New xs owner

Nice to see the PO replaced the old steel Allen screws with Stainless. When you come to removing the clutch plates for inspection those 6 screws with the springs under them really need the help of an impact driver. They are usually very tight. I use the manual type impact driver that you hit with a hammer but air/electric types will also work. Make sure you use the correct fitting bit so it does not slip out and mash the heads.

As to the burnt smell, I have not worked on an over heated engine so do not know what it smells like. Perhaps the oil is just well overdue for a change?
 
That's the factory glue along the edges. You'll have to separate the plates to know what condition they're in.

Yes Sir ---Which I would wait doing until other things are sorted out the Screws has been opened before
not in mint state
Should it be needed later on --- one can do it taking off the side cover.
keep it simple Everything one does can go wrong .. So if no problem is known consider leave it as is. For now
 
Your 6 clutch screws have been weinered up by an incorrect (Phillips) driver. Those should be removed and tightened with a JIS bit or driver. A few suppliers offer a hex drive replacement. Some folks here recontour a Phillips driver to better fit the JIS fasteners. Excerpt from a 2021 thread here...
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https://www.xs650.com/threads/new-to-me-xs-650.60624/page-3
If you notice weinered screw heads on your bike it is because JIS and Phillips are NOT the same.
 
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I was unaware of the Philips vs JIS thing till I came here. IIRC it was when I was dismantling the clutch that @MaxPete suggested buying a Vessel #3 Impacta driver:

Vessel Impacta.JPG

a very nice tool, correct fit for the cross heads plus it has the trick that if you wallop it wiv a hammer, turns the head just a small fraction making it ideal for those very tight fasteners. Available online for about a tenner.

Have since bought a set of normal JIS screwdrivers too.
 
Is it possible these were assembled for display purposes? My very nice looking track needed a fair amount of fiddling too.
Yes @Kevin Werner I think you are correct. My bike was on a pedestal in a man cave overlooking a pool table and bar, for around 10 years.
I dont think it spun a wheel until I bought it. When I acquired it the bike was in a dangerous state; I wouldn't risk riding it.
Sellers description ''Rides as good as it looks'' was a total lie!
 
Yes @Kevin Werner I think you are correct. My bike was on a pedestal in a man cave overlooking a pool table and bar, for around 10 years.
I dont think it spun a wheel until I bought it. When I acquired it the bike was in a dangerous state; I wouldn't risk riding it.
Sellers description ''Rides as good as it looks'' was a total lie!

When I got the XS650E "Black Betty" from RobinCs garage it had the worst wobble I've ever felt on a bike. Everything looked sort of OK, but riding straight down the road at 25 mph (around 40 km/hr) had my thighs bouncing off the sides of the fuel tank - very noticeably.

A few turns of the spokes to true the wheels, a new set of wheel bearings and a new set of tires later and she's steady as a rock.

...and you're welcome Raymond.

Without wishing to cause a scuffle, I can only say to all the non-believers in the JIS vs. Phillips screw head thingy: sorry, but you are, without question, on the wrong side of this issue and if you would just try a proper JIS driver - particularly on something that is really tight like the clutch screws on an XS650, you'd know.
 
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Without wishing to cause a scuffle, I can only say to all the non-believers in the JIS vs. Phillips screw head thingy: sorry, but you are, without question, on the wrong side of this issue and if you would just try a proper JIS driver - particularly on something that is really tight like the clutch screws on an XS650, you'd know.
I totally agree with @MaxPete
Like @Raymond I had no knowledge of JIS fittings and drivers, until I joined this forum.
Bought a set of impact JIS drivers and it changed my frustrations about mullurd screw heads; just get some!
 
Without wishing to cause a scuffle,
I was unaware of a "scuffle"😁 When I came here and was working on my bike the issue was brought up to me and I am ever thankful. I do know that on my first XS 44 years ago I did unknowingly use a phillips and I did damage those fasteners and as a young arrogant fool thought"damn those cheap fasteners"...
 
Story so far just about to take the head of the engine another bottom end come up on eBay and he threw in the rest for £200 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩I’ve put some pics on of the sealer that seems to be all over the f**king place
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Evening all Iam just In middle of stripping my engine down an to be honest it looks like two different parts that don’t exactly fit or is it me the numbers on case look the does it look right to you guys thanks in advance
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The different finish on the two halves look odd.
Over stamped numbers also.
but others here know better than me.
 
Evening all Iam just In middle of stripping my engine down an to be honest it looks like two different parts that don’t exactly fit or is it me the numbers on case look the does it look right to you guys thanks in advance


Overstamped numbers isn't unusual... it's a production line... stamp 'em, bore 'em, stamp 'em, bore 'em.... hurry up lads.. They sometimes took a double whack at 'em.

The different finish is 'cause Yamaha sprayed the top half with their silver engine paint and left the lower half unpainted. All of 'em I've run across were like that.
 
Story so far just about to take the head of the engine another bottom end come up on eBay and he threw in the rest for £200 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩I’ve put some pics on of the sealer that seems to be all over the f**king place
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The previous builder wasn't very experienced (being kind). I can empathise with you on the sealer. Seen it like that before:
Permatex Everywhere2.jpg
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I use only Threebond or Yamabond brand gasket sealer, applied with a brush, and only on the crankcase halves and valve cover - silicone RTV nowhere on the motor.
 
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