. Selected third gear and prepared to overtake the car up hill, but . . . whizzzzz! The Tesla wasn't there any more.

More bends at the top of the hill. Tesla's bake lights came on and stayed on, goes so slowly I caught up again. Met another car coming the other way and the Tesla stopped to let it past. So again, I prepared to go past, and . . . whizzzzz!

Yup, I swear the Tesla was holding me up. But impossible to even think about making the pass. As soon as the road was straight enough to see if there was anybody coming the other way, the thing was off like a rocket, like maybe 80 mph, maybe much more. That's just a guess. Certainly much higher speeds than anybody uses on those wee country lanes. I was happy to let it just go, but hold on, what the hell is this guy/gal up to? Ferchrissakes, you don't need to stop to let a car go past the other way!

Don't try racing one of those things.

Anyway, aside from the Tesla, I had a fun ride. Back in March last year, post #807, assessed the XS's handling as promises to be at least good enough. But now, prepared to go up another notch and give the handling good. I'm not an expert assessing motorbike handling, but what I don't want is vagueness or a feeling the bike doesn't want to go just where I want it. Don't want to feel I'm turning the bend into a thruppeny-bit - an old British coin with fourteen sides - you know, having to keep adjusting the line all the way through.

With TX750 swing-arm, YSS shocks, Avon tyres and the head bearings adjusted, the Yamaha just seems to behave itself going through a set of bends. Lets me just rest hands lightly on the bars, watch to see where the road goes, and we get there without any fuss or drama. Doesn't seem to fight against turning, doesn't seem to tip in either.

I'm liking it.
 
Wasn't bothered when this car decided - although I suspect it was really the driver who decided - to pull out in front of me. Hoped the car would turn off and head for the main road, but unfortunately it headed the same way I was going. Annoying?
I'm getting spoiled in Mississippi. There is little to no traffic if I don't go toward Memphis, TN. Many people here drive stupid fast. When one of them comes up on me, I move to the right of the my lane, slow down and wave them around me. If I have a view of a few hundred feet down the road I make it impossible not to pass and we're all happy. I enjoy my 650 most at 60 mph or less. Roads here are wrought with hazards.
 
I live on the edge of a small town. Within a mile or so, I'm surrounded by farmer's fields. My riding is mostly in the about 40 to 60 MPH range on these 2 lane country roads. There are occasional blasts up to 70 or 80 but these roads don't allow for that very often or for very long. This is ideal "650 country", lol. I also recently swapped the original 16" rear wheel back onto my '83 and I'm liking it. I think the bike looks better and rides better too. I had been running an 18" rear because it's said they handle better (easier to throw into the turns). As far as that goes, I really didn't find much difference. The 16" wheel corners just fine and is actually more stable at higher speeds. I also changed the gearing slightly, putting a 32T sprocket on the 16" wheel. It's wonderful, maybe even a touch better than a 33T on an 18" wheel. As this gearing chart shows, it's just a touch higher than the 33T-18" combo, but the motor seems to handle it just fine .....

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I live on the edge of a small town. Within a mile or so, I'm surrounded by farmer's fields. My riding is mostly in the about 40 to 60 MPH range on these 2 lane country roads.
We're in the same place at different latitude. I'm quite familiar with upstate New York as I was born and raised in Jamestown. Coldwater, Mississippi is two miles away and the population is 1,500. There are water barriers or swamp between me and everything north. For riding pleasure it's south to the lake, east to the hills, or west to the Mississippi River Delta. It's all good.
 
I think the 16" vs. 18" rear rim is likely a nominal difference, assuming the tire choice keeps them relatively the same circumference if all other things are the same... however, I've found the 18" rear with a smaller width rear tire does help the bike turn just a tad quicker. But more importantly, adding a taller shock to the rear makes a noticeable difference.

I think the limiting factor is the front 19" rim...I have a few classic honda's with 18" both front/rears....and they handle so much quicker. Personally, I think an 18" front rim would be perfect on our bikes.
 
. . . I'm liking it . . .

On Thursday, singing Miss Blotted-Copybook's praises. That was tempting fate. Today, after a forty mile trip to, uhm, fill up with petrol and warm the engine oil, parked the bike in the back yard and she dripped oil on the paving slabs. Yes, I'm afraid so.

Three or four quite large spots of oil. Took these pictures to try and see where the leak is:

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Oil on the exhaust pipe, frame, under the engine, on the starter motor, below the kicker. I'm guessing it's the joint under the r/h engine cover. I had that cover off on August 16th last year - post #1274 - and re-used the gasket. Maybe that was false economy? Is this a joint that is prone to springing a leak?

It's only 685 miles since I serviced the bike and did an oil change. But the cover is gonna have to come off. I could do the cheapskate thing - drop the oil, remove the cover, replace the gasket, put the oil back in . . .

Bloody motorbikes.
 
I would clean it all up and observe it some more. It might be the kick start seal. You may also want to check all the cover screws. They often need a re-torque after a few heat cycles. And, Heaven forbid, but is that a crack in your frame just behind the head pipe mount in your 2nd pic?
 
It might be the kick start seal. You may also want to check all the cover screws.

The kick start seal was my first thought also. Do you have all your copper washers on your lower side cover screws? You said you had the side cover off recently, maybe you left one off?
 
Thank you, 5T. The kick start seal was something I was wondering about, but there's oil under the engine well ahead of there, and splashes on the exhaust ahead of there as well so I don't think that's the source. Though oil can migrate in unexpected ways. But your question about a cracked frame had me outside to take a look - despite appearances in the photo, there is definitely no crack in the frame. Lay on the ground, wiped the area off, put me specs on and shone a torch, all good.

Think I will take your advice and observe a little bit longer. Try and clean the area up a bit and see if that makes it easier to find the source.

Bob, good idea to check the copper washers, I'll do that when I take a better look. Thank you.

The clutch gasket is readily available on Ebay about £10 for Athena or from Yambits, their own manufacture at £12. Or could cut one meself.
 
I've used the Athena and it works well. In fact pretty much all the Athena gaskets I've tried, despite their rather ugly light green color, have worked well. Their sump plate gasket is about the best I've tried, very robust and long lasting. After 3 or 4 sump plate removals it will begin "sweating" oil and that's an indication I need to change it out next time.

I didn't think about those copper sealing washers on the 4 lower case screws. Yes, that's a possibility. I sometimes find 2 have been moved to the oil filter cover. They aren't called for there, nor are they needed .....

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Glad to hear the frame is OK.
 
Side oil filter cover and tach drive seal also likely sneaky leak suspects.
It can be an SOB to get all the old gasket off from in the side filter hole if some PO used silicone seal or worse on the gasket.
 
Thanks, Gary. Neither of those seems to be guilty this time. I changed the tacho drive oil seal last year and that area is still clean. Put a new - homemade - gasket on the oil filter cover a few days ago. There had been a very slight weep but that seems to be OK now.
 
I would clean it all up and observe it some more. It might be the kick start seal. You may also want to check all the cover screws. They often need a re-torque after a few heat cycles. And, Heaven forbid, but is that a crack in your frame just behind the head pipe mount in your 2nd pic?
Yes. I’m in favour of giving it a right good looking at. Let it progress, chasing a dribble can be stressful.
 
Thank You All for your suggestions. Today, possibly put up on the lift, give the area a wipe, have a look and see if the lowest four screws have their copper washers (don't know how easy to spot these), try tightening the clutch cover screws. Might need to pull a few things off for better access - foot peg, brake lever, exhaust header.

Ho hum . . .
 
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