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Those stock fuse boxes do not age well so many have opted to replace with blade fuses. Unfortunately blade fuses do not always provide a snappy response to a short circuit as was the case with those original glass fuses. Generic blade fuses may be responsible for melted wires due to excessive...

I am interested in knowing if Yamaha ever recommended a Carbon Monoxide range for tuning the XS650. Perhaps someone out there has experience tuning their older motorcycle's carburetors using a Carbon Monoxide analyzer? Thank you.

Just a quick one for those who have experienced neutral switch issues. Does the brass contact on the neutral switch slowly wear down and eventually result in very high resistance due to poor contact when the bike is in neutral? Additional Notes: My Virago sometimes fails to start when I...

The stock exhaust system has rusted out on the inside so I have bought a Black Widow replacement. All is well except the rear cylinder is on the lean side, not excessively, but the insulator on the BP7ES plug remains perfectly white with no sign of blistering. Although I was able to dial in the...

I want to remove the large shiny cap from an XV750 clutch cover to replace that missing from an XV1000. Does anyone know how to remove this large shiny cap? I could just swap the whole cover except my cover has better chrome work than the one in the photo. Thank you for any help, it must be...

On my Virago I used a white plastic 6.3mm 3-way spade connector to connect the AC to the rectifier/regulator. This connector is the same design as those used on the XS Specials for the Rectifier/Regulator and TCI Ignitor. On checking today I found the connector has melted. I had noticed the...

Has anyone had experience with TVS(Transient Voltage Suppression) Diodes for protecting circuitry from spikes? The following excerpt comes from : https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/articles/techzone/2019/may/design-in-tvs-diode-protection-enhance-can-bus-reliability A TVS diode is a p-n device...

I have recently been working on a Virago with a PMA and stock regulator (thyristor type shunt). I noticed a lot of heat generated at the regulator so have spent considerable time searching for explanations... I have learnt the following which may come as a surprise to some: A PMA essentially...

This week I have been working on an engine with only 2064 genuine miles on it. Unfortunately the valve faces have deteriorated over the last 32 years in storage so I need to re-lap the valves and replace the valve stem seals. The shafts were very very tight and a slide hammer would not touch...

I have a fender with pretty good chrome. However, the underside is covered in rust. The rust is easy to remove but then what do I do? What coatings are currently being used on the underside to prevent further rusting and to withstand the impact of grit? Thank you for any suggestions Guys.

I have made several comments regarding low voltage from my alternator in the following thread (See mainly Page 2 of thread): http://www.xs650.com/threads/well-that-didnt-last-long.52169/page-3#post-550808 The situation is that the voltage output from my alternator is low and the observation is...

Two years ago my rotor was at 4.5 Ohms. Last week when I checked the resistance had dropped to 3.8 Ohms. I know of a place in the UK where they rewind rotors and stators. They usually have the XS650 points and electronic ignition version rotors rewound and ready on the shelf to exchange. The...

I wonder if some one can point me in the right direction. My SH starts easily from cold using the choke on the 1st stop (BS34) and throttle fully closed, even at 0 Celsius. Usually only takes 2 or 3 kicks maximum. The bike pulls well through all gears without any missing or splutter and no...

Is the Unleaded 95 RON the correct fuel for us to use in the UK? I suspect the Octane Value of Unleaded 95 is slightly higher than what is recommended in the old user manuals. My US user manual says to use Regular Gasoline which I think was 87 in the US. In the UK we use RON method for octane...

I have looked and looked and cannot find any references to the correct valve spring shim orientation. The shims fitted in my SH have two different surface profiles. On one side the shim is perfectly flat with sharp outer edges, the other surface is rounded on the edges. Which of these surfaces...

I have just finished reinstalling the engine in my SH following a +50 rebore. After 20 miles I checked the valve stem ends and the left side valves are not rotating. This is shown by a single scuff on the stem end rather than a circular pattern. The old pistons have no dents or marks from...

I have my engine (14000 miles) apart and reground the valves by hand today. The valves/guides/springs are in specification. I noticed one cylinder has a light rust coating about 3 cm from the top, presumably where the pistons were left during their many years of storage. The rust layer is very...

When reassembling the valves should I lubricate the stems/guides? I believe the answers is Yes based on the few threads I found. What lubricant should I use? Is engine oil (20/W50) alright to use or should I uses a fine oil like Singer sewing machine oil? I believe greases should not be used...

My 81 SH has a rocker cover which is black on the inside and outside - The outside is badly faded on one side. I have tested with paint stripper and the black does not come off. Were these anodized? Will I be able to spray directly onto this cover with a high temperature silver or black paint...

I need a sealant that can be used around the timing chain area and the studs to prevent oil leaks when I put my head gasket back on (also for the valve cover, although blue Hylomar works OK here). I could not find Yamabond locally so just need a recommendation of what is available in the UK...