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Trouble with cam cover.
- Thread starter UCXS650
- Start date
Bucko
XS650 Enthusiast
Have you had the motor apart?it looks like your cam bearings are off centre pushing the cover out at that side maybe?
The other side was giving me trouble fitting too, I have just rebuilt the motor, had a little bit of oil leak from the right side(the one pictured) but since have been a little bit of sealer on it and haven't had any problems yet. would like too know what I could do about it.? thanks
deadchef
xsbobblehead
well if you didn't get the cam bearings in all the way (as far inward as possible) then that needs to be addressed first. then your cam covers should fit properly.
Holywhitebread
XS650 Member
I had just rebuilt my motor and ran into the same issue. I used a impact screw driver and walked all the screws in evenly. I didn't go super crazy hitting them. Just a nice love tap and walked em all in. Hope this helps.
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Brian902
XS650 Junkie
If you remove the cover and housing, and measure the distance from the edge of the head into the cam bearing and compare this to the lip on the housing you will be able to tell if it is the cam bearings that are the issue or not. Don't forget the added distance of a gasket will actually help you here.
Some have tried adding gaskets to fix this issue, but it also affects where the cam seal rides and too many gaskets doesn't work either.
Remove engine, remove top head, center cam and bearings so there is equal and enough distance on each side for the end caps. Cams and bearings should be squeezed tight together to get as much end space as possible.
If the cam and bearings are centered in the head you will not have any issues.
Test fit the end caps on the lower head section to be sure you have everything centered.
Trying to force the cap into place is not a good idea. Remember you have 30 ft lbs of torque on this head, the cams and bearings are not going to move.
Good Luck.
Some have tried adding gaskets to fix this issue, but it also affects where the cam seal rides and too many gaskets doesn't work either.
Remove engine, remove top head, center cam and bearings so there is equal and enough distance on each side for the end caps. Cams and bearings should be squeezed tight together to get as much end space as possible.
If the cam and bearings are centered in the head you will not have any issues.
Test fit the end caps on the lower head section to be sure you have everything centered.
Trying to force the cap into place is not a good idea. Remember you have 30 ft lbs of torque on this head, the cams and bearings are not going to move.
Good Luck.
Brian902
XS650 Junkie
I'd remove both end caps and check end clearance first.
Wish I had a measurement to give you, but don't.
Both have to be deep enough to accept the end cap with a gasket and enough to compress the gasket slightly. Anything less leaks.
But no, once you break the seal on a surface to surface sealant you have a leak.
But, it's coming close to the end of this years riding season, at least here in Canada, and you could try that trick. Make sure you loosen the smaller 6 mm bolts then the 8 mm bolts and lastly the 10 mm bolts. That's 10 mm wrench, 14 mm wrench, 17 mm wrench.
Just enough on the big 10 mm head bolts to maintain a slight pressure.
Then gently tap with a drift punch on the bearing at each end to see if it will slide in a mm or two. Check measurements and center the cam and bearings.
If it leaks you have all winter to fix it.
Good Luck.
Wish I had a measurement to give you, but don't.
Both have to be deep enough to accept the end cap with a gasket and enough to compress the gasket slightly. Anything less leaks.
But no, once you break the seal on a surface to surface sealant you have a leak.
But, it's coming close to the end of this years riding season, at least here in Canada, and you could try that trick. Make sure you loosen the smaller 6 mm bolts then the 8 mm bolts and lastly the 10 mm bolts. That's 10 mm wrench, 14 mm wrench, 17 mm wrench.
Just enough on the big 10 mm head bolts to maintain a slight pressure.
Then gently tap with a drift punch on the bearing at each end to see if it will slide in a mm or two. Check measurements and center the cam and bearings.
If it leaks you have all winter to fix it.
Good Luck.
angus67
Welder's penetrate deeper!!
should take the head off. If you just nudge the bearings in, you dont know if the bearings slid on the cam on one side, and maybey they didnt on the other side. Taking a big risk of not making sure you cam is centered or not. Whats ten minutes worth? Or gamble balling up your cam chain in the bottom . Measurements mean nothing here. trully need the eye-crometers here.
just take the head off.
Or, just for giggles, nudge the bearings in, then take the head off, and see if the cam is centered.
just take the head off.
Or, just for giggles, nudge the bearings in, then take the head off, and see if the cam is centered.
Brian902
XS650 Junkie
I disagree Angus.
You should not use your eye. distance from each end of the head into the outer cam bearing should be equal.
Yamaha has made all the calculations to make sure the chain is inline when you install it this way.
Next time you have an engine apart take the measurements and you'll see.
You should not use your eye. distance from each end of the head into the outer cam bearing should be equal.
Yamaha has made all the calculations to make sure the chain is inline when you install it this way.
Next time you have an engine apart take the measurements and you'll see.
angus67
Welder's penetrate deeper!!
i now agree with this.
but he did ask, and thats what ide do.
but he did ask, and thats what ide do.
Brian902
XS650 Junkie
I just have to say it.
You're a stubborn old goat!
But the trouble is, I am too!!!
You're a stubborn old goat!
But the trouble is, I am too!!!
Thanks for the help. for future reference I ended up just removing head bolts and and all covers and tapping in the cam bearing and then eyeing them through the exhaust covers with a flash light. seems too have worked well. but I still have about 1/16 of a gap that I thought the gasket would take care of when buttoned back up. will see how it goes.
Remove the covers and housings on each side of the head. Loosen the head bolts. Loosen the cam chain adjuster. Now use a deep socket that is the same size as the inner bearing race. Use this socket to tap on the bearing till the cam starts to move. Now move around to the other side of the engine and tap the bearing till the cam moves This means you have the bearings on the cam as far as they go.
Now use this method of moving the cam left or right till centered. To determine the center use a caliper, one with a dial is easier to read.
On the caliper there is a pin that is used as a depth measure.
Measure from the bearing race out to the gasket surface where the housing sets. Keep moving the cam till it's centered.
Now once you get the cam centered the housings will fit just fine.
Leo
Now use this method of moving the cam left or right till centered. To determine the center use a caliper, one with a dial is easier to read.
On the caliper there is a pin that is used as a depth measure.
Measure from the bearing race out to the gasket surface where the housing sets. Keep moving the cam till it's centered.
Now once you get the cam centered the housings will fit just fine.
Leo
Normski xs
XS650 Member
Help!!! I’m at this stage right now and the only thing that seem to be stopping my cups from seating properly and closing the gasket and seal gap is my head, the cups are not fully homing as the back of the cup is fouling on the corner to the edge of the head, struggling here please help
Leo's post above, #14, gets everything centered as they should be. I'll mention that I had this issue some years ago with a leaky cam end cover.....'course all I had was me eyeballs and luck getting it done.
These two piece heads are machined as a unit and have corresponding numbers stamped into them.. IF the head was replaced with mismatched parts there could be an alignment issue...
